Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) My mom has had consistently high iron levels for quite some time. She thinks the doctor said they were 630 today. She first saw the doctor about this when her liver was hard, about a year ago. What says the hive? What should she be doing? Considering? Edited November 15, 2016 by arctic_bunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtomom Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 There are meds to chelate iron, or phlebotomy if health allows. Has her doctor recommended treatment? Did she have transfusions/do they know why her iron is high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 Donating blood has been the only treatment offered. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Donating blood or chelation. I'm a wee bit jealous - I can't keep my iron up to save my life. With supplementing my ferritin is still only about 10 right now and my hematocrit was a pitiful 35, and my midwives get very nervous about my bleeding in labor. Iron is like goldilocks - we want it in the 'just right' territory. She should call around - many naturopathic/integrative medicine practices do chelation therapy and I find it's easier to locate than an allopathic practitioner. Some do it, but less for some reason??? Edited November 15, 2016 by Arctic Mama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 And her only other medical issue is GERD, which I really think is a manifestation of anxiety, but she doesn't believe me on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 And her only other medical issue is GERD, which I really think is a manifestation of anxiety, but she doesn't believe me on that one. I'd look into the chelation first and if that doesn't do it then try donating blood. I think if you're older sometimes donating can be more physically taxing, but her provider should be able to talk over her specific risk factors and decide the best course. Definitely start calling around the yellow pages for chelation therapy though :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I don't think GERD has anything to do with anxiety. A TON of people have GERD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 But yeah that's interesting. Is she getting a lot of iron from something? Iron pipes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Donating blood has been the only treatment offered. Well, that's a great option. Is there a reason she doesn't want to do that? It's painless, easy, and does good in the world. Honestly, it's safer than nearly any drug or even most supplements/etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 I don't think GERD has anything to do with anxiety. A TON of people have GERD. Sorry, she has heartburn often. Which was my first symptom of anxiety :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I don't think GERD has anything to do with anxiety. A TON of people have GERD. Actually, anxiety and acid reflux do tend to go together fairly often. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 Well, that's a great option. Is there a reason she doesn't want to do that? It's painless, easy, and does good in the world. Honestly, it's safer than nearly any drug or even most supplements/etc. She just told me that she needs her doctor to sign off on her doing it because she's over a "certain age". She's had the form for ages. *eyeroll* So, as of now, I guess I have to start nagging her about that! I hadn't thought of pipes, but you'd think her DH would be affected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 Actually, anxiety and acid reflux do tend to go together fairly often. I wish they didn't, though! Then one wouldn't go deeper into a panic attack wondering if they're having a heart attack or acid reflux. Which makes the heartburn worse. Which makes the panic worse. Oh, when I first read about anxiety, and thinking you're having a heart attack is the number one thing, and I thought, "What?! Other people think they're having a heart attack, too?!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithful_Steward Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 My mom has hemochromatosis. She has to donate blood a few times a year. It seems that it is the standard treatment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Actually, anxiety and acid reflux do tend to go together fairly often. Interesting. I have acid reflux. I have no idea what the problem is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 My mom has hemochromatosis. She has to donate blood a few times a year. It seems that it is the standard treatment. Good to know! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 DH carries the gene for hemochromatosis. His iron stays fairly high but so far not so high that he absolutely needs to donate blood or visit the phlebotomist regularly. Per his doctor's suggestion he watches his red meat intake, I no longer cook with cast iron ( :( ) and he avoids consuming any citrus fruit or juice when eating high iron foods. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 My mom has hemochromatosis. She has to donate blood a few times a year. It seems that it is the standard treatment. It's a genetic condition common in those of northern european descent. My scottish father has it and donates blood every few months. I have read that hemochromatosis developed because high iron levels are thought to be protective against plague. :zombie: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 I know someone that has it and as he is JW and does not donate for blood transfusions he goes to the DR every 3 months and is bleed. I know someone else who eats a very carefully planned diet that is very low in iron and he manages to keep his levels down that way I am one of the people who have anaemia and cannot keep my levels up anywhere close to normal- even with a high iron diet and a high iron suppliant daily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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