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.
I have 2 copies of C2827 and have hemochromatosis.
At my urging, my 72 year old dad asked his doctor to test his iron level. She did a serum iron test of his blood (NOT the full panel of tests). His serum iron level is 263. Dad later had DNA test (after it was confirmed that I have the hemochromatosis gene) and he is a C282Y carrier.
Dad has many health issues: arrhythmia, heart trouble, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's disease, hypertension, calcium deposits on his bones (and one on his eye), and he just had a mild stroke. Should his doctor do the full blood panel testing even though they say it is unlikely that he will have hemochromatosis?
At my urging, my 72 year old dad asked his doctor to test his iron level. She did a serum iron test of his blood (NOT the full panel of tests). His serum iron level is 263. Dad later had DNA test (after it was confirmed that I have the hemochromatosis gene) and he is a C282Y carrier.
Dad has many health issues: arrhythmia, heart trouble, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's disease, hypertension, calcium deposits on his bones (and one on his eye), and he just had a mild stroke. Should his doctor do the full blood panel testing even though they say it is unlikely that he will have hemochromatosis?
http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/1145/chelation-therapy-atrial-fibrillation/
However, what genes did they actually test for? Despite the tests for the 3 main HH genes being readily available most test conducted in many countries only actually test for 2 of the genes, and some only test for 1 gene, i.e. C282Y! Your dad could be compound with one of the other common genes if they did not test for it, i.e. H63D and S65C. (ask for the results the laboratory would have listed the genes they tested for on the result) (He may even have one of the more rare types, but they do not test for those commercially, though probably more likely his other health issues are unrelated) So if they only tested for C282Y then a full panel may be useful, but better still test for the other genes! My mothers doctor refuses to do a gene test on her as she is in her 80's and has normal iron, but he said he'd test her iron every year despite the cost of a single test being the same as a single gene test in UK, go figure.
Wow, a very interesting read. You obviously did a lot of good research!
Do you know or have a theory of the actual mechanism that seems to be improving your arthritis due to the chelation? I would recommend you take some more supplements specifically to help repair your arthritis, i.e. building blocks, I'm convinced Glocosamine, Chondroitin, & cissus (though only one supporting study for this) have significantly improved my arthritis (though you must take long term!) And I have just added a collagen supplement this week, and have already noticed less stiffness in the fingers in the mornings (though I need to take for longer to be sure).
Doug - your link is quite interesting and I will read it again when I am fully awake (it's 2:46am).
Feral - I believe they tested him for all of the mutations. I gave the doctor a copy of my test, ordered by a hemotologist, which included the H63D (for which I am negative) so I assume the test covered all.