High ferrintin

I have just been found to have the 2 mutated genes but my bloods are essentially normal. My daughter was found to have exactly the same earlier this year.  Her doctor would not refer her and said she only needed annual monitoring. However, she also has type1 diabetes and her consultant arranged referral to gastroenterologist.  He was really pleased that she had been referred, even if she only requires to be monitored annually. She has had a liver scan which is also normal.   I think GPs know very little about haemochromatosis.  My GP admitted she wasn't sure what to do and when I told her about my daughter I was referred there and then. In our area it is the gastroenterology department who see us but I know in other areas it may be haematologist.  I would ask to be referred - the worst that can happen is that the hospital discharge you back into GP care but at least you will be under their radar for the future.

I am a very high carrier of this Gene, and am very surprised that So Many Dr's dont' know about it. You dont say where you are based.? As a UK based person, Many Dr's here are now aware of it here.My Ferritin was 3000 when firs tfound out thru Blood tests and many different Scans.

Sadly no Homemade remidies will asisit you, its part of the Desease, Swollen joints and constant tiredness.

Levels can be found lower in Females that it is males, but if your saying the Ferritin is high,be it a female or male,then yes, see a Hemotolisgist and get it checked out further.

As for reducing high Iron in a Diet, keep away from high Iron Foods, Spinachge, Watercress,,Breakfast foods. Cornflakes,Rice Crisipes, etc.and of course Guiness.

As for the joints, most Fish Oils will help with that, Cod liver oil

HI Marie, I recently found out my ferritin was high, in March I asked for an iron test as I felt tired all the time and expected it to be low but it was 282, GP not worried then retested in June now 308, GP still not worried, although I did see a note on the screen showing test results which said "ferritin too high", google also said anything over 200 for women too high, so a little concerned that my GP not taking notice of hospital results.  Having read your post I am a bit happier as your GP has taken the same stance.  I too have osteoarthritis so maybe that is what is causing it.  I have had a liver function test done which was very good and am due a liver/spleen scan in two weeks as the liver can be damaged by too much iron so asked GP for tests, if scan ok will then asked for retest in 6 months.  Does the tumeric work?  Thanks

TS% >45 is an indicator for hereditary haemochromatosis.  Inflammation causes increased ferritin which is different to having haemochromatosis and the cause of the inflammation needs to be addressed.  Fatty liver also causes increased ferritin.

If you haemoglobin allows, It won't hurt you to donate blood every 3 months if you fit the criteria of the Blood Bank.

There are too many myths about reducing iron by diet.  Iron is still important to us.  One venesection will take away 50 steaks worth of iron.  Just don't have red meat every meal.  In a serving of one cup of spinach, there is 0.7 milligrams of nonheme iron.  It is a myth.  Parsley is 1.8 milligrams per half cup.  On the other hand, black and kidney beans have 5.2 milligrams of nonheme iron in half a cup.  Lima 4.4, navy beans 2.5.  A pint of Guiness has 0.3 milligrams of iron.  3 pints almost reaches the daily allowance of iron.  Clams are the worst - 9 clams = 10.0 milligrams of heme iron, and 15.o milligrams of nonheme iron, a sirloin steak (3 ozs) is 1.25 of heme iron and 1.2 of nonheme iron.

All this information from Cheryl Garrison's "The Hemochromatosis Cookbook" - mostly about why it is ok to eat foods with iron in it.

A study on tea and coffee resulted in no reduction in uptake of iron, but I still drink it (what else) in the hope that it is doing something because I have an aggressive haemochromatosis.  Calcium is the winner though, dairy, i.e. milk, cheese, yoghurt with meals or at end of.

Can't say it is reducing mine, but maybe I would be worse without it.

However, as you don't appear to have haemochromatosis, you do not have to try to reduce your iron uptake.

Probably best to stay away from iron supplemented foods, like some breads and cereals, unless your haemoglobin is low, because there is iron in every food.  However, if you don't have true haemochromatosis where our hepcidin does not turn on to turn off the uptake of iron, then any excess iron will be excreted.