Too much iron in blood - anyone else?

[D2B]

Well, after being tired and out of energy and thinking for sure, that I was low on iron, it seems I have to much. How weird, I still cant get my head around it, on top of that, after cutting out a lot of meat, I still am too high, so I have been told to go to give blood as this is a way to get rid of excess iron as well as continued diet changes (vegetarianism here I come lol)

Anyone else in the same boat? what have you done to keep your iron low? I am soo going to miss my bbq steak...

d2b

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I''ve never heard of that. Did your doctor have any idea why you were so high?

 

[Mandarine]

Hi!
I''m sorry you have that problem. I don''t have it but my dad does.

Apparently it''s also hereditary.
My dad wishes he would have known about this sooner because unfortunately this has lead to other problems....so it''s good that you''re acting fast.
Unfortunately he is on a very strict diet of limiting protein (ALL protein) and eliminating red meats. He also can''t drink any alcohol..
I know he takes some medicine for it that helps...but the thing that works best is giving the blood

He does say that it''s not so hard to change your diet/lifestyle...you just sort of know that it is what it is!.
Good luck and hang in there

 

[CasaBlanca]

I am not sure if this link I am providing is appropriate at this time or not. So if it offends you, it is not my intention. The coincidence that I just read this 2 minutes prior to reading your post is something I couldn''t resist sharing.

I would like to say I had also never heard of too much. But I am so grateful that you now know...and making adjustments to your lifestyle and diet are so worth it, and to us, your PS family. So kick some butt and get serious!

I am a veggie myself, and it can be tasty and actually fun to duplicate tastes and recipes you are so fond of. Many times guests tell me my version is 10 times better than the original meat version. So be not discouraged...great tastes and experiences are in your future! I have a meatball recipe made from bread crumbs...you won''t believe it isn''t beef! See how fun it can be? Cutting red meat out...isn''t a death sentence, honest. You will have many supporters and sources to turn to.

You asked in your post if anyone had heard of it...so I submit this article...

Not sure if you are a cheese head or not...but this guy sure is!

 

[gingerB]

you probably have something called hemachromatosis, and yes it can be hereditary. if this is what is going on, basically your body isn''t able to regulate how much iron to absorb from your food, and so you have a build up of iron in your body. excess iron can lead to organ damage so it is important you do what your doc syas to keep the iron levels at a safe level. definitely limiting iron intake is helpful, removing blood is very effective, and there are also pills that can chelate the iron.

sorry to hear about the bbq steaks, that sucks! but like mandarine''s dad says, sometimes it is what it is and you just gotta do what you gots to do.

good luck!

 

[CDNinNYC]

Last April, I went to my doctor for my yearly physical and my blood results came back with high iron. She asked me if I have been eating a lot of protein, which I haven''t. The doctor didn''t seem overly concerned and thought it might have been an anomaly. We''ll see at my next visit if anything has changed.

 

[Porridge]

That is so strange, I found out I have the exact same thing last week when I went to donate blood! Am also feeling a little tired, that my alertness is down a bit. My GP suspects it may be due to my BC, because my periods are a lot lighter. I must make an appointment to get my bloods done. Thanks for starting this thread, couldn''t have come at a better time!

 

[Mandarine]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:56:41 AM
Author: gingerB
you probably have something called hemachromatosis, and yes it can be hereditary. if this is what is going on, basically your body isn''t able to regulate how much iron to absorb from your food, and so you have a build up of iron in your body. excess iron can lead to organ damage so it is important you do what your doc syas to keep the iron levels at a safe level. definitely limiting iron intake is helpful, removing blood is very effective, and there are also pills that can chelate the iron.


sorry to hear about the bbq steaks, that sucks! but like mandarine''s dad says, sometimes it is what it is and you just gotta do what you gots to do.


good luck!

Ditto, that''s what my dad has...

My understanding is that this only affects men...is that true?

