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.
So i have blood for the first time yesterday. My hematologist said that I wasn't loading bad enough to start phlebs but he suggested that i donate blood. Now that's i'm 19 my weight doesn't matter, so i finally got up the guts to do it.
I felt fine the whole time except for at the very end when i got sick :( but right after i was sick i felt ok. although the nurses offering me a hot dog didn't help much haha
Today i am completely exhausted. I have never been so tired in my life, and i've been pretty dang tired. How long will i be so tired? I can barely function. I took 2 naps today and am still tired. :(
Also, I have been having a lot of stomach issues lately. I went to the doctor this morning and they took more blood (not cool) and they said i should get the results thursday. she thinks it could just be IBS but since i've been having these pains after i eat for a few years she thinks it could be worse. maybe a gluten allergy. Does anyone else get camps in there lover stomach in the middle of a meal? It gets so bad sometimes that i have to stop eating for half an hour or more.
I felt fine the whole time except for at the very end when i got sick :( but right after i was sick i felt ok. although the nurses offering me a hot dog didn't help much haha
Today i am completely exhausted. I have never been so tired in my life, and i've been pretty dang tired. How long will i be so tired? I can barely function. I took 2 naps today and am still tired. :(
Also, I have been having a lot of stomach issues lately. I went to the doctor this morning and they took more blood (not cool) and they said i should get the results thursday. she thinks it could just be IBS but since i've been having these pains after i eat for a few years she thinks it could be worse. maybe a gluten allergy. Does anyone else get camps in there lover stomach in the middle of a meal? It gets so bad sometimes that i have to stop eating for half an hour or more.
I feel a lot better this morning, slept about 10 hours last night. hopefully today won't be as bad as yesterday!
Never had the stomach pain you describe (though do have mild IBS like sypmtoms)
Would my "numbers" be low from giving blood the day before the test?
drink lots and lots of liquids!! I have been getting phleb's since i was 13 and i'm now 20. the first time I ever got one done I literally fainted. I used to be the same as you.
When I was first getting them done, I saw a child doctor which was an advantage. he dealt with people that fainted, cryed, felt sick, anything you can think of.
My advice, ask the doctor to lay down during one. it keeps you more relaxed. as SOON as they are done, drink liquids! preferably juice. Drinking water is fine, but liquids with more sugar to energate your blood works best. and drink A LOT of it especially before you stand up. I feel extremely dizzy after wards and my first time i fainted because your body is scared of the fact all that blood is gone and your body feels weaks. Well, putting fluid into your body will make your body feel less weak and able to function more properly. i mean, you have to replace all of that blood with something right?
overtime, it will get easier trust me. the pain in your stomach will slowly go away over time but make sure you eat a good meal before and afterwards. Let me know how it goes!