High Hemoglobin Count

[Mark Weitz]

Sort of a long story, but a co-workers daughter has a bone marrow disorder. Chances are slim of finding a donor. When I heard the odds I decided to go and put myself in the registry.

If you donate blood the cost of the testing for the lab is picked up by the blood center (instead of the bone marrow center). So I headed over to Stanford today all ready, passed all the prelim stuff. Then she does a hemoglobin test. I assued her that I would have plenty, in my most manly voice. Well, it turns out I have too much and wasn't able to donate blood (still qualify for the marrow though).

So, is this due to freediving? I'm certainly not an "extreme" diver, have fairly short BT and have only done the tables a few times.

Have any of you tried to donate blood and been turned down due to having too high a Hb count?

Thanks,

Mark

[JAW]

There are many activities that result in a high Hb count apnea being one of them, do you do triathalons, cycling, any other sports? As far as I understand it is usually related to some form of hypoxia: smoking, emphysema, or congestive heart disease are all other possibilities.

good luck to your friends daughter
Jason