In early November I switched from 20mg simvastatin to 20 mg Rosuvastatin in response to a slightly elevated CAC result. Post-switch bloodwork on Dec 26,2024 shows excellent lipids and LDL levels with LDL in optimal range and total cholesterol at 130.

Only things not in normal range are RBC (3.81), hemoglobin (12.2), hematocrit (36.4). I have never had low levels in these areas before.

Here's the TWIST:

I am a regular blood donor. On December 1.2024 I did a RBC/platelet combo donation.

Some internet sleuthing shows that some people see a reduction in RBC and/or platelet counts due to taking a statin.

Question: is it possible that my RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit results were negatively impacted by a combo RBC/platelet donation 3 weeks prior?

TIA

What is an RBC/Platelet combo? As far as I know you can donate whole blood, just a double RBC donation, just platelets, or just plasma. Did they combine whole blood with platelet apheresis?

And how often are you donating blood exactly? How much iron containing foods are you eating/supplementing?

A few years ago I was donating a single unit of whole blood exactly every 8 weeks, and after about 10 donations I became anemic. Despite supplementing iron it took me over 4 extra weeks for my hemoglobin to come up to where I could donate again. So over 12 weeks from my prior donation.

I'm not sure about the statin effect. A very brief literature search online shows some linkage between statins and anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. And on South Korean paper mentions iron deficiency anemia. But I didn't read the papers.

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=statin+anemia&btnG=&oq=statin+anemia

bigtruckguy3500 said:

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What is an RBC/Platelet combo? As far as I know you can donate whole blood, just a double RBC donation, just platelets, or just plasma. Did they combine whole blood with platelet apheresis?

And how often are you donating blood exactly? How much iron containing foods are you eating/supplementing?

A few years ago I was donating a single unit of whole blood exactly every 8 weeks, and after about 10 donations I became anemic. Despite supplementing iron it took me over 4 extra weeks for my hemoglobin to come up to where I could donate again. So over 12 weeks from my prior donation.

I'm not sure about the statin effect. A very brief literature search online shows some linkage between statins and anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. And on South Korean paper mentions iron deficiency anemia. But I didn't read the papers.

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=statin+anemia&btnG=&oq=statin+anemia

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Not 100% clear on the specs of the procedure but the website describes it as RBC/platelet combo. As for frequency, I did this same procedure in September. Prior to that I did double reds in May and Jan.

I eat a fairly good diet. I eat red meat and I eat leafy greens. I also regularly supplement with protein powder/smoothies and I take a quality multivitamin and other supplements.

PS - I am 58.

Last colonoscopy? If within the last 10 years (which you should have probably had one at age 50), you're probably ok. If not, unexplained iron deficiency anemia needs a colonoscopy. Or at least should be considered with a discussion with your primary care physician.

I would think an RBC platelet combination is a whole unit of blood, classically. However, if they hooked you up to the apheresis machine, then maybe they took 1 unit worth of RBCs and 1 unit worth of platelets, and gave you back your plasma and everything else. Usually it takes 6 individual donors of single unit of whole blood to create 1 unit of platelets, or 1 person can get hooked up to the apheresis machine and donate enough platelets for a "6 pack" of platelets.

Maybe increase your red meat intake for a week or two. Vitamin C also helps with iron absorption, so usually people recommend drinking orange juice with any iron pills you may take.

bigtruckguy3500 said:

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Last colonoscopy? If within the last 10 years (which you should have probably had one at age 50), you're probably ok. If not, unexplained iron deficiency anemia needs a colonoscopy. Or at least should be considered with a discussion with your primary care physician.

I would think an RBC platelet combination is a whole unit of blood, classically. However, if they hooked you up to the apheresis machine, then maybe they took 1 unit worth of RBCs and 1 unit worth of platelets, and gave you back your plasma and everything else. Usually it takes 6 individual donors of single unit of whole blood to create 1 unit of platelets, or 1 person can get hooked up to the apheresis machine and donate enough platelets for a "6 pack" of platelets.

Maybe increase your red meat intake for a week or two. Vitamin C also helps with iron absorption, so usually people recommend drinking orange juice with any iron pills you may take.

