As one who never comes off hematocrit and red blood cell count is an ongoing issue. I always felt that donating with steroid saturated blood was somewhat shady even though I was assured that they would test and dispose of the blood after finding steroids in it. On my last visit I recieved a notice afterwards telling me that although I was negative for hepatitus B, I had some markers of it meaning either that A) I was exposed to and fought it off or 2) the test was innacurate. This leaves me unable to donate the conventional way. I feel very reluctant tellinjg a doctor that I use and need to lose a pint every other month and I also temporarily have no health insurance. So I researched Leeches...
Turns out that a Leech will eat 5-15ml of blood at a time, this means that 6 leeches once each week would result in around 470ml / 1 pint every two months. They are extrememly cheap (8$ each) easy to order and care for plus have many other therapuetic uses. Has anyone else done this, heard of it, or thought of it? I saw a guy on T-nation that phlebotomized himself into a soda container and had pictures and everything - this I couldn't see myself doing, Leeches seem hardcore the other seems dangerous and crazy.
I fully intent to try this and will give updates.