OT-your health

I posted this as a reply in another subject, but it is my current agenda to inform as many as I can.. The 'Iron Disorders Institute' publishes a very good book on the condition.
I was having a 'chronic fatigue' problem last spring and early summer. thought I had been too lazy thru the winter, out of shape. Then in late June I was diagnosed with 'iron-overload'..(way over), It's called 'Hemochromotosis'. It can kill ya !! Number one symptom is sudden fatigue, sweating, out of breath, etc. Also causes joint pain(finger knuckle), hair loss, liver damage, heart muscle damage, impotence & more.
Thousands of people have the problem and they do not know it. Testing for this was removed from routine blood work back in 1997 because 'powerful people' decided it wasn't cost
effective. what?, a hundred dollar test versus later on having diabetes or cirrhosis ? ?
The correction is just, giving blood! only way to lower your iron. I have been losing 500ml per week for 9 weeks,(under the VA care) am now feeling good and my daily headaches went away !! BTW, this is genetic, we get it from our parents,,, and give it to our children !! Everyone over 50 should know what their 'Ferritin' level is and if it is high get a HFE gene test !! For your childrens sake.

Years ago I gave blood for my sister due to cancer. They told me if my iron count had been one point higher they could not take my blood. Makes me wonder if maybe I should have mine checked more often since I have joint pain leg pain and a few others of those things

I have a friend that was diagnosed with it. He could not get the energy to do simple things he really desired to do. with treatment, he became the man he was 15 years before the onset. Were it me, I would have the test. Jim

Make me wonder why when every year the V.A takes blood that they do not check things like iron count etc. I know in my records there is that info and I have had it checked more then once but then again the V.A. care is not as good as it should be so I guess I will need to address that on the 15th when I go there

Hi
A customer from a place I used to work had it. Guy was 6 ft 6 tall and 6ft wide. He started feeling rough like you did, during his spring seeding run. When he went to the Dr's they had to take him to the cattle auction to weigh him in the scales there, they couldn't do it in the office. He peronally told me that so I know it's true, this guys as honest and straight up as they come.

This is what they found with him. Doc's first words were loose weight/correct diet, exercise and give us blood every day or so I believe for quite a while, from what he told us at the time.
The final words the DR said when he left there was do as I say and I'll see you in a month, Don't start doing it and I'll be at your funeral in 2 weeks. the guys still 6ft6 tall and only about 2ft wide now. Says he's never felt better when I see him around now, he looks real good to. This happened about 7 years ago. I got one of my shop customers here has it to. Both these guys mothers had it, and they were both diagnosed within a few months of each other as well.
Regards Robert

Man, ckain, that is great info!

By the way, one of the things that can contribute to high iron in the blood is use of cast iron cookware. We are using all stainless steel now.

I was on blood thinners and built a fence around a 100 acres. Lost so much blood through scratches and wire cuts I got anemic from the loss. had to go in the hospital and get a blood transfusion. I lost iron in my blood and the level was so low my body wouldn't make blood.

I've heard that giving blood is extremely healthly for men middle aged and beyond. Heavy metal accumulate in the body and the blood and the only way to get rid of them is to remove the blood. I hadn't heard about the above but I had heard it helped prevent excessive clotting - as in the blood clot the leads to strokes and heart attacks.

My brother has hemochromatosis, so he gives blood frequently. So my Dr. has my blood tested for ferritin level each year as part of my annual physical exam.