Iron overload.

[PAULINE15]

Hi, results of recent blood tests show, low calcium and iron overload, anyone else with this problem.

Pauline.

[estrellaliliana]

Pauline, there may be other people with same problem, but I think that what you need to know here is how to get it back to normal. Are you taking iron? YOu probably are, so you need to stop that until it goes back to normal. What about calcium supplements?

[PAULINE15 in reply to estrellaliliana]

Hi I'm not taking Iron but eat liver,so may need to eat less of it, but GP did say that it is not down to diet but is how the body stores the Iron, the low calcium is because I avoid dairy products that aggravate my IBS so now taking calcium tablets.x

[estrellaliliana in reply to PAULINE15]

I think that nutrition does affect blood tests. My calcium serum went up from 10.5 to 11.1 in 5 months and I barely eat dairy, but was taking calcium supplements for 2 months and multi vitamin with 200mg of calcium and I totally stopped them and in one month and a half my calcium serum went down to 10.7. If you don't have your period anymore you should not eat more than once a month liver, and better eliminate it. I had anemia at some point and surely it was helping me to raise my iron. I think that liver should only be eaten when a person has iron deficiency otherwise for better health eat something else.

[TheAuthor]

Hi PAULINE15

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I am so sorry to read that you are having to endure these issues, and I was wondering what your GP has suggested to rectify them?

I have pasted you a link below to the NHS Choices website pertaining to Iron Overload, and there is a medication called Deferasirox 125mg dispersible tablets, that can help reduce the iron in your system. As with anything of this nature it is always advisable to discuss the issue with your GP beforehand.

nhs.uk/medicine-guides/page...

I have also pasted you the NHS Choices link relating to calcium, so I hope that you find this useful in trying to raise your calcium levels:

nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-...

I want to wish you all the best of luck and please let us all know how you are getting on with this?

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[PAULINE15 in reply to TheAuthor]

Thanks for the links.

[Cheesedoff]

Hi Pauline, did the specialist tell you why you have Iron overload ? is it hereditary Haemochromatosis ? usually the Irish and Eastern European 's carry the gene,

The other cause is lifestyle, check with your specialist. I was told NOT to stop eating food high in iron as it would make no difference,,,,,,,but that may not apply to everyone,

I was told by someone who had it to drink a cup of tea with food as the tannin in Tea stops the Liver from absorbing iron, again check this out with your GP

I was diagnosed in 2011 with it but only carry one gene,however that still means I absorb to much iron, according to my specialist (and of course you will have to speak to your specialist about it ) the only effective treatment is to draw blood, which reduces the iron in your system,

I have this done every 12 weeks and I feel the benefit straight away,,,,,,,,and my level's drop in a big way !

I attend the blood bank but I had to tell them I had it as the blood is treated in a different way,

I attended the Hospital the first time but could not face it again as I just hate hospital's !

I was not aware of the medication Deferasirox as mentioned by the previous poster, it is something I will look into,,,,,,,,,

Haemochromatosis is little known outside of the countries I've mentioned and I think a lot of people have it without realising it,

No medical advice intended and please let us know how you get on,,,,,,,,,,,,xx

[PAULINE15]

Hi, Big thanks for your replies,my GP has not given me any treatment, but has explained what it could lead to, the test showed a reading of 300 so not too bad as yet, I am having another blood test on Thurseday so will return to GP for result.

Pauline.