Iron overload (also called Celtic Curse)

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
People were talking about iron transfusion and low iron in the blood in some other threads and it made me curious

to know if other people had too much iron in their blood.

It's called haemochromatosis.

Symptoms:

chronic fatigue,

weakness,

lethargy,

Abdominal pain; sometimes in the stomach region or the upper right hand side, sometimes diffuse

Arthritis; may affect any joint but particularly common in the knuckle and first joint of the first two fingers

Diabetes

Liver disorders; abnormal liver function tests, enlarged liver, cirrhosis

Sexual disorders; loss of sex drive, impotence in men, absent or scanty menstrual periods and early menopause in women, decrease in body hair

Cardiomyopathy; disease of the heart muscle (not to be confused with disease of the arteries of the heart)

Neurological/psychiatric disorders; impaired memory, mood swings, irritability, depression

Bronzing of the skin, or a permanent tan

Most of these symptoms are found in other disorders. Chronic fatigue may be ascribed to after-effects of a viral infection or to psychological causes, and abdominal pain to irritable bowel syndrome. Similarly liver disorders may be put down to excessive alcohol intake, even in someone who is only a moderate drinker. However, if the above symptoms are present, GH should also be considered as a diagnosis.

Most individuals who have GH will, in due course, develop at least one or two of the above symptoms, although possibly in a very mild form. There may be a long phase of the condition where there are no symptoms. However, if arthritis is found only in the first two finger joints this is highly suggestive of GH.

The need for treatment to remove excess iron does not depend upon the presence of clinical symptoms. The risk of developing a serious complaint such as cirrhosis is much too great to be overlooked.

The information provided by The Haemochromatosis Society is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem you should consult your doctor.

http://www.haemochromatosis.org.uk/index.html

I found I had it when my psychiatrist did a blood test. And it was very very high.... he sent me urgently to see a blood doctor.

2
Haemachromatosis is definitely a serious condition. It's one of the reasons why it's not a good idea to dose yourself with iron without having it prescribed by the doctor, as overdosing on iron is quite dangerous.

My husband carries haemoglobin at the very top of the normal range, and myself I carry it at the very lowest point of the normal range - the blood bank love his blood (in fact, they suggest that giving a couple of times a year is probably good in keeping his levels from getting too high)...

3
I spent almost two years with bleedings every 10 days (with a few *holiday* of course) and my blood was destruct

(even if Geneva needed and still need blood).

I finally got an expensive drug and I'm almost fine.

But I will have to do some bleedings every year.

4
Yeah, I'm not sure how wise it is to take supplements with a high dose of iron in them, especially if red meat is a normal part of your diet. But I do think it's wise to get your iron levels checked periodically, particularly if you're female and have heavy menstrual cycles, etc.

I just learned a few days ago from my OB/GYN that the number considered to be a good iron level has only recently begun to change. When I told my doctor that I was often getting dizzy spells when my iron level was only around 38, and then the dizziness completely stopped once I had the infusions, she said that's good to know because, apparently, doctors are still researching what are good iron levels (particularly for women). It's now thought that the number should be much higher than thought before.

Anyways, I really can't stress enough how important I think it is to get your iron level checked periodically. This thread raises a good point about too much iron and the risks of supplements, etc.

5
Just keep a few leeches in your bath, I believe you can sell them as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leech

6
good idea, but I hesitate. it's already difficult to have a bath with a woman.... it would become impossible.....

7
Sorry, I forgot you were divorced!

8
Divorced ? I should have been married before getting divorced....

9
I thought you meant you could not get in the bath with your ex wife, who is a leech?

10
Personal medical records and romantic history all on one thread.......funny how some people delete accounts for privacy concerns and then use the internet for this. People will never stop amazing me

11
Sorry to hear about your illness and thanks for the information, but did anyone else enter this thread thinking it was about a metal band which had recently changed it's name?

12
the romantic bit is totally *imaginary*.

Personal medical record ? not really as you don't have all the details.

Now, as it's something people can have without knowing about it, I think it's important. I decided to post about it because the French Association about that illness will start a week of sensibilisation.

13
My HS boyfriend, his brother and his dad all had this condition. They had to go to the doc regularly for iron level checks and occasional blood donations. Since they were aware of it, it did not seem to cause any problems with daily life. His dad found out about the condition during routine checks during military service, and once he had kids he had them tested.

14
Iron Overload?

Celtic Curse?

It's the thread of hair metal bands that never were!

15
Interesting, though, that they call it the "Celtic Curse." I had no idea that this type of thing is common among people with Irish blood. (I'm half Irish).

16
What is the cause of the iron overload? Do you have a a chronic disease?

Good you are seeing a MD!!

Generally speaking, with many chronic disease you could have high inflammation proteins (i.e. Hepcidin) which sequester iron in the form of ferritin.

Look at the ferritin and transferrin staturations levels (TSAT as a %). Your TSAT should be abour 20%; this is a measure amount of iron that is actually "available" for your body to use. You can have high ferritin levels and low TSAT levels (so high storage, low availablity), which is known a functional iron deficiency, and is a symptom of many chronic diseases and chronic infections as well.

In the other case, low ferritin, low TSAT, that's called Absolute iron defciency, and well many not apply in your case, but just as FYI.

Hemachromatosis, is pretty bad and a sign of chronic iron overload, usually Blood transfusions (Kidney patients use to get this before EPO) reduced transfustions. But these patients had MASSIVE iron overload for long periods of time (due to them transfusions..about 2 to 3 a week back in the day).

So do talk to your doctor!!! This is just for your back ground so you can have an intelligent conversation with him. (i.e. trigger him/her to look for chronic inflamm diseases/infections as part of work up, but he/she should know this).

Cheers

17
We all do that, it's called "tax returns".

18
it's a genetic disorder ... my mum has it too.

I see a *blood doctor* (sounds better that an hematologist )

Good one

19
Just bumping this to do some more awareness.

If you have any of the mentioned symptoms, ask your doctor to do a test.

It's not expensive and could make your life easier.... at least if you're under 35 years old, as specialists say after 35, damages done by iron won't disappear...

One of my *iron-friends* is now on a waiting list for a liver transplant after surgery for cancer and some other people I know are not in a better state...