Rate of iron reduction following venesection
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi all,
I've recently been diagnosed with GH and will be starting venesection soon. As I work in the aviation industry, I've had my medical certificate suspended until my iron levels can be shown to be maintained at a normal level.
Can anyone with experience of this advise how long it might take to get my iron back to normal levels (currently I'm at around 900ug/l and 90% transferrin saturation).
I realise this will depend on various factors, but just a rough idea - 3 months? A year? I am a 40 year old male, in otherwise good health.
Thanks in advance for your help..
0 likes, 5 replies
iancamerongray boogieboy123
Posted
Hi,
When I was diagnosed at 46 years old, my ferritin level was 2,800.
It took about 2 1/2 years to get my ferritin down to the mid 300's.
I was doing venesections every two weeks for the first 6 months slowing to every month into the first year.
boogieboy123 iancamerongray
Posted
Wow, that is longer than I thought!
Thanks for the reply, I hope you are in good health now.
lewisham_phil boogieboy123
Edited
Hi
You have very similar figures to mine before I started giving blood: I'll copy my last post here:
"A quick update: I've been on a monthly blood donation (specially organised as a 'Haemochromatosis Donor' to allow monthly donations for five or six months now... I've just had a blood test, and I am down to a good level of Ferritin 39 (was 900 or so), and Trnsferrin sat Index: 45% (was 90%).
So it's taken about 10 or so venesections over 14 months to get down to that level."
As I mentioned, I had words with https://www.blood.co.uk/ and they sorted out allowing monthly donations, which are otherwise at 3 month intervals minimum.
Good luck.
chris52931 boogieboy123
Posted
Hi. my iron levels were 2000 and after 3 months of weekly venesections they were back to normal, but people are different and this is just a ballpark figure of my experience, the iron did come down quickly to start with me, but it can also increase for a short while also,so dont be alarmed,just continue with the vene,s and it will stabalise.
This is just my input, nad 3 months would be my guess to answer your question, but there are many more knowledgable people on these boards, Good Luck
miller.jones boogieboy123
Posted
3-12 months.
Some DR/Consultants will want to rush you in for every week no need at your numbers and health status give every 2 weeks a try see how you feel if all is good after a few of them try weekly. (I advise this due to not every one is the same some people really struggle having a pint removed every week is not an easy task for the body I work and suffer this condition so it gives me a view point a lot of medical professionals do not have)
Depending on your clinics policies they may not do any testing again for a while my clinic it was after 5 treatments and the test can be taken during a treatment anyway you may need to remind them.