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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by River1924 on March 11, 2006, at 1:24:38
Hi, this is a public service posting.
I have EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness.) For me, I just considered it a symptom of my atypical depression. It improved a great deal, however, after I was tested and treated for a fairly common genetic disorder called hemochromatosis. One in 200 have the genes necessary but, for reasons unknown at this time, only one in 1000 develop a problem that needs treatment.
One doesn't need the genetic test. There are two blood test you need but an iron level (which women get sometimes) isn't useful. In some instances, one may test anemic. With hemochromatosis, the body tends to absord too much iron and stores it as a protein called ferritin. The body can not excrete iron (also known as ferritin) so it will builds up in the blood, liver, endocrine glands, etc.
If anyone reading has a lot of fatigue, or has odd liver enzyme or hormone levels, diabetes, or arthritic/gout symptoms, heart arrythmia, libido probs or any number of other things including bronze skin- check out http://www.ironoverload.org/anemia.htm or http://www.irondisorders.org/
It is very unlikely you have been tested and it only takes two simple blood tests: ferritin levels (not iron levels) and another called TSat%.
Hope this helps someone or someone you know. River.
Posted by KarenRB53 on March 11, 2006, at 20:17:05
In reply to Ferritin and faigue: FYI, posted by River1924 on March 11, 2006, at 1:24:38
> Hi, this is a public service posting.
>
> I have EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness.) For me, I just considered it a symptom of my atypical depression. It improved a great deal, however, after I was tested and treated for a fairly common genetic disorder called hemochromatosis. One in 200 have the genes necessary but, for reasons unknown at this time, only one in 1000 develop a problem that needs treatment.
>
> One doesn't need the genetic test. There are two blood test you need but an iron level (which women get sometimes) isn't useful. In some instances, one may test anemic. With hemochromatosis, the body tends to absord too much iron and stores it as a protein called ferritin. The body can not excrete iron (also known as ferritin) so it will builds up in the blood, liver, endocrine glands, etc.
>
> If anyone reading has a lot of fatigue, or has odd liver enzyme or hormone levels, diabetes, or arthritic/gout symptoms, heart arrythmia, libido probs or any number of other things including bronze skin- check out http://www.ironoverload.org/anemia.htm or http://www.irondisorders.org/
>
> It is very unlikely you have been tested and it only takes two simple blood tests: ferritin levels (not iron levels) and another called TSat%.
>
> Hope this helps someone or someone you know. River.Do you know what our ferritin level should be?
Posted by Phillipa on March 11, 2006, at 20:26:03
In reply to Re: Ferritin and faigue: FYI, posted by KarenRB53 on March 11, 2006, at 20:17:05
River they tested me for that too. But I don't have it. At least one thing that I don't have. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by River1924 on March 12, 2006, at 1:37:02
In reply to Re: Ferritin and faigue: FYI, posted by KarenRB53 on March 11, 2006, at 20:17:05
According to "The Iron Disorders Institute: Guide to Hemochromatosis", the normal range of ferritin in adult males is 25 to 300ng/mL. In females, the range is 25 to 200ng/mL. It is assumed a women should lose iron every month when she menstruates. Illness can make ferritin higher. The test can be inaccurate in this case. The body converts iron to ferritin temporarily during bacterial infection. Iron is lowered in the blood, in this case, and ferritin higher. Bacteria use iron as food and this process is the body's attempt to starve the bacteria. (***By the way, I started out at 1040 and now I am at 12.)
Therefore, another test needs to be done. In hemochromatosis, one needs to know one’s TSat% (Transferrin Iron Saturation Percentage.) Transferrin is a protein that buses iron around the body and keeps it from damaging cells through oxidation. Transferrin can only hold so much safely: otherwise iron atoms are unstable and can “fall off” and damage tissues. One needs two fasting percentages greater than 45%. Ideally, the number is between 25 and 35%. (***Mine began at 100% and now is 15%.)
Just for your info, one can have iron overload even if these test are normal. Normally not but the most common symptom is elevated liver enzymes and scans which show the liver loaded with iron (which encourages infections and destroys cells.)
Also, one can overcome the digestive regulation of iron if one smokes tobacco. The lungs will absorb iron in the smoke without discrimination.
Men (and women after menopause probably) who do not have hemochromatosis tend to have too much iron anyway. Iron fortified food and red meat have only been available in abundance in this century.
If the average man donates blood one time a year, his risk of heart attack decreases by 50%. Even if the men you love hate needles, blood donation might save their lives. Encourage it.
Posted by mike99 on March 12, 2006, at 8:46:50
In reply to Ferritin/fatigue:BTW Men should donate blood! » KarenRB53, posted by River1924 on March 12, 2006, at 1:37:02
Thanks for sharing this info =). And congrats on getting your saturation down! Was it your ferritin that went from 1040 to 12? If so may I ask how many bloodlettings this took?> Just for your info, one can have iron overload even if these test are normal. Normally not but the most common symptom is elevated liver enzymes and scans which show the liver loaded with iron (which encourages infections and destroys cells.)
Might it be possible to have normal liver enzymes with normal ferritin and transferrin saturation and STILL have iron overload?
>>
> If the average man donates blood one time a year, his risk of heart attack decreases by 50%. Even if the men you love hate needles, blood donation might save their lives. Encourage it.Might I respectfully ask where this information is from? I don't doubt that blood donation may reduce heart attack risk---in fact I give blood myself to keep it in check---but is there scientific evidence for this claim? Just wondering.
Either way your message is well-taken and much appreciated. I've had a few high transferrin saturation readings---gave 2 pints of blood and now it's even in the low range---which is not dangerous as long as the hemoglobin is normal.
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