Aches, Fatigue and Libido Loss
How did you find out that you had Hemochromatosis? I get asked this question quite a bit. The truth is, I was feeling run down for several years and was experiencing joint pain in my hands, knees and ankles for several years, and nobody could tell me why. One doctor told me it was from being deconditioned from sitting at a desk all day (I have an exciting job….) I chalked the fatigue and aches and pains to long work hours, being out of shape and a high level of stress. I did nothing about it.
Then one day my wife signed me up for a full physical with my doctor. My doctor ran the normal battery of tests including a blood panel. She was shocked by the results. My Iron levels were off the charts. She had me do more tests and asked me to read up on Hemochromatosis as this was a possible cause for the iron overload in my blood. Further tests revealed it was in fact hereditary hemochromatosis and that my liver function was elevated from the strain…..
Luckily after 6 months of regular (3 or 4 times a month), my iron levels came down, my fatigue lessened as did my joint pain. Most importantly, my liver function came back down to within normal levels. I wish I could say that after a year that my fatigue is gone and the joint pain too…. They are not, but it is much better. I’d take the healthy liver any day…. 
Some people experience a differentrange of symptoms. Here is a more complete list that I found on the Mayo Clinic website;
Signs and symptoms include:
- Arthritis, especially in your hands
- Chronic fatigue
- Loss of sex drive (libido) or impotence
- Lack of normal menstruation (amenorrhea)
- Abdominal pain
- High blood sugar levels
- Low thyroid function (hypothyroidism)
- Abnormal liver function tests, even if no other symptoms are present
In advanced stages of the disease, you may develop serious conditions such as:
- Cirrhosis — a condition marked by irreversible scarring of the liver
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Cardiac arrhythmia
Some people with advanced hemochromatosis develop a bronze color to their skin when iron deposits in the skin cells produce excess melanin — the pigment that gives skin its normal color. Visible iron deposits can also make skin appear gray.
Oh, and one final point: I did not have the decreased libido. I just thought it made for a racy headline…..
May 24th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I appreciate this website. I have had Hemocromatosis for ten years but was being
treated for Fibromyalgia until November of 07. My mother and brother also had the disease but was being treated for Polysthysemia. My mother passed away before they discovered what she really had but at least the treatment for Polythysemia was the same as Hemocromatosis but I suffered awful before they found what was really wrong with me. Alot of things on here I have experienced over the years but it was helpful and reassuring, especially the diet and what to do after the phlebotomy as I had been pushing myself. My doctor only told me to stay away from vit C. Thank you for taking the time to do this website.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Thanks for the feedback. It rally is a labor of love for me to do this site. I am sorry to hear you had such a tough time getting diagnosed and with your treatment. More good stuff to come as i have been researching the long term effects of needles on good veins….
August 16th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
September 16th, 2008 at 9:35 am
This is a very informative post about Liver cancer. Its a very needy information because my friend is suffering from Liver cancer.this is surely help to advice my friend.