Hereditary Hemochromatosis Now Diagnosed
After sleeping through my alarm this morning, it was a later than normal dash to the door to check to see if my test results might be lying on the floor somewhere. After a thorough search of potential hiding spots revealed nothing, I aborted mission and settled (rather unenthusiastically) for tackling the mountain of washing up instead.
After an unsuccessful round of attempting to convince myself to "just be patient", and a successful creation of a new mountain of clean dishes on the draining board, I picked up my mobile and dialled my consultant's office. The very nice lady on the other end of the phone kindly informed me that a letter was on its way. Phew. However not really having the patience to wait for said letter, I took the opportunity to probe further and ask if she had access to my results there and then. Fortunately, and to my relief, she offered to read the letter out. And there it was in (imagined) black and white... Hereditary Hemochromatosis.
So, Venesection treatment should start next month and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to feeling the benefits from it. :-)
Meanwhile, I managed to make it to the hospital earlier to get the Lupus and Carcinoma tests out of the way, and hopefully, I should only have to wait a week for the results. I guess what will be will be... I'm trying my best not to worry too much.
With my usual treat of red wine still strictly off the menu, I shall be relaxing with a bottle of Appletise and some extremely naughty nibbles tomorrow eve while watching one of my favourite programmes, "The Voice". Oh life in the fast lane!
After an unsuccessful round of attempting to convince myself to "just be patient", and a successful creation of a new mountain of clean dishes on the draining board, I picked up my mobile and dialled my consultant's office. The very nice lady on the other end of the phone kindly informed me that a letter was on its way. Phew. However not really having the patience to wait for said letter, I took the opportunity to probe further and ask if she had access to my results there and then. Fortunately, and to my relief, she offered to read the letter out. And there it was in (imagined) black and white... Hereditary Hemochromatosis.
So, Venesection treatment should start next month and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to feeling the benefits from it. :-)
Meanwhile, I managed to make it to the hospital earlier to get the Lupus and Carcinoma tests out of the way, and hopefully, I should only have to wait a week for the results. I guess what will be will be... I'm trying my best not to worry too much.
With my usual treat of red wine still strictly off the menu, I shall be relaxing with a bottle of Appletise and some extremely naughty nibbles tomorrow eve while watching one of my favourite programmes, "The Voice". Oh life in the fast lane!
Replies
Hi Jenny, my family and i will keep you in our thoughts, and prayers. i\'m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. i hope and pray, that your medicine treatments, will help you, with the condition, and i pray you won\'t experience any pain and discomfort. We\'ll be with you all the way, on your healing journey :) i admire your spirit, and how you are keeping strong, and focused on healing positives :) i think it\'s nice, that you are going to be having some snacks, and watching your favorite tv programs :) it\'s nice to treat ourselves to these relaxing times :) you\'re gonna make it through this, and your mum will be ok too :) We\'ll always be here, for you all, our dear friends :) Sending our love, healing energy prayers, and our best well wishes :) have a peaceful weekend :)
Your words of comfort are always very uplifting, and leave me smiling each time... thank you so much, Chris! I think the initial shock of the possibility of having a serious health condition is always unsettling, but with time comes acceptance and fighting spirit! Comforting words such as yours, give a huge amount of strength so thank you once again for making the fight easier.
I\'m accepting of my hemochromatosis diagnosis, the treatment is known to be very successful if the damage already caused isn\'t too bad. I will know more about that next month. I hope now, that there are no other underlying conditions, but I will accept those too if the time comes. The only way is to stay positive, and allow for times to relax , reflect and plan how best to move forward. This is all so much easier with kind friends like you. Hugs and best wishes to you and your family :-)
Hi Jenny
So sorry to hear your diagnosis, but as you say the treatment works. I am sure that you will start to feel the benefits quickly and will start to feel like your old self again soon. You have a very positive attitude and that is a great outlook to have with this disease.
I am still however feeling very tired but the nurse that I mentioned this to said that this was\" fairly normal after all you are giving a pint of blood every week, so in effect you have lost 8 pints in seven weeks\"
My hip pain has not returned so that is a bonus, I also think that my sight is better and that colours seem more vibrant, and I feel happier, I think that may be the brain fog lifting as I feel more with it as well. Good luck with the Venesections, I have my another session on Wednesday, but the hospital have said that they have changed the protocol and will only test my levels every 4 sessions, its a cost saving measure.. I am going to offer to pay to have the blood tested and I am now down to 235 and am worried that I may go the other way.
Take care
Steve