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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JMR on October 20, 2000, at 19:56:45
I don't know if this ailment has ever been discussed on the board but I've just found out I've got it. It is agenetic disorder commonly found in people of Irishm, Scottish and N.European descent.
The body absorbs too much iron and when it can no longer be stored in the liver it is stored in endocrine glands, pancreas, joints etc.
The symptons are(among others): chronic fatigue, lethargy, depression, irritability! So anyone with treatment resistant depression might want to have a look at it.Other symptons include little body hair, low libido red palms. If the illness is not treated it can lead to cancer of the liver, diabetes2 hypothyroidism. The treatment is simply bloodletting to get rid of the excess iron.
I am so angry. For 30 years I've been going to doctors complaining of fatigue etc. and none of them took me seriously enough to investigate this possibilty. I have only discovered now because one of my sisters showed low haemoglobin in a routine blood test and they investigated it further and came up with this. I'sorry if you are all aware of this illness but I certainly wasn't and I hope this information helps someone. Best Wishes to you all, Jan (ex JanetR)
Posted by laural on October 20, 2000, at 21:23:05
In reply to haemochromatosis, posted by JMR on October 20, 2000, at 19:56:45
amazing--i've never heard of it (not amazing THAT i've never heard of it, seems like a lot of possibilities are not mentioned by docs due to the restraints put on them by insurance companies for special testing--they really are Satan himself) laural
Posted by Noa on October 21, 2000, at 14:09:29
In reply to haemochromatosis, posted by JMR on October 20, 2000, at 19:56:45
very interesting. Do you know how frequently it occurs in these populations?
Last year, when I was getting my endocrine evaluation done, the endo checked me for a genetic disorder that is considered the most common in humans, occuring in 3% of Ashkenazi Jews (eastern European descent) and less frequently in Spaniards, Yugoslavs, and several other ethnic groups. It turns out I don't have it, but when I first heard about it, it seemed that that high prevalance rate should mean more universal testing in this population. I guess they don't because it is not fatal, like Tay Sachs, etc., which is much rarer but so devastating.
When I was looking into this, I came across a great site that lists all these diferent genetic disorders and if I can remember where it is, I will post it here.
Posted by allisonm on October 21, 2000, at 18:13:19
In reply to haemochromatosis, posted by JMR on October 20, 2000, at 19:56:45
Jan,
Yes, I know about it. My grandfather had it. My cousin (my grandfather's brother's son) has it. Bloodletting is the answer. My grandfather used to get irritated because they would just throw the blood away -- not give it to anyone who might need it. I'm not sure why, tho. I could use some extra iron, I think.Glad you caught it. Good luck.
Allison
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