Avoid sugar and white flour.

Eat smaller meals more frequently rather than full meals. Fried and fatty foods also contribute to fatigue.

Stay active, I feel better right after exercising, once you sit down, the fatigue really sets in.

It gets better. Just focus on sleeping well at night and for now the daily nap. You will have good days and bad days for a while.

Hi brucekingfield, thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to give some of these a try. Take care!

Hi,I had same problem after my first time and after asking afew questions started making sure I eaten,I drink plenty of water beforehand and have a pint of water with 1 of those diarrhea rehydration sachets and it did seem to work,I am relatively new to if myself,so just listen to what experiences others have had and give it a try.

drink lots the day before and the day of. Go ahead and nap. It took four weekly treatments before I felt even a little better. Honestly, after treatment started I felt worse! Heading for treatment six this week and went four days without a nap! Yay!!!

Wow, so glad to know that fatigue is part of this, as I had no idea and thought it was all my thyroid! Which was part of the problem. I have noticed that on draw days, it is good for me to just go home and rest afterward. I seem to be particularly susceptible to being infected with colds and other viruses on that day, and it does seem to wipe me out, so I try to be realistic and factor that in. As well, no alcohol on that day. Ok, so I too want to know what to do about the fatigue. Does it get better when the ferris levels get down to normal anyone?

The nurses are giving me a saline drip to rehydrate me and raise my blood pressure after the plebs now and it makes me feel quite a bit better initially. Something to consider if anyone is having similar problems!

My doctor and phlebotomist both told me to supplement with it B complex after a venesection. It did help.

I’m new to this diagnosis and have had 3 phlebotomies...after first 2 I felt only slightly weak but after the third phlebotomy I swear the second day I was so weak I had to hang on when when I walked around...is that normal I’m wondering?

I just put a new posting on asking when it is too much blood letting. This was draw #10 and 3 days later I am beyond exhausted. Hurts, chest/heart aches. I feel like ****!

Hello ReverseVampire,

I found the brain fog lifted once my ferritin level was down to around 50.

When my ferritin level is higher (and possibly my transferrin saturation level) I can be quite busy and suddenly feel as though I have to go to sleep.

I have always been extremely active compared to other people so this was a bit of a shock.

People at work know I have been having treatment for HH so I have told them that sometimes I just need to put my head down and sleep and to leave me alone for 10 minutes.

I have a soft pillow by my desk and just put it on my desk and I can sleep on it for around 10 minutes without feeling physically uncomfortable. I wake up feeling bright so instead of fighting the urge to sleep, I just give in to it.

If my colleagues notice, I often find a cup of tea waiting for me to wake up.

It is important to look after yourself and do what feels good for you. All the better if you can allow others to look after you as well.

Christine

Go ahead and give yourself permission to nap! Your body needs it. My doctor explained it this way - Your body had become used to having very high levels of iron. Now, your body is in reverse mode and needs to readjust to different levels of iron. It takes time. As you readjust you will be extra sleepy, foggy, aches and pains. It will pass.

Thank you to everyone for your support and comments!

Yikes! I'm new to HH and haven't even had any phlebotomies yet and I'm terrified. I thought this HH would finally explain why I'm so tired and foggy as it is - now I'm going to be even more foggy and sleepy with the treatments...??? Ugh!

it is scary Denver, but it is not an option, and just knowing I'm not alone makes it easier, make sure theyb give you the saline drip, snack often and drink a lot before and after, and snooze when you can, it helps, good luck!