Rhanks Feral!
Mark your datebook (and the date range of this post) and re-post with your numbers. I'm really interested.
Have a great time in Hong Kong & eat some good food while touring their sights. Is there any way you can go to the Am. Red Cross & donate at least once while there?
zzzzzzzzz

Wanted to sahre some results following my regime of whaet grass and barley grass green supplement, raw oatmeal, and blueberries or black currant juice.

My TIBC number increased from 275 to 328. This results in my iron saturation number going down by about 13%. Also one of my liver function tests came back at below the normal range. I phlebotamize every week with 250 ml each draw. My ferritin has gone down from 750 to 730 to 709 in the last three measurements ( taken every two weeks) My Hemotologist wants to see a decrease in a linear fashion, so he is happy.

So here is what I have pieced together from resources on the web on ferritin. Take your ferritin number and multiply by 10 and that is the mgrams of iron stored in your body. For instance my intial ferritin was around 1300 so I started with 13000 mgrams of iron. Each 500 ml phlebotamy removes approximately 200 mgram of iron so it should reduce the ferritin by 20 points ( I have also seen 30 -50 points published on other sites).

I was hoping that my natural chelation items would remove more iron but I think that they are certainly beneficial in making sure that the excess iron in your body stays bound and cannot harm you by generating free radicals. I still believe in minimizing the processed foods that you consume to not "load" up your liver with toxins.

Last weeks number (exactly 1 week after previous phleb) showed a drop in ferritin to 517.
About normal but no "extra" to catch up on last weeks rise, as happened before ;-(

Yes, I've seen different numbers quoted for ferritin reduction at each phleb. I think it's because it depends what figure they take as "normal". The best thing I saw was a figure of 9%-7% reduction in ferritin at each phleb, so actual figures for reduction of each phleb slowly alter getting less and less as your total level comes down. I calculated my % and mine is reducing at an average of 6.5% each time, probably lower than spec. as I'm on the big side and they only take 450ml, i.e. proportionally less blood. (though did have a drop of almost 20% one time and another months later of a rise of nearly 17%!)
Ferritin % drop (so a minus means a rise in ferritin)
2330 12.06
2049 -3.9
2129 6.76
1985 10.88
1769 6.84
1648 19.48
1327 -5.8
1404 Ave = 6.62%
(Above figures are for just phlebs no chelators in use then)

I stopped taking the barleygrass pills a few days ago. I've become prone to bouts of "light headedness" even when just sitting at desk. I stopped as I didn't want to faint. Never really had this issue before. The only thing I've changed are the barleygrass pills and berry juice. But can't be certain they are causing it. Sorry. Will try again when I return from holiday. (I did read it also thins blood, adjusting this & fish oil dose might prevent it happening)

PS.
ZZZDJ, not sure what you mean about datebook etc . . . I'll blame the brain fog . . . . . not my stupidity! ha! ha!
I might try and donate while I'm in HK, will look into it.

This board has messed up the formatting of above figures, they should be two columns, one ferritin level, the next % drop from week before, and then a simple average of all previous weekly % numbers.

@feral,
a weekly or monthly planner or datebook. The place you keep track of your appointments:)

keep us posted.

and my brain fog has been bad lately & tired, too. I'm usually not so tired.

zzzzz

My last blood work showed an increased drop in Ferritin level. Normally every equivalent phleobotamy (500 ml) resulted in ferritin dropping about 20 points. That was in line what I read on the internet the range of what is expected (Range 20-50 depending on sources).

My latest numbers came back with ferritin dropping from 718 to 609 and my iron saturation is now at 34.5% versus 50-60% a few weeks back.

In this thread we have been discussing natural iron chelators. The things that may be helping that I have been consuming every morning are: 8 ounces of pure black currant juice ("just black Currant" by Knudsens, Wheat grass and barley grass powder in a supplement called " amazing Grass green Superfood"; 1/2 cup of raw old fshioned quaker oats oatmeal; and once cup of fresh frozen blueberries or blackberries.

i'll keep you guys posted and thanks for all the shared information.

Good news michael!

Yes, do let us know your future ferritin #'s. As a side note... my ferritin dropped from 2327 to 1552. I have my ferritin done every 3 weeks, due again on Monday.

For the new people.... well... my numbers have been VERY high.. I'm the abnormal one of this group:). I do feel fine. Usually only requiring a nap. Over the past month, I have been in a funk but it might have as much to do with caring for my Dad for 21 months over any HH related complaints.(stroke, but he isn't physically affected)

zzzzzzzzz

ZZZ,

Congrats on your numbers dropping.

For me it is so helpful sharing info about food that can either help with iron metabolism / absorption or provide axtioxidants to help minimize free radical damage due to high iron. For instance, I was further investigating black currants versus blueberries and will probably maintain black currant consumptions from now on ( thanks Feral).

I'll keep reporting my ferritin numbers and between you, myself and Feral we have the high, normal, and lighter phlebotamy frequencies covered.

Latest update on my lab work was that my Ferritin dropped from 607 to 511 with just one half of a phleb (250 Ml). All other numbers were positive also ( TIBC went from 281 to 300; iron decreased from 97 to 90; and iron saturation decreased from 34.5 to 30.3). I didn't expect my Dr. to do a full iron panel so quickly, but he may not have believed the last results, as previously to this I was deironing very slowly.

Hopefully the natural iron chelators are helping me deiron and maybe others that have trouble with phlebs can reduce the time between phlebs.

I'll continue to post results as I get them.

WooHoo!!! Great drop! Keep it up:)

zzzzzzz

My Latest lab update after another week and a Phleb of 250 ML. My ferritin dropped from 511 to 444 ( expected drop based on iron removal should be 15-25 and actual drop was 67.)

Thought I would make a final report on this subject of adding green grasspowder(wheatgrass among others), raw Oatmeal, fresh fruit as antioxidants ( black currant juice , blueeries, mangos, pineapple, etc), whey protein powder, and banana as my mrning breakfast.

For me the results were anecdotal but encouraging. My ferritin levels continue to come down but not as fast as when I first started.

My iron saturation numbers came down and have stayed down much earlier in the phlebotamy process than what I have seen is to be expected. It seems to have been a bit of a liver tonic, as my ALT number went from high 20's to low 30's to less than 10. My uric acid levels dropped so much that I am now off my GOUT medicine. ALso, my blood sugar levels have decreased from 99 fasting to around 83 non fasting.

So I am planning to stay on this regime as I see no negatives and plenty of beneficial effects.

Thanks for the update! Been waiting to hear more on this. I bought some wheatgrass pills from Vitamin Shoppe and plan on starting a regimen of them.

If you have any other suggestions please let me know. Congrats on your levels coming down.

What about green super food? Same idea? That just has a little more greens than the just wheatgrass. I used to drink it in water.

I also eat shredded wheat (natural) every morning with blueberries and think that may be doing me some good.