posted February 02, 2000 04:17 PM            

The only success I've had was with deca, putting on 30 pounds of muscle in 12 weeks. The problem was that I had a deep vein thrombosis (clot) right at the end of that time. And that was several years ago.

Michael Mooney of Medibolics <Medihttp://www.medibolics.com/toc2.htm#resourc2> informed me that deca was "hematocritic," that is it tends to promote the kidneys to send messages to produce red blood cells when none are needed.

Nelson Montana of Testosterone Mag <http://www.t-mag.com/> said that he was surprised as he thought deca thinned the blood.

All I know is that I could use that extra 20 or so pounds now and even though I'm monitored for my hematocrit level, I've still had to have three phlebotomies (draining a pint of blood) so far and still got another clot.

I've been hospitalized twice for clotting, one time resulting in the cutting off of a deep vein in my leg so as to prevent the clot from reaching my torso, and the other time having a clot so restrict the flow of blood in a deep vein in my other leg that I have inadequate blood flow in that leg as a result.

Can anyone please clarify this for me, and, supply information as to what I can do when I'm using the deca to prevent further clotting? Or, is the deca even responsible (it seems very suspicious that I've only clotted after deca use)?

Any and all info would be appreciated as I have come too close to having the body I want (not a "roid" bod but a well defined muscular build - 205 on 6'2")!

I have been told by several people that they believed that deca thinned the blood. The problem is complicated I�m afraid (or so I suspect), due to there being a number of reasons blood can begin to clot in one�s veins.

One is the time it takes the blood to clot (if it clots too fast it can induce clotting). This is know as Prothrombin Time (or something like that).

A second is the "stickiness" of the red blood cells themselves. Too sticky = increased chance of clotting.

The third is the number of red blood cells...if the blood is too dense = increased chance of clotting.

But which factor is that due to? It has been my experience that every time I use deca my hematocrit level (number of red blood cells) goes above the safe limit. I've been hospitalized twice now after trying a deca cycle.

I may be wrong on all of my assumptions though and that's why I need help here.

Thanks much everyone!

posted February 03, 2000 01:51 PM            

I have since been told that Deca increases the "stickiness" or viscosity of the red blood cells, as well as increasing the number of red blood cells. Why then do some say that it "thins" the blood?

I am very honest with my doctor (and he's a hematologist)...but, as I suspect, he knows less about the use and effects of steroids than many a muscle builder does.

I loose weight due to my HIV status, and I need some help in keeping it up. If anyone knows of a knowledgeable person or doctor who would have some answers for me I would greatly appreciate it.