Hemochromatosis

So, I found out I have this genetic disorder called hemochromatosis. It basically means I have too much iron in my blood. Normal level is from 20-200, I had 720.
So, what they are going to do is take a pint of blood from my body every week for possibly the next year. Yeah, year.

They started right away, so yesterday, I gave my first pint.
It wasn't fun. I almost passed out twice. I don't give out my blood well, apparently. I was very nauseated afterwards. What should have taken 10 minutes took over an hour. The nurse told me to expect this every time. Great.

Then, today, I had to get an MRI. Now, my wife and daughter have both had these before, and it wasn't the worst experience of my life, but it wasn't the greatest either. I had to lay totally still for almost an hour and my arm was killing me at the end.

Anyway, enough whining. Guess its just a fact of my life now.

Comments

Christine said…
My husband had the same problems. Here are a couple of tips to help you with the phlebotomies: 1. make sure you are well hydrated before going in. 2. Take vitamin B-12 supplements. This will help you rebuild the red blood cells.
Laurie said…
Well......that makes us ''kindered spirits''. Guess what I need?????? BLOOD! I am anemic and have blood tranfusions and iron infusion. Neither are fun and sorry, you are right, not fun but a fact of life. I use to have remicade treatments every 6 weeks which is an infusion for 3 to 4 hours long. The blood transfusions are 3 hours long and the iron infusions are 4 hours long. I have crohn's disease.Now, the real reason I went looking for your email but found your blog........Tyler Farrington would like to go to Happening. We have had the application forever but with Christmas and New Year's, have not seen each other a lot and at one time, did not want to bother you on Christmas Eve. Can you please put his name in for Happening? Thanks.Sorry you will have to go through giving blood for so long but it could be worse. That is what I think of when I start feeling sorry for myself (which I do all the time). ha-haYours truly,Laurie SchwarzbachTyler Farrington's MomC #713 259 9037
~Daisy~ said…
Hey! I started my phlebotomy this past Monday. I am also having to do weekly 'donations'. I DID pass out!!! It took an hour+ for me too. Now, my nurse (who incidentally was Joe's chemo nurse) told me that as my iron level drops, my blood will thin and it will actually be quicker.Not exactly fun, eh?Oh, tell Robyn I will mail the check for cookies this week!