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Raised blood iron

seanj67

Well-Known Member
Messages
283
Location
Lincoln
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Good afternoon all,

I went for my 3 month bloods last week, and the results show I have high levels of iron and increased red cells. Now I thought a lot of iron was good, but apparently not!

I'm still waiting to get the doctor to review the numbers and decide what if anything we need to do, but I wondered if anyone else on here had the same issue? Apparently it causes blurred vision and tiredness amongst other things - symptoms that also apply to my diabetes.

Looks like I may need to reduce my iron intake from food, which could cause some issues with any LCHF plans I'm following.

It's just one thing after another....

S
 
High iron? Or high Ferritin? Or high Hb? There are a lot of tests that come under Iron. Did you get the test results? In your shoes I'd contact the haematology department at the nearest hospital.

My hubby had high Hb and funny FBC results, it turned out to be a EPO producing tumour.
 
Well, I'm sure they said high hb... and red cells. Next week they are testing Ferrin and B vitamin levels followed by a discussion about results of those.
 
They need to do a genetic test for haemochromatosis. It's fairly common (I'm a carrier and have relatives with the full blown disorder). It's not life threatening (unless very severe, when you would have clear symptoms) and it's fairly easily treated. Important to get your iron levels down to a safe range so you don't get complications affecting the joints and organs. A referral to a haematologist might be a good idea. It's good that your high iron levels were picked up early.

AFAIK you can still eat plenty of foods containing iron. Just avoid supplements containing iron. And try not to have vitamin C-rich foods within 2 hours of eating iron-rich foods.
 
I was diagnosed with hemochromatosis in 1994 and I started giving blood every 8 weeks and I have done so religiously ever since.
I was right on the cusp of having too much iron to donate so my doctor took a pint of blood in the office that day and gave me a saline IV and the next day I walked into a donor center and donated.
The nurse commented that had my numbers been any higher at all she would have had to turn me away.
I stayed with the donations as often as was legal to do so and watched my iron count slowly ( painfully slow) come down.
It took a number of years to reach "normal" levels, but has been steadily maintained for the last 10 years by being careful not to take on any extra iron and donating blood 6 times a year.
My grandfather died of psoriasis of the liver having never drank alcohol.
His hemochromatosis caused the extra iron in his system was deposited in his liver causing the psoriasis.
 
Usually these days they do blood draws every week until the target is reached, then maintenance draws after that, because the sooner the levels come down the better. For a long time people with this disorder were not allowed to donate blood in many countries but that is changing.
 
By getting in under the wire I was able to go as a "regular" person rather that a patient needing therapy so it didn't cost me anything but I had to wait the 8 weeks so it was a cost saving device
I could have gotten a prescription and done it every week but that would have been quite expensive and they would have thrown away all that good iron rich blood instead of using it for patients who needed it.
I also learned through that process that I am CMV- so my blood is good for babies and aids patients.
So it was a win-win
Kudos to my smart Dr who slightly bent the rules
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I used to be a blood donor but gave up when i was diagnosed with diabetes.

I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it and i can get whatever treatment is needed, if any.

S
 
Thanks Totto,

they were done at the same time as the other tests - and thankfully came back ok. I've had a "sluggish" liver on and off over the years, but these days it seems fine.
 
Ok, I saw the GP today as I had more bloods done and the hb was still up. She said that it was only just outside the range and showed me how over that last 2 years it's gone up and down a few times, but only ever to the same max level. Interestingly the occasions have been when I have been drinking more alcohol - or more regularly.

So the upshot was I'm fine, but should cut back on alcohol if possible and aim to get a few more lbs off - both of which are in my hands. I wasn't aware that alcohol can affect blood oxygen. Liver & kidneys were fine.

So, it's back to the LC Forum
 
Glad to hear things are ok. I would still get iron blood tests done every 3 months to make sure you aren't developing iron overload, as you could have haemochromatosis (genetic test can tell you one way or another). Do you have any relatives over 50 who have T2 diabetes, arthritis, liver disease, strokes or heart problems?
 
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