Replied by Ladymars (Florida, US) on 08/30/2014
Hi, my brother-in-law lived with hemachromatosis for many years. He had to get his blood drawn periodically. He also had other health issues and could not donate blood either; instead, he got a prescription from his doctor for phlebotomies (blood drawing). I believe phlebotomies cost him about $20 at the time, but don't know what it would cost you. Your iron level must be very high for you to be suffering so; I'm not a doctor, but from what I have seen, the problems will get much worse if the iron level is not lowered. He had to have this done about every 2 weeks for years. In the beginning, it had to be done more often. He suffered from heart problems caused when his heart was damaged from high iron levels he had before he was diagnosed with hemachromatosis. After, he lived a full life for many years as long as he had regular phlebotomies. The leg/joint pain is a common symptom.
Please learn all you can. This is a good place to start.
http://www.hemochromatosis.org/hemochromatosis/
Replied by Mr. Ree (Usa) on 08/30/2014
If you have hemochromatosis your doctor should prescribe phlebotomies for you...If he won't, tell him you're going to another Dr.and do it!
IP 6 (phytic acid) will chelate iron out of your system, but not as fast as phlebotomies.
Replied by Oscar (Syracuse, New York) on 09/01/2014
Dear Laurie from Houston, Texas: Many people here at this forum and other forums have had success using the food preservative BHT [ butylated hydroxytoluene ] as a treatment for hepatitis C in all of it`s variants. It [ BHT ] surely worked for me. The treatment is BHT in a dose of 250mg per day taken with a gulp of water on an empty stomach. If you tolerate that dosage well for a week go to taking two separate doses of 250mg of BHT per day. How much you weigh is important as to how much BHT you should use per day. People who weigh 125 pounds or less seem to do well with as little as 250mg of BHT per day. Those who weigh more should consider trying more. The two doses of 250mg of BHT per day. You have to find a dose you are comfortable with. If any adverse effects are experienced you can always lower the dosage of BHT used. Most but not all people tolerate the two doses of 250mg of BHT per day well taken in separate doses, one in the morning and one at night. The reason for separating the doses is because BHT is processed by the liver and you do not want to stress a compromised liver any more than needs be to treat a hepatitis infection. And from what you stated your liver is already seriously damaged. So for you extra caution is recommended. If you choose to try the BHT treatment keep it simple. By that I mean do NOT be using other supplements including milk thistle. There are other treatments discussed here in this forum.
Also: There some expensive but effective new drugs that just recently became available. Are you SURE you are NOT able to get help from the government ? Have you applied for Social Security disability ? This would make MEDICARE available to you. You live in HOUSTON. There must be a Social Security office in HOUSTON. Go there and find out what help is available for you. JUST DO THAT. Do you have a friend or relative that will help you ? If not just pay the cab fare and go by yourself. The people at Social Security are there to help you and you NEED help....Oscar
Replied by Art (California, US) on 09/08/2014
The following human study done in young children suggests that zinc can act as an iron antagonist and lower iron serum levels over time, but not to a point low enough to cause anemia:
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/9/3460
Art
