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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phleb anemia?

deleted_user
deleted_user
I have had three phlebotomies. My ferritin has dropped from 725 to 478 which is good. My hemoglobin is on the low end (13.5) which I know is in the normal range but still a little low. My question is can you still have a type of anemia due to the phlebs. I am thinking red blood cells or vitamin b12 anemia. I am really fatigued and weak days after phlebs and I get quite dizzy. Any input would be great.
deleted_user
deleted_user
This is something that interests me, because it seems common to be "tired" after phlebotomy. Yet I give 500 ml every friday, and my hemoglobin hovers around 13 down from 15.4. At my elevation of 5000 ft, the normal hemoglobin is 14-18, so technically I'm actually more anemic than you. But, I feel great all the time, the worst thing that happens to me is my feet get cold for a few days after.

There must be a trick to it, but I don't know what I do differently. I do take a good dose of all the B-vitamins, and 4000 IU of vitamin D each day. The vitamin D is to stave off Seasonal affective disorder, since I also live at a moderately high latitude.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks for the feedback. I know it is the phlebs that are causing me to feel rundown because I didn't feel like this prior. I guess I have to find a way to combat it. I did start taking a multivitmain (minus the iron of course), so maybe that will start helping.
Strype
Strype
If that pill has vitamin C in it you will want to stop taking it. I've read in several places that fortified iron, vitamin C and alcohol are all catalysts.


Also, I too get cold for about 2-3 days after the phleb. It makes me sleepy for 2 days, but I've been sleepy for years because of this iron overload.

And yes, you can be anemic. That's the whole point of the phlebotomy. It not only filters the iron from your organs, it causes a slight anemia.

And to make it worse, certain people may have a natural inability to absorb the B complex which is completely irrelevent to the HH. This means that these few poor souls have an iron overload AND are anemic. In that case they cannot do phlebs and they have to use chelation drugs which are pumped thru a portable IV I believe.

:-0
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