Some Do’s and Don’ts
Here are a couple more things to consider in the long term management of your hemochromatosis. First of all, avoiding iron rich foods is a good idea to a certain extent. This can partially be offset by eating iron blocking foods such as drinking black tea. Also keep in mind that some foods aid in […]
Phlebotomy Day
I just did my regular donation last Friday, or two days ago. I have come to realize that there is an important way that I manage the days that I need to give blood so that I can pass through those days easily. I have subconsciously organized myself to avoid some of the occasional, unpleasant […]
Big Needles, Little Needles
If there is one piece of advice I could give everyone who is newly diagnosed with hereditary hemochromatosis, it would be this: demand that they use the small blood test needles as opposed to the large blood donation needles. The reasons are many (hurts less, bleeds less, heals more quickly, reduces chances of hemotomas…), but […]
Getting the Diagnosis
When I was first diagnosed with hereditary hemochromatosis, it was discovered because after a routing blood check/physical my doctor said my iron levels were elevated. They were in fact, off the charts. We spent two weeks, checked again, and my iron levels were still highly elevated. The next thing we did at this point is […]