a doctor recently told my mum that she had too much iron in her blood what does this mean for her?

Answer 1

Hemochromatosis is the most common form of iron overload disease. Hemochromatosis causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. The extra iron builds up in the body’s organs and damages them. Without treatment, the disease can cause the liver, heart, and pancreas to fail.

Joint pain is the most common complaint of people with hemochromatosis. Other common symptoms include fatigue, lack of energy, abdominal pain, loss of sex drive, and heart problems. However, many people have no symptoms when they are diagnosed.

Treatment is simple, inexpensive, and safe. The first step is to rid the body of excess iron. This process is called phlebotomy, which means removing blood the same way it is drawn from donors at blood banks. Based on the severity of the iron overload, a pint of blood will be taken once or twice a week for several months to a year, and occasionally longer.

Once iron levels return to normal, maintenance therapy begins, which involves giving a pint of blood every 2 to 4 months for life.

You mom will have to give blood to keep iron levels down and to be healthy. That is all. You should be tested for this disorder too.

Answer 2

She may have a disease called hemochromatosis. It is inherited, so you should have your blood tested too.

If she has it, then treatment will consist of removing a pint of your mother's blood every three months until levels are normal