My experience with hematocrit

[mdwilson2011]

We see this a lot in our bloodwork, but I didn’t realize how wildly variable hct can be based on a number of factors. Here’s my experience with it recently.

Been off cycle for 2 weeks, time to donate blood. I ask what my hemoglobin was: it was 19.4. That’s crazy. That puts hematocrit around 58% (quite alarming). So I donate the unit of blood and start trying to figure out why it was so damn high (mind you, I drink a gallon of water a day religiously).

This particular day, though, I had only had 12oz of coffee and a quart of water before the donation, which was around 11am.

3 days later, I wake up at 430am and pound 3/4 gallon of water before 10am. Around 1030am I have my hct tested (I can get this easily tested at work). It came in at 47%, much more reasonable.

Just wanted to share this anecdotal experience with you guys, for what it’s worth. It seems like hydration is even more important, at least for me individually, than I previously realized.

 

[NotAJoo]

mdwilson2011" pid='12342' dateline='1525868029:

We see this a lot in our bloodwork, but I didn’t realize how wildly variable hct can be based on a number of factors. Here’s my experience with it recently.

Been off cycle for 2 weeks, time to donate blood. I ask what my hemoglobin was: it was 19.4. That’s crazy. That puts hematocrit around 58% (quite alarming). So I donate the unit of blood and start trying to figure out why it was so damn high (mind you, I drink a gallon of water a day religiously).

This particular day, though, I had only had 12oz of coffee and a quart of water before the donation, which was around 11am.

3 days later, I wake up at 430am and pound 3/4 gallon of water before 10am. Around 1030am I have my hct tested (I can get this easily tested at work). It came in at 47%, much more reasonable.

Just wanted to share this anecdotal experience with you guys, for what it’s worth. It seems like hydration is even more important, at least for me individually, than I previously realized.

The same way being dehydrated will skew your lipid panel. Come into the test without adequate water and you’ll look like you’ve been eating only fried food since birth. Retest a few days later properly hydrated and now youre brand new.

 

[eyetest1]

you said you donated blood

isnt that why your HCT went down…

 

[mdwilson2011]

eyetest1" pid='12381' dateline='1525872525:

you said you donated blood

isnt that why your HCT went down…

Yes, but whole blood donations only lower HCT by 1-3%.