Low testosterone Low Hematocrit?

[clysmaniac (imported)]

I have an interesting problem which has developed since my orchiectomy. My urologist and I have been playing around with my testosterone level to find a level I am comfortable with. My T level was at 44 just before I was castrated. I felt this was too low as I didn't have much energy, I lost quite a bit of strength, my skin got really dry and itchy so my doctor gave me a prescription to Testim gel. Taking half a tube daily got my T level up to 165- a bit higher than I wanted because I started to get horny again. My doctor at that time wanted it to be higher so I upper my dosage to 1 1/2 tubes a day for a test month and my testosterone level jumped to over 700. My libido increased significantly (not desired) and my skin got very oily like I was a teen again. But more insidious was that my ankles started to swell and my heart rate and blood pressure became elevated. I decreased my testosterone use back to 1/2 a tube daily and while the swelling did decrease, it was not eliminated. I then decreased my testosterone to only half a tube every other day. That seemed to be a suitable dose, my T level was 122 with normal being 280-1080, my ankles returned to normal as did my heart rate and blood pressure.

So much for the good part. I've been donating blood for years and have had no issues with their requirements until recently. I went in this morning and was rejected because my hematocrit count was low. Since testosterone is known to add red blood cells, it seems to me that a possible reason for my low measurement is caused by low testosterone. My diet hasn't changed appreciably since my castration, I have lost a bit of weight and I take a multivitamin daily. And, no, I am not going to start eating liver!

So I seem to be caught between the issues of low red blood count but no edema and low blood pressure with low testosterone or a better red blood count and edema and higher blood pressure and more load on my heart. Physically, I like the low testosterone end of the scale rather than higher and I can't tell the difference between high and low hemocrit measurements. My wife (an RN) agrees that the long-term benefits of a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure will be to my benefit.

I'm curious if anyone else has experienced any issues with their hematocrit after they were castrated, either surgically or after an extended chemical castration? Yes, I am going to contact my urologist and get his input on which end of things he would recommend, just interested if anyone else has had anything similar?

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

I checked back over the last few tests - my hematocrit seems to be right in the middle of the usual range. --FLO--

[devi (imported)]

I have had my hematocrit checked last summer and it was perfect again. It had always been perfect with me though with you there may be a period of adjustment after your orchiectomy when the hematocrit readings would be low.