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Iron collects in tissues and organs?

Posted , 5 users are following.

DawnFlare
DawnFlare

In Haemochromatosis, iron collects in tissues and organs.

Does giving blood release the stored iron from the tissues and organs? Or, is the iron there permanently?

?I hear Haemochromatosis is bad for the heart for that reason. I  can't seem to find the answer to this question online.

?

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • pete_15992
    pete_15992 DawnFlare

    Posted

    Hi Dawn

    Whe you give blood the body responds by replacing the blood with new within 2 - 3 days and it takes iron from your stores to do this. So the iron in your tissues and organs is mobilised to make the new blood and it gradually reduces, by about 200 - 250mg of stored iron per 500cc of blood donated. 

    • DawnFlare
      DawnFlare pete_15992

      Posted

      Thanks for the answer, I appreciate your help. Good health to you and all on this site.
  • mike80628
    mike80628 DawnFlare

    Posted

    Hi Dawn. When you give blood iron is the prime element needed to produce new blood. Stored iron in the body is used. As Iron people who have huge amounts of stored iron need to give blood weekly initially so that all the extra stored iron in our bodies is used up. YES stored iron everywhere is used...from our organs, skin...wherever it's been hiding, it'll be used. If it's been storing in organs and has caused damage, eg cirrhosis of the liver, it will still be removed from the liver, but unfortunately the liver will still remain damaged. My liver had extra iron stored there, but luckily, no damage. My ferritin level is now below 50...so no excess iron in my organs anywhere.

    If you have no liver or heart problems and you've started you phlebotomy treatment, you'll be fine.

    So, the initial answer to your question is YES, stored iron in your organs is removed with venesections.

    Are you being treated at the mo....

    Good to hear from you...

    Mike.

    • DawnFlare
      DawnFlare mike80628

      Posted

      Thanks, Mike. That is comforting that the iron in tissues is released after a venesection. I got the liver panel done, it said things were normal there, but I read that it doesn't always tell the whole story. So, no apparent problem. Had a PET scan a few years ago, it was normal, but haven't researched if the PET scan looks for iron. probably not.

      ?My ferritin level is at the high end of "normal" although I'm reading that figure for women over 50 keeps changing.

      ?Despite bruise at crook of arm, I went to Red Cross Blood Donation Center to sign up and get paper work done ahead of time ---- but they closed early on Mondays. Oh well. I will try again.

       

  • maureen99963
    maureen99963 DawnFlare

    Posted

    The liver and pancreas improves after phlebotomy. But, I have to have my heart evaluated each year to make sure iron is not building up. And Iron crosses the blood-brain barrier and I am not sure anyone knows if phlebotomies remove it. 
    • DawnFlare
      DawnFlare maureen99963

      Posted

      Yes, I've read about the blood-brain barrier situation, Maureen. As a matter of fact, that was my primary reason for getting tests done (dna), iron panel, liver panel) and eventually finding out I had Haem (haemochromatosis). I was getting so forgetful and I'm only 65. Recently read two miscellaneous studies about Haem possibily being related to dementia. Nothing proven yet, has not been studied enough, but scary to me. Looking forward to giving blood to see if it helps me in that area. Will just have to rely on my own empirical information. Meanwhile, best thing I found for myself to help with mood and improved cognition has been a Complete Omega supplement. Also, I've been trying a slow release Niacin supplement for 1 week, taking one in morning, it might be helping me. Niacin helps expand blood vessels to send more oxygen to brain as well as other organs. Jury still out on Niacin but it seems to be improving my own quickness of thought.

      ?Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. I do hope phlebotomy will also improve things for me. Will have to get back to you on that!

    • DawnFlare
      DawnFlare maureen99963

      Posted

      Correction, I didn't have the iron panel, I only had the ferritin test and liver panel. Do you think I should get the iron panel?

       

    • maureen99963
      maureen99963 DawnFlare

      Posted

      My Hematologist runs the whole panel and he even signed me up for an NIH heart study and I had an extensive MRI test done that showed I did not have iron accumulation in my heart (to explain my tachycardia).  After 21 years my tachycardia has resolved so I am not as worried about it as I was.  Getting off Propranolol is the hardest part!  I had elevated liver enzymes for 20 years, too. The AST ans ALT enzymes levels resolved after just 3 phlebotomies so I know iron was involved in detruction of my liver.  Not sure if my pancreas healed up since I developed Type 2 diabetes about ten years ago and even though it is controlled with diet and exercise, my glucose is still high.
    • DawnFlare
      DawnFlare maureen99963

      Posted

      I went to my long-time general practitioner with my dna proof of Haemochromatosis. I'll try to find a good Hematologist next year when I get health insurance with Medicare. Meanwhile, I'm getting ready for venesection at Red Cross Donation Center and will have feedback from a local testing facility -- which is why I'm asking all these questions on the forum I guess, instead of asking a doctor. Thanks so much for your help. I guess I'm kind of on my own until 2017.

    • DawnFlare
      DawnFlare maureen99963

      Posted

      Uh oh. Red Cross rejected me. I opened my big mouth and told them why I was there donating. Now I don't know what to do. Doctor told me they would accept it. He must have had old information. Back to drawing board.

  • maureen99963
    maureen99963 DawnFlare

    Posted

    Hi, the Red Cross deferred me because my blood was implicated in causing a lung transplant recipient difficulties, due to antibodies. They now ask how many births a female donor has and this helps them better test their blood supply. It was their fault not mine but, I was deffered.  Anyway, I hate to pay someone to throw my blood away so I found another, non-Red Cross donor service and they take my O neg blood gladly every 55 days. And, they show their gratefulness in many way. It is a great solution! Hopr you find another organization to donate to!
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