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For several decades people have made fun of me for being so red. I always took it lightly and thought it was just a result of spending so many years in the sun (even though I'm completely red all over especially in areas that have never seen the sun) but recently I've discovered an alternative perspective. For the past eight years my blood tests have come back with abnormally high hemacrit and hemoglobin, which I assumed was just a result of taking TRT (as testosterone is well known for increasing the production of red blood cells). In the past, I have suffered other conditions which I assumed was a result of living in a sewer gas environment for the past three years. Long story short, it turns out I am in the early stages of leukemia. My specific level is called Polycythemia Vera; which is either caused by an environmental anomaly or a production of the gene JAK2 in the bone marrow of my femur.
I want to think it's a result of my environmental conditions, but the fact is my grandfather (on Dad's side) died of leukemia at age of 47 (according to my aunt). None of the men in my family have lived past the age of 62 and we all have high blood pressure (even the ones who were thin which account four). I now believe this is and was as a result of thickening of the blood. Also, I think I caught it early enough to make a difference, and so I am on my way with a plan. Donating blood is one of the best ways to lower the iron carrying red blood cells but the Red Cross will not accept blood with the hemocrit level above 50 (I believe mine was 61 on my most recent blood test), so I would need a prescription for a phlebotomist to remove blood to temporarily remove the red blood cells and therefore relieve some of the pressure on my vascular system. I am not looking forward to a bone marrow biopsy of my femur. I am interested in learning how to lower the iron content of my blood, so if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate that thank you!
I want to think it's a result of my environmental conditions, but the fact is my grandfather (on Dad's side) died of leukemia at age of 47 (according to my aunt). None of the men in my family have lived past the age of 62 and we all have high blood pressure (even the ones who were thin which account four). I now believe this is and was as a result of thickening of the blood. Also, I think I caught it early enough to make a difference, and so I am on my way with a plan. Donating blood is one of the best ways to lower the iron carrying red blood cells but the Red Cross will not accept blood with the hemocrit level above 50 (I believe mine was 61 on my most recent blood test), so I would need a prescription for a phlebotomist to remove blood to temporarily remove the red blood cells and therefore relieve some of the pressure on my vascular system. I am not looking forward to a bone marrow biopsy of my femur. I am interested in learning how to lower the iron content of my blood, so if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate that thank you!
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