High Iron Levels

my husband has a condition called hemachromatosis, where his body doesn't flush iron out the way it should. Vitamin C also helps retain the iron in your body. He maintains by eating food low in iron. When he was first diagnosed, he had to give blood every three months to try to help control his iron levels, but now he just has to go in twice a year to check his levels and he's fine.

His grandmother also has the disease, and unfortuantely, she wasn't diagnosed until later in life when it started effecting her nerves and causing her pain. The doctor told her that when she was having periods that helped with flushing out some of the iron.

It is hereditary, but it's possible that 1. members of your family have it that don't know it (when my hubby's gma was diagnosed, all of the family got tested and only he and his brothers have it, but not their mom or cousins) or 2. your parents were both carriers and didn't know it.

While you may not take an iron supplement, you get iron in many foods. Do you eat a lot of red meat? It's packed full of iron. Egg yolks, dark leafy greens (like spinach).... all are high in iron. Maybe look at your diet & see if there's something packing a high iron punch. :) Good luck

There is a disease that is commonly found people of English decent that has high iron levels. This is called hemochromotosis. I am not saying this is what you have, this is an option and maybe mention to your doctor. I have a friend with this and they have to donate blood once a month to remove some iron from their blood. It is also hereditary. Don't let them tell you its nothing though.. at least get a repeat blood test or see a hematologist. If left untreated, damage to the liver can occur, but it is very manageable to prevent this. Also I know some people with it no longer drink.

It’s not real high, but they will probably want to do a phlebotomy. Have them test for iron overload, and hope you don’t have what one of the other mama's posted already.

My friend has to go to "bleed out" once a month to help keep her iron levels normal. It took a while to get it managed, but she is back to a normal. She gets sick easy, she is a smoker and catches every cold that comes in the office.