Thanks McKenzie-I've added this to my list of ?'s for Doc I see next Monday-this was one I hadn't heard of...again your wealth of info is a true blessing to this site...appreciate you and wish you the best!

Thank you my Northern Star!!!!!! I just got home from work,But yes as always your RIGHT!!!! I have a SHIT LOAD of Iron right now as we type!!!I know that next months appt. they will start those fuckin Phlipotomies again!!!!!!! They suck!!!! So all of you brother's and sisters out there MAKE sure your Doc pays attention!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the iron overload problem, they diagnosed it as Porfiria Datum Tacardia, not sure if it affects the riboviron treatment I have to start after my open heart surgery but I'll sure find out, if the problems are similar to mine watch out for fragil skin thats exposed to the sun. I can peel mine of my hands and I have to start those d-m plabotomies next week.

I watched my husband get a phlebotomy this weekend....That needle is the same size as a cajun injector needle! The dr told DH that the smoking has to go, or get this thing done more often....DH started his chanix again today. I managed to weedle him down to 1 mg tar and nic but it will take Chanix and the new filter tips to get him to quit....and a little "want to". Maybe the phlebotomy was good for something...

Dr also said that the tx itself should help....evidently, as evidenced by Tatt, not forever.

Iron can destroy your liver too. My family carries a gene called Hemachromatitis, I have lost a first cousin waiting fo a liver and her brother had a transplant a year ago in May. He is NOT doing so well. His transplant affected hiskidney's, heart and lungs so he is really going through some stuff. A couple of his brothers and a sister tested positive for the disease and three other cousins on my mom's sister's family tested positive as well. About 6 or 7 of them are being watched to see if it becomes active. Everyone who has liver disease should have their iron levels checked. Again thanks for the info. You are the greatest! Love Paula

Hi---I finally got print-outs from my nurse of all my blood results since I started this thing.
Am wondering about the iron....
It started of 29H in 06 and now is 23....
is that ok?

oh dam--just found another piece of paper.....duh ;)
Its actually 28 H....? now

HCV thrives in iron rich enviroments. Anybody with HCV needs to be limiting their iron intake. IMO it is right up their on the list of things to watch out for with HCV.
Especially men because we have a much harder time getting rid of excess iron in the body.
Watch out for many things such as cereals and grains that can be fortified with iron. And Definitely don't be taking it in a multi -vitamin.
Iron is a heavy metal and not like other vitamins and minerals from multi vitamins and foods that we can just pee out. Iron is very hard to get out of the body.
Again women you can get rid of it easier cause of your menstrual cycle.......but if you are post- menapausial then you will not be able to rid it as easy.
High iron levels is also associated with heart disease and cancer!

Good Post! Thanks Mckenzie and Tattman, I'll write that down

Again the wealth of info on this site blows my mind !! I'll have my doc start telling me my iron counts . I knew i wasn't supposed to have iron in multis but never thought about cerals and grain etc..
Tsuzy , see if you can find an American Lung Assc. Quit smoaking class in your area . After 40 + yrs of smoaking that class worked for me where nothing else has !!

Girlfriend you are the best, and so is Tatt! How many people know how very lucky they are to have you both here to care about, and guide them as you do?
Many, I'm sure... I would hope so, anyway.