Hemachromatosis is a genetic mutation. It causes excess iron to be absorbed and fucks up everything. It's something that they don't test anyone for. I'm going to cite a bunch of information. Unless otherwise stated, it's coming from here.
Iron is an essential nutrient found in many foods. Iron carries oxygen (in hemoglobin) to all parts of the body. Normally, humans absorb about 8-10% of the iron in foods that they eat. People with hemochromatosis (too much iron) can absorb four times more iron than normal.
Undiagnosed and untreated hemochromatosis (too much iron) increases the risk for diseases and conditions such as:
- Diabetes mellitus (check)
- Irregular heart beat or heart attack
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis)
- Cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer (check)
- Gall bladder disease (check)
- Depression (check)
- Impotence
- Infertility
- Hypothyroidism (check)
- Hypogonadism
- Some cancers
Mismanaged iron in the brain has been observed in autopsies of people with neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's, early onset Parkinson's, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease.
In their studies, doctors are used to this being found in older men, so sometimes they just don't connect the dots, but this is something that is apparently becoming common. It's most prevalent in caucasians, but can effect any ethnicity.
Hemochromatosis is believed to affect over 1 million Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This statistic means that 1-250 Americans have full-blown Hemochromatosis and 1-8 Americans are carriers for the genetic make-up. Below are video stories of patients that have immense experience with Hemochromatosis.
There's a bunch of terminology about the genetics...coming from one parents or two...and I don't care so much about that stuff. I would bet all the money in the world that my dad had it due to his health conditions and my mom and her side of the family are all getting tested for it. I'm also having my daughter checked. early detection and management can prevent her from having to go through everything I've went through.
Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
Chronic fatigue and joint pain are the most common complaints of people with hemochromatosis. For this reason, the complete diagnosis is often delayed because these two symptoms are commonly seen in other diseases. Pain in the knuckles of the pointer and middle finger, collectively called “The Iron Fist,” is the only sign or symptom specific to hemochromatosis. However, not everyone with HHC experiences the Iron Fist.
Patients often complain of the following:
Some complain of the following symptoms, although these indicators are not always specific to hemochromatosis:
- Lack of energy (check)
- Abdominal pain (check)
- Memory fog (check)
- Loss of sex drive
(check)- Heart flutters
- Irregular heart beat
When symptoms are associated with hemochromatosis, these usually begin in men in their late 20’s to early 30’s. In women, symptoms usually start about 10-15 years after they stop having a period due to menopause, birth control pills, or hysterectomy. Consider using our Symptom Logs to monitor your symptoms of hemochromatosis.
DISEASES THAT CAN DEVELOP IF LEFT UNTREATED
- Bone and joint: osteoarthritis or osteoporosis in knuckles, ankles, and hips
- Liver: enlarged liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure diabetes
(check)- Skin: abnormal color (bronze, reddish or ashen-gray)
- Heart: irregular heartbeat, enlarged heart, congestive heart failure
- Endocrine: diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, (infertility, impotence), hormone imbalances (check)
- Spleen: enlarged spleen (check)
One thing that has came up on several of the websites I've been looking at is that it usually occurs in women after menopause. When you're no longer having a period, you're not losing the iron that you would through menstruation. Why am I period talking? I got my first IUD in either late 2007 or early 2008 and I stopped menstruating. I was diagnosed with Cirrhosis in 2009/2010.I don't know if it can happen that fast, but damn if that's not coincidental.
So there's a bunch of medical junk. It doesn't change the plan at all, but I've gone for 29 years of my life having a thing I didn't have a name for. Now I do.
On an unrelated note, but send some comments my way. I would like to write more, often, but I generally struggle with knowing what people want to know. No subject is really off limits. Writing is one thing that I really enjoy, and I'd like to have more of it in my life.
Huzzah! So happy that you can now fight something specific instead of just trying to cure the symptoms. I hope this brings you a little bit of peace.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the bit about the iud. I just got one last year and I have been considering getting rid of it because I don't like not getting a period. I should ask my doctor if this is a risk.
-snuggleupagus
It's the genetics rather than the IUD that's the main problem. If you don't have the genetics, you're not at risk. I absolutely LOVE not having a period.
ReplyDeleteSo there is that whole knowing is half the battle thing handled.
ReplyDeleteHere's the other thing. Given the stats, who's going to think to test a 10 year old girl for this? I agree. It stinks terribly. It makes me sick to think that I was half of that equation. I'm also having my Dad tested, who had his first heart attack at age 39... and now has nearly everything on the list. Who knows? <3
ReplyDeleteHere's the other thing. Given the stats, who's going to think to test a 10 year old girl for this? I agree. It stinks terribly. It makes me sick to think that I was half of that equation. I'm also having my Dad tested, who had his first heart attack at age 39... and now has nearly everything on the list. Who knows? <3
ReplyDeleteWow, my aunt Judy was diagnosed with hemachromatosis last year, and I suspect my mom might've had it given her health problems (she passed away in 2011).
ReplyDelete