Symptoms, Symptoms: Who's Got The Symptoms?
The key to a successful prognosis of a hemochromatosis patient, is to
diagnose the patient in the early stages of the disease, preferably BEFORE symptoms
have appeared. One of the most often asked questions about iron overload,
hemochromatosis, is: What are the symptoms? Of course, the answer is startling, the
symptoms are diseases in and of themselves! But, there are also many more
subtle symptoms as well. Listed below are some of the symptoms of iron overload,
but remember....you cannot diagnose iron overload using symptoms, only proper
blood work (serum iron, TIBC, percent of saturation, and serum ferritin) will
direct the physician in the right direction. In addition, it is important to
note that many iron overloaded patients do NOT have any symptoms at all, at
least not until they are in the advanced stages, when permanent damage may begin
to take place. See if any of these symptoms "ring a bell" for you or your
family members and then ask your doctor to test you!
Symptoms for iron overload/hemochromatosis:
Chronic Fatigue/Weakness (most patients who have been diagnosed as having
"chronic fatigue syndrome" have never been screened for iron overload) but they
should be. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed as iron deficiency anemia
(without testing) and the patient self medicates with over the counter iron pills.
Diabetes or "Bronze Diabetes"/Hyperpigmentation--10% of all diabetics are
estimated to have iron induced diabetes from iron storage in the pancreas. Skin
may be gray or slate in color without sun exposure. Few diabetics have been
screened for iron overload but should be.
Impotence/Loss of libido--One of the most unrecognized reasons for impotence
and loss of libido is iron overload. Many patients are sent for mental
evaluation and/or put through a battery of medical tests, usually not including
screening for iron overload. Often the patient also has diabetes (due to iron
overload) but the impotence is blamed on the diabetes or medication.
Infertility/Sterility--Millions of dollars are spent annually on finding out
why certain women cannot have a child. The quest is often fruitless and the
couple never realizes that one or both have iron overload which affects their
hormone balance which therefore makes them incapable of normal reproductive
function. There have been reported cases of infertility being completely reversed
and the formerly infertile female patient becoming fertile after aggressive
phlebotomy (bloodletting) treatment for hemochromatosis and having a successful
pregnancy.
Premature Menopause/Amenorrhea (missed or stopped periods)--Sometimes blamed
on "stress", hormones, or other causes, the patient usually has not been
screened for iron overload
Cirrhosis of the Liver/Cancer of the Liver--Many hemochromatosis patients are
accused of being alcoholics, despite their denial of such abuse. Cirrhosis of
the liver is a result of advanced iron overload in the liver and can occur
with or without alcohol abuse. Many patients require a liver transplant, often,
without realizing that the patient has iron overload, hemochromatosis. Without
a diagnosis, the patient will once again load iron into the "new" liver and
become iron overloaded. Note: alcohol enhances iron absorption, so if a person
were a carrier of hereditary hemochromatosis (heterozygote) and also an
alcoholic, that person could load iron to the same degree as the double gene
(homozygote) hemochromatosis patient.
Cardiac arrhythmia/Heart irregularities/Cardiomegaly/Heart Failure--Many
patients who have iron overload are seeing cardiologists but have never been
screened for iron overload. They are taking medication and sometimes even iron
pills...the diagnosis remains elusive until proper blood work is performed.
Arthritis/Tender, Swollen Joints--Many patients complain of arthritis,
particularly of the knuckles of the first and and second fingers. Iron is in the
joints and is painful. Many patients are taking pain pills and NSAIDS, but have
never been screened for iron overload. At the 1996 convention of the American
College of Arthritis doctors related to the Iron Overload Diseases Association
that they were seeing more and more hemochromatosis patients in their
practices. A letter to the editor entitled, "Musculoskeletal disorders and iron
overload disease comment on the American College of Rheumatology guidelines for the
initial evanluation of the adult patient with acute musculoskeletal symptoms"
by Alex Vasquez, DC appears in the Volume 39, No. 10 October 1996 edition of
"Arthritis & Rheumatism" the Official Journal of the American College of
Rheumatology. This letter urges all rheumatologists to "think" iron overload
when
evaluating their patients and to routinely screen them for hemochromatosis.
Cancer--Cancer thrives on iron....yet few cancer patients are screened for
iron overload. Liver cancer, in particular, is a common result of advanced iron
overload/hemochromatosis. However, whatever kind of cancer it is, it will
thrive on high iron in the body. Every cancer patient should be screened at
diagnosis of their cancer for hemochromatosis.
Here are some vague but valid symptoms reported by patients:
Hypothyroidism
Psychological or Psychiatric Disorder (includes depression, hypochondria, or
others), confusion, also memory loss
Abdominal Pain/Abdominal Swelling (especially the right side)
Hair loss
Weight loss
Always feeling cold
Infection with the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus (which is very dangerous to the
iron overloaded patient whose liver is compromised with toxic levels of iron)
This bacteria is in sea water and raw seafood
Frequent colds/flu/weakened immune system
What's the bottom line?
You can't diagnose hemochromatosis using symptoms....you must have your
physician test you with the proper iron profile! Serum iron, TIBC (total iron
binding capacity), percent of saturation, serum ferritin.