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Thanks! I had a colonoscopy 4 years ago. No issues.

I was definitely hooked up to a machine that took and gave back. The process took an hour.

I am seeing my doctor on Monday so will discuss and report back.

My main question was whether the RBC/platelet combo can cause those three metrics to drop significantly and how long it might take to recover.

Will definitely add an Fe supplement and some vitamin C.

Thanks.

My doc asked me to stop doing my quarterly double red donation for 6 months as my regular blood work showed a downward trend over time. It corrected so it was just the donation cycle for me not atorvastatin. Blood donation takes a lot out of ya!

KidDoc said:

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My doc asked me to stop doing my quarterly double red donation for 6 months as my regular blood work showed a downward trend over time. It corrected so it was just the donation cycle for me not atorvastatin. Blood donation takes a lot out of ya!

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This is what I am thinking too. Just need to put donations on hold until my #s get back to normal and then only do double reds once every 6 months.

Thanks!

FTACo88-FDT24dad said:

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KidDoc said:

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My doc asked me to stop doing my quarterly double red donation for 6 months as my regular blood work showed a downward trend over time. It corrected so it was just the donation cycle for me not atorvastatin. Blood donation takes a lot out of ya!

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This is what I am thinking too. Just need to put donations on hold until my #s get back to normal and then only do double reds once every 6 months.

Thanks!

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I actually stopped my statin due to long muscle recovery after lifting and refreshing my lipid education from the 90s. Everyone's health journey is different but if you want to dig into some biochemistry and question the lipid paradigm you can spend lots of time with Deep Nutrition.

With a high CAC score though I would likely just deal with statin side effect and risk. For myself my HDL of 90+ and LDL 120ish [70s on meds) is not very high risk.

https://drcate.com/statins/

KidDoc said:

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FTACo88-FDT24dad said:

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KidDoc said:

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My doc asked me to stop doing my quarterly double red donation for 6 months as my regular blood work showed a downward trend over time. It corrected so it was just the donation cycle for me not atorvastatin. Blood donation takes a lot out of ya!

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This is what I am thinking too. Just need to put donations on hold until my #s get back to normal and then only do double reds once every 6 months.

Thanks!

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I actually stopped my statin due to long muscle recovery after lifting and refreshing my lipid education from the 90s. Everyone's health journey is different but if you want to dig into some biochemistry and question the lipid paradigm you can spend lots of time with Deep Nutrition.

With a high CAC score though I would likely just deal with statin side effect and risk. For myself my HDL of 90+ and LDL 120ish [70s on meds) is not very high risk.

https://drcate.com/statins/

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My CAC is 214. Kind of surprising because I am definitely more fit than the average 58 year old. My doc was surprised given all my other metrics. I have been on a low dose statin since my early 40s.

I decided to get the iodine scan too and it showed 25-50% buildup. It also showed that I have a fistula on one of my coronary arteries, which I have apparently had since birth.

Saw a cardiologist and he said based on all my data, my fitness level and with the move to the more potent statin I should be good to go. He said "keep doing what you're doing."

FTACo88-FDT24dad said:

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KidDoc said:

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My doc asked me to stop doing my quarterly double red donation for 6 months as my regular blood work showed a downward trend over time. It corrected so it was just the donation cycle for me not atorvastatin. Blood donation takes a lot out of ya!

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This is what I am thinking too. Just need to put donations on hold until my #s get back to normal and then only do double reds once every 6 months.

Thanks!

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Thanks for donating blood/platelets and helping save lives. The

Back when I could donate, I switched to platelets only because 1) there was an extreme need which I doubt has gone down due to limited storage time and 2) I was struggling with RBC going low. While platelet donations result in some blood loss, it wasn't much compared to a blood donation let alone a double red.

I can't donate. Had hepatitis as a kid. Even 40 years later they still won't let me.

Update: met with doc today. He suspects it's the recent donations that are leading the low readings I mentioned above. He based this on some of the other numbers and the recency of my donation. Gonna do another blood panel at the end of March and see how it goes.