 

[Girlrocks]

Date: 1/21/2010 1:35:39 PM
Author: Mandarine

Date: 1/21/2010 10:56:41 AM
Author: gingerB
you probably have something called hemachromatosis, and yes it can be hereditary. if this is what is going on, basically your body isn''t able to regulate how much iron to absorb from your food, and so you have a build up of iron in your body. excess iron can lead to organ damage so it is important you do what your doc syas to keep the iron levels at a safe level. definitely limiting iron intake is helpful, removing blood is very effective, and there are also pills that can chelate the iron.


sorry to hear about the bbq steaks, that sucks! but like mandarine''s dad says, sometimes it is what it is and you just gotta do what you gots to do.


good luck!

Ditto, that''s what my dad has...

My understanding is that this only affects men...is that true?

My mother has been living with this for years. She has to go every 4-6 month for them to draw out some of her blood; it can''t be donated because it contains too much iron but that is the only thing that she has found that can keep hers managed.

 

[Mandarine]

I better get tested then!

 

[gingerB]

Date: 1/21/2010 1:35:39 PM
Author: Mandarine

Date: 1/21/2010 10:56:41 AM
Author: gingerB
you probably have something called hemachromatosis, and yes it can be hereditary. if this is what is going on, basically your body isn''t able to regulate how much iron to absorb from your food, and so you have a build up of iron in your body. excess iron can lead to organ damage so it is important you do what your doc syas to keep the iron levels at a safe level. definitely limiting iron intake is helpful, removing blood is very effective, and there are also pills that can chelate the iron.


sorry to hear about the bbq steaks, that sucks! but like mandarine''s dad says, sometimes it is what it is and you just gotta do what you gots to do.


good luck!

Ditto, that''s what my dad has...

My understanding is that this only affects men...is that true?

nope. the gene transmission is autosomal recessive. which, to skip a long genetics lesson

, means it can affect both males and females. however, you do need two copies of the defective gene for the disease to manifest, so unless your mother is a carrier, chances are you will not have the disease. however since your dad DOES have the disease, you are at the very least a carrier.

 

[Mandarine]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:19:45 PM
Author: gingerB

Date: 1/21/2010 1:35:39 PM

Author: Mandarine

Date: 1/21/2010 10:56:41 AM

Author: gingerB

you probably have something called hemachromatosis, and yes it can be hereditary. if this is what is going on, basically your body isn''t able to regulate how much iron to absorb from your food, and so you have a build up of iron in your body. excess iron can lead to organ damage so it is important you do what your doc syas to keep the iron levels at a safe level. definitely limiting iron intake is helpful, removing blood is very effective, and there are also pills that can chelate the iron.



sorry to hear about the bbq steaks, that sucks! but like mandarine''s dad says, sometimes it is what it is and you just gotta do what you gots to do.



good luck!

Ditto, that''s what my dad has...

My understanding is that this only affects men...is that true?

nope. the gene transmission is autosomal recessive. which, to skip a long genetics lesson

, means it can affect both males and females. however, you do need two copies of the defective gene for the disease to manifest, so unless your mother is a carrier, chances are you will not have the disease. however since your dad DOES have the disease, you are at the very least a carrier.

ahh, that makes sense! That may be why my dad said I was ok but should test the boys...

 

[drk]

Not sure if there is a genetic test for it (I''m no geneticist). But with the bloodwork you had done during pregnancy, I think they''d have picked it up. And unless your DH has some history of it in his family, I''d be shocked if any of your kids were affected.

 

[ponder]

Yep. I have it too. I limit my red meat, don''t use cast iron skillets, use centrum silver multivitamin (no iron), also limit vitamin c when eating red meat (apparently vitamin c increases iron absorbtion) and get my levels checked annually. I am high, but not high enough that my MD has concerns about hemachromatosis yet.....

During pregnancy I went low. Very low. Shockingly low. My MD was very surprised.

No one else has it in my family that I know of.