Hemochromatosis

[Ukulelemike]

Well, it appears that I may have a (not-so) rare disorder called Hemochromatosis. Basically, it is too much iron in the blood. Its pretty common and most who have it don't even know. I have not been diagnosed, per se, but something I did that greatly alleviated the symptoms pretty much shows me: I gave blood.

 

Normally I give blood, but I hadn't for almost 6 months, and over the last couple months I was really suffering: I just felt...old. No strength, tired all the time, kind of depressed, always needed a nap, and recently, angina, (chest pain), when I walked at my normal speed. I had to walk slowly, so I really felt like I was much older. And I suspect many who have this just attribute it to the aging process. So my wife insisted that I go get blood taken and see what it did for me.

 

Not coloring outside the lines here, as soon as I gave blood, I felt ten years younger-my feet didn't hurt, my chest pain was gone, I had energy I thought I had lost for good. Since then I haven't had to take a nap at all, even after morning service. Been a week and I still feel great!

 

So now I have to see what can be generally done to help in the long run. I plan to take no meds, but to do it naturally, and I guess one way will be regular blood donations. Gonna look like a heroin addict with all the needle marks in my arms!

[HappyChristian]

Do you use cast iron skillets? Because of iron overload, you'll need to stop using them if you do.  My doctor had me quit using them for that purpose.  If your vitamins contain iron, you should change to some without. One thing that would be good to take is chlorophyl. It cleans the blood - including iron.

 

It's interesting - I've had some of the same symptoms, and my hubby thought I was low in iron.  Only to find out I had too much!

 

BTW - giving blood is a very common way to alleviate symptoms.

[irishman]

I have those symptoms all the time now, but I AM OLD!  Due to my cirrhosis, I have very much the same symptoms, but they change!  Sometimes I get itching, rashes, and a few other bad things.  Oh well, in all actuality, I deserve it.

[JerryNumbers]

Do you take any kind of vitamins or supplements, some people will take so much of that stuff that their boday will absorb way to much of some of that stuff, & it can be dangerous.

 

Last visit with my doctor I was anemia for the very 1st time ever. Have another appointment very soon, had lab yesterday, so I'll find out if there's any change. 

[Ukulelemike]

Do you take any kind of vitamins or supplements, some people will take so much of that stuff that their boday will absorb way to much of some of that stuff, & it can be dangerous.

 

Last visit with my doctor I was anemia for the very 1st time ever. Have another appointment very soon, had lab yesterday, so I'll find out if there's any change. 

My wife, who sets up my vitamins, is going to go through them to check.

[Pastorj]

I too have been diagnosed with this. This is a serious blood disorder. If you truly have this disease, you cannot donate blood. When I was first diagnosed, my Ferratin level was almost 700. Normal is 50 and under. This disease is hereditary. My daughter has been diagnosed already. This disease can effect your liver, kidney, thyroid, and your heart. My number was 40 on Monday and I am feeling great. I have blood drawn on a quarterly basis now. My Father gets his blood drawn every 6 months now.

 

Get diagnosed and properly treated if you have this disease.

[Miss Daisy]

Last time I gave blood it felt like I'd had my life drained out of me. I was so exhausted I could barely walk. It was at work at a hospital and I had to go home. I was worthless rest of day. I haven't given since.

[JerryNumbers]

My wife, who sets up my vitamins, is going to go through them to check.

 

Good, for you do not want to overload your self.

 

After finding me anemia my doctor sent me for a colonoscopy, they removed 3 polyps, & they were OK, but I had one they could not remove, having surgery for that come Monday.

 

Seems when we get old we keep the doctors busy.

[pzlehr]

My PA found I had hemachromatosis when he found my ferretin too high.  It was quite high (don't remember now what it was) so I had blood drawn a few times a month until the level came down.  The blood doc who started my blood drawing therapy just said to avoid as stated above, iron skillets, cut down on iron rich foods,avoid vitamins that have iron (over age 50 vitamins typically have no iron, silver vitamins) and that's about all one can do.  I do have hypothyroidism,skin problems,arthritis all over, even my spine.  I assume these and a couple other problems were caused by the hemachromatosis since no other family member has any of these problems.  My grandfather came over from Ireland and I was told that hema was hereditary for people from this area(England,Scotland and Ireland).  My family doc said her parents were from Canada and they came over from Ireland and that she had hema.  She said her grandparents had it but they had no trouble from it and she thought it was because they drank tea all the time.  My blood doc did say coffee and tea kept iron from being absorbed into the bloodstream.  Vitamin C MAKES the iron get absorbed into the bloodstream.