Question 1

i understand that you cannot drink alcohol when blood iron levels are elevated, but what is the impact of marijuana use on hemochromatosis patients?

Accepted Answer

Brain damage: Marijuana is a psychoactive drug and will mess with your brain with or without hemochromatosis.
Wish you good health! - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form. 
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.

Question 2

my friend has a hemochromatosis? what is that?

Accepted Answer

Excess iron: Some people have a hereditary condition leading to excessive iron accumulation in the body. Excess iron is toxic. It is easily treatable. See this site for more info.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemochromatosis/basics/definition/con-20023606

Question 3

is nausea a side effect of hemochromatosis ?

Accepted Answer

No: We think of medications causing side effects while we think of medical conditions causing symptoms. Regardless, nausea isn't high on the list as being a symptom of hemochromatosis. Check out http://www.Mayoclinic.Com/health/hemochromatosis/ds00455/dsection=symptoms for more info. Simple blood test can determine if you have hemochromatosis or not. Your family doc can also evaluate & diagnosis nause.

Question 4

does hemochromatosis treatment require a specialist?

Accepted Answer

I don't think so: It's my humble opinion that any family physician can diagnose and treat common hemochromatosis if someone body can be found to do the blood-bag phlebotomy. A hard-core gastroenterologist, cardiologist, or endocrinologist might disagree especially if the diseases has been missed for a long time and allowed to become advanced. Good luck.

Question 5

what can cause a blood test to show high levels of ferritin, aside from hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

Liver and more: Liver disease, due to alcohol, viral hepatitis; chronic infections, hemolytic anemia, anorexia nervosa, and some drugs can cause elevated serum ferritin.

Question 6

if hemochromatosis is a genetic disease, should other family members be tested? which ones and when?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Hemochromatosis is the most common of genetic diseases.  It can have variable penitrance and manifest briskly or insiduoulsy.  It is usually not manifest until the 4th or 5th decade of life and usually in males since women lose blood/iron with menses.  A blood test can be done to diagnose and for genetics.  Counsel with your pcp, hematologist or geneticist.  Great sources on the web.  I have it!

Question 7

i am supposed to be tested for hemochromatosis and have had a heavy period all week. will this effect the results?

Accepted Answer

No: It should not affect the test results.

Question 8

female white age 42. primary hemochromatosis has caused stage 3cirrhosis. now a urine test shows a creatintine level of 222.3. should i be concerned?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The units are micromoles / liter, right?  I'm really sorry that your hemochromatosis led to cirrhosis but the phlebotomy treatments you are receiving should at least partly reverse it.  Your physician will work you up for the cause of what may be mild renal insufficiency. Some people like yourself get an IgA nephropathy secondary to liver disease; there are other possibilities.

Question 9

did a transferrin saturation test without fasting at around 2pm.will it help to diagnose hemochromatosis? will the results be atleast fairly accurate?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It's a good first step. Hemochromatosis is extremely common, deadly if missed, and getting it treated is easy and will make you feel a whole lot better.

Question 10

i have hemochromatosis and recently i have been having really bad headaches x 3 weeks a vision more blurry. could this mean my ferritin level elevated?

Accepted Answer

May not relate: Hemochromatosis is a disease that almost always has few, if any neurological issues. The bad headaches may be due to multiple causes, but not ferritin changes.  Consider migraine, muscle contraction, eye issues, dental infections, even intracranial issues.  Best to have an mri, especially with constant issues, and worsening vision.  Check for increased pressure in head.

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Doctor answers about:

Hemochromatosis and marijuana

A member asked:

I understand that you cannot drink alcohol when blood iron levels are elevated, but what is the impact of marijuana use on hemochromatosis patients?

A member asked:

My friend has a hemochromatosis? what is that?

A member asked:

Is nausea a side effect of hemochromatosis ?

A member asked:

Does hemochromatosis treatment require a specialist?

A member asked:

What can cause a blood test to show high levels of ferritin, aside from hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

If hemochromatosis is a genetic disease, should other family members be tested? which ones and when?

A member asked:

I am supposed to be tested for hemochromatosis and have had a heavy period all week. will this effect the results?

A member asked:

Female white age 42. primary hemochromatosis has caused stage 3cirrhosis. now a urine test shows a creatintine level of 222.3. should i be concerned?

A member asked:

Did a transferrin saturation test without fasting at around 2pm.will it help to diagnose hemochromatosis? will the results be atleast fairly accurate?

A member asked:

I have hemochromatosis and recently i have been having really bad headaches x 3 weeks a vision more blurry. could this mean my ferritin level elevated?

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