I haven't started mine yet but from what I understand it's basically like giving blood at a donation center. I also heard that drinking plenty of water before and after helps the woozies.

Hey! You can read all about my bi-weekly phlebs on my blog!

www.mydogsteeth.com

complete with pictures!

xo

Welcome Megan! I am so sorry that you have HH, but you have certainly come to the right place. This group has so much great information and also support to share! A greall great web site for information and great (free) downloads can be found at www.irondisorders.com , you will even find a Hemochromatosis For Newbie's Starter Kit that you can download, and I heartly recommend it. As far as the phlebotomy goes, it is different with each of us. I have very small, shallow veins, so it is sometimes difficult to get started. However, I have a great M.A. who does the procedure and for me it is virtually painless. It usually takes me between 10 & 15 minutes, but for others it can go faster or even slower. I feel fine afterward, but not everyone does. Some are very tired and do not feel well for a couple of days afterwards. My suggestion is to go into it with a VERY positive attitude. Also, you should eat a good meal prior to the phleb, and be exptremely well hydrated. Since I was diagnosed I drink a ton more water, but on phelb day I almost go overboard. I was diagnosed in Nov of last year with a ferritin level of only 316. I started monthly phlebs in Dec and went to every 3 weeks the beginning of March. By March 25, my ferritin was down to 40. I had another phleb on 4/14. They ran my ferritin that day before my phelb but I haven't checked on the results yet. I have labs and another phleb on May 4th and I am assuming that by that point I should be at a perfect "maintenance" level. I may have to continue the phelbs a little more often than most as my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are too high. My goal is to get down to 3 or 4 times a year. Now, you haven't indicated how high your ferritin is. Many, many of the great people in this group started with much higher ferritin levels. I am assuming yours was fairly high since they are starting you with bi-weekly phlebs. Although many people have started even with weekly. At any rate, if you do have much pain with your phleb, the doctor can perscribe a cream called EMLA that you can use to numb your skin. Also have them put you in a reclining position or even laying down during the phleb as that can help with light-headedness. I am sure that you will get many other answers and some great info from other wonderful people in the group. Remember we are here to support you and one another. Please keep us updated on how things are going! ;0)

welcome, it just like giving blood. i actually do mine at a local blood bank along with other donors. at first i was a little nervous, but after a few, its easy. i was going weekly and found that the day after i would feel a little weak.

Thanks everyone - I did drink plenty of water last night and this morning, had a solid breakfast as suggested and I feel just fine. Indeed a little tired, but maybe it's my imagination, I also feel a little energized and not as sluggish.

I'm sure it's too soon for any great affect to be noticeable so it's probably just the post-anxiety release of endorphins :) and knowing that I've taken a step towards getting better.

thanks again for your support - I'm just curious if anyone here goes to an in person support group as well? I'm trying to find one here in San Francisco.

I should make another post about that too.

Meg

I had my second pleb today, and it is a very easy process. If they drain your blood slowly it will take around 20 -40 min, then they let you sit for a while longer just to make sure you are not dizzy. The hospital in NH that I go to, they do such a nice job and very caring, that I did not even feel the needle go in! Ask if they use litocane to numb the area, that helps so much!

Maybe a longtime member can answer my question, and I know others have mentioned this. The up and down of ferritin through plebs. My number 8 weeks ago before any phlebs was 302, now after my first one they checked it again and it went to 427? There must be a reason for the fluctuation because others have indicated the same. Maybe it ties into the % saturation which they did not take? Any pros out there want to stab at it, no pun intended!

Christopher:-)

that makes sense to me...

Hi Megan. The fact you live in one of America's most beautiful cities should make your phlebs a breeze! Seriously, I do absolutely nothing different before going for the phlebs and feel no different afterwards. I'm probably in the minority as far as eating before I go but I eat nothing for the 12 hours prior to going. It's not intentional, it's just that I go at 10am and normaly don't eat in the morning. I do drink plenty of tea and water throughout the day and evening so I'm always hydrated. Good luck.

ha - SF is a beautiful city - I remember the first time I saw it from the East Bay - it was like seeing an enchanted castle in a sci-fi movie :)

I just started to feel woozy about an hour ago, so I think I may need to work on hydration.

Seems like everyone has a different reaction to the phlebs, glad to hear yours are not so bad. I think I'll get used to these in time :|

Yeah, the view from the bay is something you never forget. I love looking at old pics of trips I took to San Fran and the Napa valley, Muir National park, Sausalito, etc, etc. I'm picturing myself on the F trolly right now, lol.

deryl,
u r right about Megan's city! Waking up to a complete "white/gray" view from the hotel window! We were up in the clouds:) I have a pic of me on the Rice-a-Roni streetcar:) and probably my favorite thing to do was to take a ferry & tour Alcatraz!!! That was about 10-15 yrs ago. I sure wouldn't make it all the way up there now, without a lot of rest stops, with this shortness of breath!
zzzzzz