I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp

Any thoughts??

If this were the 15th century, the barber would be in charge of your
bloodletting.

There was something on PBS just yesterday about that. As you get older
the iron level increases and therefore carries to much oxygen causing
faster deterioration of tissue and faster aging.

Look at the bright side. I think your blood may be recyclable. A man in
our office had the same problem. Gave blood every week for two years.
Now he has built up so much credit with the hospital blood bank that
everyone in his family can have unlimited free transfusions.

Two pints a week sounds like an awfull lot though. Hope you can afford
a lot of steaks.

Bill Darby wrote:
I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp




--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn Ashmore wrote:
There was something on PBS just yesterday about that. As you get older
the iron level increases and therefore carries to much oxygen causing
faster deterioration of tissue and faster aging.

Look at the bright side. I think your blood may be recyclable. A man in
our office had the same problem. Gave blood every week for two years.
Now he has built up so much credit with the hospital blood bank that
everyone in his family can have unlimited free transfusions.

Two pints a week sounds like an awfull lot though. Hope you can afford
a lot of steaks.

What's wrong with black pudding?
Stay green...

It was comon in England during medieval times for the Lord or Lady of
the manor to collect a couple of pints of water from the local
smithy's quench tank, usually collected after the weekend after
everything had settled, supposed to be an excelent source of iron!.
Al .

Thanks Glenn (and the other guys)

Yea it did sound a little medieval to me as well. Blood letting and all
that. 52 holes in each arm each year. Makes me shiver just to think of it.
Well whatever!!
We'll see.

Bill

Glenn Ashmore wrote:

There was something on PBS just yesterday about that. As you get older
the iron level increases and therefore carries to much oxygen causing
faster deterioration of tissue and faster aging.

Look at the bright side. I think your blood may be recyclable. A man in
our office had the same problem. Gave blood every week for two years.
Now he has built up so much credit with the hospital blood bank that
everyone in his family can have unlimited free transfusions.

Two pints a week sounds like an awfull lot though. Hope you can afford
a lot of steaks.

Bill Darby wrote:
I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp




--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 16:48:35 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

Thanks Glenn (and the other guys)

Yea it did sound a little medieval to me as well. Blood letting and all
that. 52 holes in each arm each year. Makes me shiver just to think of it.
Well whatever!!
We'll see.

Bill

Buy a leech
___

Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light
side and a dark side, and it holds the universe
together.

Can you just imagine the size of that bugger John!: One quart per week. 52 per
year, times three makes it just about a barrel. One big MF leech.

On the bright side: If the indians ever catch me,, they'll never be able to make
a canoe out of me. (^:

Bill

John Stevenson wrote:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 16:48:35 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

Thanks Glenn (and the other guys)

Yea it did sound a little medieval to me as well. Blood letting and all
that. 52 holes in each arm each year. Makes me shiver just to think of it.
Well whatever!!
We'll see.

Bill

Buy a leech
___

Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light
side and a dark side, and it holds the universe
together.

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 16:05:52 -0500, Glenn Ashmore
wrote:

There was something on PBS just yesterday about that. As you get older
the iron level increases and therefore carries to much oxygen causing
faster deterioration of tissue and faster aging.

Look at the bright side. I think your blood may be recyclable. A man in
our office had the same problem. Gave blood every week for two years.
Now he has built up so much credit with the hospital blood bank that
everyone in his family can have unlimited free transfusions.

Two pints a week sounds like an awfull lot though. Hope you can afford
a lot of steaks.

Isn't the point of eating the steaks to build up the iron in the
blood? I don't know so I'm asking. If that's the case seems like he
ought to become a vegetarian. Yuk.
Sue

Sue wrote:


Isn't the point of eating the steaks to build up the iron in the
blood? I don't know so I'm asking. If that's the case seems like he
ought to become a vegetarian. Yuk.
Sue


You are probably right but two pints is a heck of a lot of blood. I am
a fairly big dude but if you drained a quart out of me I think I would
probably look like an albino prune.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn Ashmore wrote:

There was something on PBS just yesterday about that. As you get older
the iron level increases and therefore carries to much oxygen causing
faster deterioration of tissue and faster aging.

I got interested in vitamins and supplements after my experiences a
couple of years ago, and was interested to learn that a good mens
vitamin pill does not have iron in it. In fact it is recommended that
males do not take any iron supplement, unless they have a demonstrated
iron deficiency.

Women, because of their monthly blood loss, benefit from taking iron.

Fitch

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

snip

Sounds like polycythemia -- too many red cells. blood viscosity
increases until your heart can't pump it any more and you succumb to a
stroke or circulatory disease of some sort. Sometimes not even
detected in an autopsy. My mother had it for years, with excess red
cells being periodically removed by simply taking blood out.

I'm not certain about your condition, but polycythemia is believed to
be a malfunction of the spleen, whose function it is to remove excess
red blood cells from the bloodstream.

Al Moore

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

My dad worked in an iron foundry, feeding the blast furnace for
several years. He had to quit because of the same problem. Blood iron
level went through the roof.

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp

Thanks Clare

Not sure what the culprit is. I mill a little steel but the last couple
of years has been almost exclusively aluminum.

How did your Pop make out?

Bill

clare, @, snyder.on, .ca wrote:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

My dad worked in an iron foundry, feeding the blast furnace for
several years. He had to quit because of the same problem. Blood iron
level went through the roof.

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:33:07 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

Thanks Clare

Not sure what the culprit is. I mill a little steel but the last couple
of years has been almost exclusively aluminum.

