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.

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Mental Clarity

deleted_user
deleted_user
I've been giving blood monthly this year - didn't feel much difference until the last two times - a quite miraculous development of MENTAL CLARITY. To be honest I don't know how I've coped the last 40 years !!!
Only now form this new vantage point do I see how incredibly confused my mental functions were. I could only function through sheer bloody minded stubbornness and raw will power.

I've spoken with my older sister who confirms the mental difficulty.

Looking back this has been a huge obstacle since puberty but of course I knew no different.

Suddenly projects that were too difficult for years have all got started !!!

has anyone else experienced something similar ?
GidgetD
GidgetD
Yes I had mental and physical improvements that were so profound that it is hard to put into words
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks 4 the quick reply and confirmation Gidget. I'm just remembering a uni course on the brain - I think neurones are sparked by Potassium and Calcium ions crossing a potential diference of 23 mv - well if some unwanted Iron gets there it could really interfere with the thought processes.
Here in Oz, doctors are very blase about Hemo. Unless you have serious liver damage they act as if its not really a disease at all !
Looking forward to those physical improvements though . . . . . .
GageL
GageL
I have experienced a mental haze for years prior to my diagnosis only about a month ago. Because I am very health conscious in all other ways during these fogs, no sugar, no aspartame, no refined foods, no additives, lots of vitamins, exercise, etc, I can only presume these fogs are a result of iron overload. With further phlebs I am hoping that like GidgetD, I will also experience some clarity of tought.
GageL
Strype
Strype
I was actually put on ADD medication last year before my HH diagnosis. I have a mental fog. Scored a 28 out of 32 or something.

Aside from that I have problems putting sentences together sometimes. I've been that way for a few years now. I'll forget words and someone will have to complete the sentence for me.

I'm hoping this will all end.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Strype actually I can relate to some of that. Sometimes I look back at some work I've done and think did I take a stupid pill or something ? sometimes i want to say something and just can't get it together. i put that down to tiredness. Maybe it wasn't. What I'm finding now is that although my brain is clearing it needs retraining. We condition ourselves around fear of making mistakes, evolve a negative self opinion. Have patience, its a process.
For me I'll get a clarity hit for a few days then watch those old conditioned patterns slip back in. So it's not just about the HC, we need to work on old thought patterns too. It will end !!!!!!!!! Just think what a hero you've been remaining functional with this problem !!!