I was 45 when I found out that I had HH. The doctor did tell me if I did not have a hysterectomy at the age of 24 and bleed monthly. My ferritin levels probably wouldn't have gone up. So yes I believe females that stop the monthly cycle this would be more proned to show up.

CaseClosed do you know what your SF at diagnosis? I realize you're probably higher than most woman your age because of your hysterectomy.

I am not sure what SF is but this is what the test results were
Iron serum 228 High
Iron and saturation 96.3 High
Unsat Iron Binding 14 Low
Ferritin Serum 1212 High
Folic Acid Serum 5.8 Low
Hematocrit 49.4 High
Reticulocyte Count 2.0 High
Retic Count Corrected 2.3 High

This is all the doctor gave me....SF is that in there?

I was diagnosed at age 38. My ferritin was over 2400 at that time. I am pre-menopausal. I do wonder if I will load more after menopause but maybe not because my cycle is weak and always has been.

CaseClosed, yes, SF is listed. You have it listed as Ferritin Serum. That is high.

I do agree with your comment that females that stop the monthly cycle this would be more proned to show up.

GidgetD, Wow! that is high for a premenopausal woman. Do you have a heavy flow? I did when I was menstruating. Maybe that's what saved me from a higher SF at diagnosis.

No my flow is very light and always has been and I was also 16 when I first started which is late for most. I think your heavy flow did help you from loading iron to fast.

Yes that is very high SF. I am surprised yours is so high for so young. Are you giving blood now?

Yes I give every three weeks and I like to keep my ferritin down to 20. I load iron very quickly.

I am not sure how quickly I absorb iron. I found the disease a yr ago and never tested for a yr. I am anemic now and may be doing the wrong things. I gave up red meat, cereal, pasta etc...for a yr. Now that I am anemic I picked up cereal. I hope I am not doing the wrong thing. :(

I gave up those things for the year I was de-ironed but I do eat them now in moderation, I believe if you avoid everything with iron in it then you are also avoiding things that your body needs. I can't believe you will stay anemic for very long with HH but we are all different. How often are you testing your iron right now and ferritin?

CaseClosed, I agree with GidgetD. When I was first diagnosed, I stoppped eating meat, etc. Then I decided it wasn't necessary to stop eating meat. I eat it occasionally, maybe once every ten days. I also make sure I have calcium when I eat meat since the calcium interfers with the iron absorption.

Well, I got sick and couldn't get better. I was never tested but a yr ago for anything. I gave blood a yr. Got real sick. When I went to doctor 1 month ago found out 7 ferritin and folic acids way low. So I have to see another doctor on the 23rd. I don't know if he will test me or not. I was told don't give blood for 3 months from the doctor that never tested me. So right now in limbo waiting to find out what the new doctor wants to do. He is a hemotologist. I think he will test me again but I am not sure.

It is a simple blood test I would make sure he tested you for iron and ferritin, you need to know these numbers on a regular basis, everyone with HH should. You will learn when your body feels the best and then you should try to keep them there. I feel best when my ferritin is at 10 to 20.

CaseClosed, I went down as low as 6 with the ferritin. However, I never became anemic. My hemaglobin was 12.0 when that happened. I bounced back.
I like to keep my ferritin below 30 but closer to 20. More important for me is the transferrin saturation. I have to keep that between 20-30 otherwise I get brain fog.