Northern California - My permanent excuse for suckage.

Back in June, I had my first physical in decades. Thought it was the grown up thing to do. The doctor had me get blood work done as part of the procedure. Well everything came back normal except for a call-out for microcytic anemia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcytic_anemia). So, the doc says to take a daily multi-vitamin and come back in three months. So I take the daily multi-vitamin, not religiously, but enough to supplement my diet more than adequately.

Yesterday, the Church was having a blood drive and since I had to remove my crying toddler I had some time to go over and donate before the Mass disperses. I fill out the forms (toddler in arm) and proceed to the screening. BP OK. Finger prick, blood in capillary tube, drop blood in blue solution... it floats! OK it shouldn't do that. More blood in other test equipment... 37% hematocrit... sorry you can't donate.

I had my three month follow-up today and the doc checks my blood pressure. It's OK, but I tell her my blood donation story and she asks if I had a family history of anemia. I don't know; I'll have to get back to you on that. She orders even more tests; urine and fecal (looking for blood loss), B vitamin deficiency, G-6-PD deficiency, etc... (Wow, peeing into cup is one thing, I don't really want to poop into a cup).

I get back and immediately call my sister. She tells me that she, my other sister, and my mother all have thalassemia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia). Funny my first thought was "maybe this allows me to avoid pooping into a cup". Then it hit me; I'm at a permanent disadvantage when it comes to cycling performance... that sucks! So next time I'm not keeping up on the climbs, you'll know why :mad:









Then I starting thinking, if my Red Blood Cells are permanently small, what if I had more of them...
http://www.roadcycling.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/3/251
"EPO is a hormone naturally produced by the kidneys when oxygen supply is low. Thus natural EPO concentrations in the blood increase when a cyclist is anemic, has been training at altitude, or has been exposed to pollution or second-hand cigarette smoke."


I'm moving to Denver and hanging out in smokey bars.

That is too weird...I have the opposite prob. My red blood cells last to long and end up like a bunch of overripe grapes moving around in my veins sludging everything up and sucking up energy...People in high altitudes have the same problem when living at sea level. I need to move to the rockies to keep the blood flowing...I thought about drinking turpintine...but not recomended :mad:

So you found a legitmate reason to blood dope. See you in the Tour.

That's a major suckz0r. I did read a study recently which says intervals of 10 minutes at 110% of your aerobic capacity results in increased RBC production and corresponding rise in hematocrit levels.

The floating test is checking for iron. Very unusual for a man to have low iron unless he donates a lot of blood or something.

Every time I donate blood I get sick; nausea and diarreah, yuck. Nobody knows why.

Wife had to give a stool sample one time, do it at home and take it to the lab (I wouldn't suggest cycling or taking the bus there).

I don't have any excuses for sucking ... except I don't dope.

Hey Henry,
What sucks even more is that most of us don't climb as well as you do ...

fecal (looking for blood loss), B vitamin deficiency, G-6-PD deficiency, etc... (Wow, peeing into cup is one thing, I don't really want to poop into a cup).

Not a big deal. Had to do it part of a general checkup (50). No cup involved, just a swab that you then put in a special envelope. No odor, nobody knows what it is when you bring it to the lab.




I'm at a permanent disadvantage when it comes to cycling performance... that sucks! So next time I'm not keeping up on the climbs, you'll know why :mad:

Gee, I was under the impression you were climbing faster than us. May be it's an equalizer from Mother Nature who has pity on us, mere average mountain goats.

That's a major suckz0r. I did read a study recently which says intervals of 10 minutes at 110% of your aerobic capacity results in increased RBC production and corresponding rise in hematocrit levels.

Details? You can PM me too.

Gee, I was under the impression you were climbing faster than us. May be it's an equalizer from Mother Nature who has pity on us, mere average mountain goats.

I think having a decent base helps year-to-year but I notice as the season goes on, others get faster while I plateau. Who knows; I should just HTFU and ride more.

Details? You can PM me too.

Yeah I was just looking for the study I read and I can't find it right now. I'll get on the other computer later tonight and see if it's still in my history so I can send you the whole thing.

I should just HTFU and ride more.

HTFU... Haha... The bikeforums slogan...

Sorry to hear about the condition. Hope everything remains well with you.

I can't find that specific thing about 110% but as long as we're talking about hematocrit here is an interesting study on hematocrit levels in athletes. It's kinda technical but a good read. http://yxy.ujs.edu.cn/xiaods/usable%20data/6374732.pdf

"These results show that (a) physiological values of hematocrit in these athletes are comprised between 36 and 48%; (b) “low” hematocrit (<40%) was associated with a higher aerobic capacity; (c) subjects with the higher hematocrits (>44.6%) were frequently overtrained and/or iron-deficient, and their blood viscosity (and red cell disaggregability) tended to be increased."

So according to this study you are still within the normal range for well trained football players (36%-48%) and since increased aerobic capacity is a result of lower hematocrit you might not even be at a disadvantage in sports.

Whew. Thanks damnpoor. That lifts a psychological weigh off.
I just got back from a ride so I'm feeling pretty good. I just wish there was more daylight.
Here's my game plan: ride more, keep weight low.

So next time I'm not keeping up on the climbs, you'll know why :mad:

I thought this was the reason ;)

http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanbruno05.JPG

Although we've never met, you seem to be one of the stronger riders round these parts, BR. Hope this doesn't have any other functional consequences for you beyond causing you to wonder what it all means.

BTW - I loved that when I clicked on your link for the EPO story and right next door is a picture of Lance with the banner "Tired of being tired?".