Hemochromatosis Support Group
Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. It is the main iron overload disorder. Hemochromatosis is notorious for having symptoms that are often initially misattributed to other diseases.
Would the phlebs possibly make me depressed? I've read about foggy brains and fatigue on this site. I have that but now find myself quite depressed. I don't think I am overly worried about HH itself, it is more like a no reason depression-anxiety. Could it be a physical reaction? I feel so different...
I turn them down because I know i am not depressed except for having to deal with this. Quite likely depression, arthritis, jaundice and chronic fatigue which have no treatment except for drugs are symptoms of the easily (relitvely) treatable HH.
Get your iron down and then if you are still depressed you likely have depression.
Until that time I wouldn't disregard dpression entirely, but it is unlikely.
Good luck and don't let anything get in your way.
Give the phlebotomies a try. If your iron is high it needs to come down anyways. There is more than a good chance you will feel better soon.
1) Iron overload can cause symptoms that are similar to depression (another way of thinking about it is that iron overload could contribute to a depression). My brother was certainly run-down for a few years before his diagnosis, though I am not sure that he would have said he was "depressed" per se. I don't think it affected me the same way, (though I'm not entirely sure) but then I had less than 1/4 the iron that my brother did.
2) A once (or more) per week phleb schedule is pretty rigorous, you're likely going to have fewer blood cells than normal and that can cause you to feel low (though there are also people who feel terrific after a phleb -- remember, we're all very complicated chemical machines, each one different in bigger and smaller ways from the others).
I find that exercise helps me through the week. There's nothing like starting the day with 30-45 minutes of good aerobic exercise to blow away the cobwebs, though you probably don't want to do that within the 24 hours after your phleb. Of course, not everyone is physically capable of that, but I would urge anyone who is capable of it of at least going for a half-hour (or more) walk (or similar) a few times a week. It almost certainly will improve your outlook.
3) If you're still feeling down, don't hesitate to ask for an antidepressant, like maybe a Lexapro or something. There are some very good ones out there, though please be aware that some people may need to try a number of them before finding one that works.
The very last thing to do is to try to "gut" it out -- there's no particular merit in feeling miserable, you don't get extra points for that.
I also have bad pains in my hands, hips, knees and ankles so I can not stand or sit for any length of time or walk more that a couple of hundred yards. My hands are so bad that it hurts to fill the coffee pot in the morning. GP says no Tylenol, Gastro says no NSAIDs. I tried several antidepressants but they screwed me up so bad I couldn't think or see straight. I also have cirrhosis and all the symptoms that go along with that.
Right now, I am at a loss and don't know where to turn. Brain fog is bad and the joint pain is worse. Libido is nil and not much quality of life. I'm wondering what will become of me. I'm not suicidal by any stretch just majorly bummed.
I seem to have horrible digestion problems, especially since I de-ironed, and since the drugs they give me for that don't seem to help, but make things worse, I've been told not to return to the doc until I see a psychiatrist.
My hemotologist says that my problems aren't related to the HH, so go see another doc.
I've been on and off anti-depressants for years and before the HH, I found that exercise was the only thing that made me feel better. Sadly, even tho I'm de-ironed, I am so run down it's not funny and any type of exercise finishes me off for the day. I have to save my energy for dealing with my children.
However, if you've got it in you, I would recommend a brisk walk for 10, 15 or 30 minutes a day if you can muster it. Also, taking an anti-depressant is not a bad thing if they work for you. They just don't work for me.
The thing is, I don't feel depressed right now...just frustrated and exhausted.
I am also convinced that every medication we take, every food we put in our mouth, sometimes even the local water supply can cause chemical reactions in our bodies. Loading up on iron and taking iron out has to be doing something to your system.
Don't give up, try to keep your spirits up and keep pushing...you are you're only advocate in your health and when you feel lousy, it's a tough job.
Good luck!
It is hard to look at what we are going through and not be a little depressed by any means and I think it is part of our HH and also a part of just how we feel (especially this time of the year).
Hang in there and write down the things that you enjoy and bring you happiness and start working on them. As crazy as this may sound. I sometimes take my warm cup of green tea out on the porch at night all bundled up in couple of layers of cloths, hat, scarf, gloves and a few blankets and just enjoy the night air. Its quiet and the animals are beautiful to listen to. It really brings alot of peace to me.