How did your Pop make out?
He turns 75 on Sunday. Legs aren't what they used to be - Lungs
either. A touch of Farmer's Lung (though at first it was heart
trouble) and diabetic - but on the whole doing well.
He's buried 2 wives, and is happliy married to the third. My mother
died at 62 of Cancer, and his second wife at 67 or so of Lukemia.
(interesting - my mother's maiden name was Eileen Bauman. Third wife
was Irene Bauman - no relation)

Bill

clare, @, snyder.on, .ca wrote:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

My dad worked in an iron foundry, feeding the blast furnace for
several years. He had to quit because of the same problem. Blood iron
level went through the roof.

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp

Bill Darby wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp
i dont think the steel you are grinding would do it??? but if it was
lead then you might have a problem with lead dust showing up in your
blood... and yes they do make mistakes at the labs... have your doctor
draw some new blood and send it out or have him do it in his office...
sounds kinda a bad reading to me......

jim

i dont think the steel you are grinding would do it??? but if it was
lead then you might have a problem with lead dust showing up in your
blood... and yes they do make mistakes at the labs... have your doctor
draw some new blood and send it out or have him do it in his office...
sounds kinda a bad reading to me......

Yes, they do make mistakes.
When my son was small he had a positive lead test.
It took about a month of feeling like a criminal before new testing said
"nope."
Best luck to Bill.
Frank Morrison

Fdmorrison wrote:

jim

i dont think the steel you are grinding would do it??? but if it was
lead then you might have a problem with lead dust showing up in your
blood... and yes they do make mistakes at the labs... have your doctor
draw some new blood and send it out or have him do it in his office...
sounds kinda a bad reading to me......

Yes, they do make mistakes.
When my son was small he had a positive lead test.
It took about a month of feeling like a criminal before new testing said
"nope."
Best luck to Bill.
Frank Morrison

Tks Frank .... A terrible feeling to think you could, in some way, have hurt
your own kids. I can understand your joy in getting the "nope".

Bill

jim wrote:

Bill Darby wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp
i dont think the steel you are grinding would do it??? but if it was
lead then you might have a problem with lead dust showing up in your
blood... and yes they do make mistakes at the labs... have your doctor
draw some new blood and send it out or have him do it in his office...
sounds kinda a bad reading to me......

I do very little grinding Jim. None in the winter and in the summer, only when
I can open my garage door wide. God forbid I should have a lead problem and
yes I sure am (I won't say praying.) (But close to it!) hoping that there was
a mistake.

Bill

My wife was a SICU nurse and a nursing supervisor for years and you would not
believe the stories she tells. Do not believe any test if it is out of the
norm, have the test run again, and if in doubt have it run a third time. Then
you will be faced with the problem of picking between three different sets of
results! The worst story was of a brain operation that was done on the wrong
person and on the wrong side of the head because the X ray was for the wrong
person and was read turned over... I hope there was an error on your test, and
if not, you seem ready to deal with the problem, hang in there!
Rick

Rhbuxton wrote:

My wife was a SICU nurse and a nursing supervisor for years and you would not
believe the stories she tells. Do not believe any test if it is out of the
norm, have the test run again, and if in doubt have it run a third time. Then
you will be faced with the problem of picking between three different sets of
results! The worst story was of a brain operation that was done on the wrong
person and on the wrong side of the head because the X ray was for the wrong
person and was read turned over... I hope there was an error on your test, and
if not, you seem ready to deal with the problem, hang in there!
Rick

Thanks Rick

I understand very well what you are saying and I also hope there was an error.
A bloody great colossal error. In any case the best I can figure is that it's a
fail-safe type of situation. I "assume" that each time they drain a pint out they
check it's iron level in order to know what progress is being made. So it should
not be long until they can build a picture from the accumulated test of what's
going on.

Bill

Bill Darby wrote:

I "assume" that each time they drain a pint out they
check it's iron level in order to know what progress is being made.

Bill,

Where the medical community is concerned, don't assume anything. The
hand on the tiller of your medical care is yours. If you don't have a
grip on it, its slapping in the cockpit. You appear in a doctor's
life when he/she picks up your chart, and fade a few milliseconds
after they drop it back in the slot. Then they pick up the next chart
....

Fitch

Fitch R. Williams wrote: (clip) The hand on the tiller of your medical care
is yours. If you don't have a grip on it, its slapping in the cockpit.
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^
Prior to a recent surgery I was encouraged to deposit two units of blood.
This was handled in a Red Cross office in the Kaiser Foundation Hospital. I
was very impressed with their care in maintaining control over the whole
sequence. I was required to bring in a document with my social security
number on it. Prior to each "sitting" they drew my blood and ran it through
a centrifuge. Each time any paper or the blood itself changed hands, they
read the identification information to each other.

I'm not suggesting that you should stop paying attention, but let's give the
medical community a fair shake.

In article ,
Bill Darby wrote:


Rhbuxton wrote:

My wife was a SICU nurse and a nursing supervisor for years and you would not
believe the stories she tells. Do not believe any test if it is out of the
norm, have the test run again, and if in doubt have it run a third time. Then
you will be faced with the problem of picking between three different sets of
results! The worst story was of a brain operation that was done on the wrong
person and on the wrong side of the head because the X ray was for the wrong
person and was read turned over... I hope there was an error on your test, and
if not, you seem ready to deal with the problem, hang in there!
Rick

Thanks Rick

I understand very well what you are saying and I also hope there was an error.
A bloody great colossal error. In any case the best I can figure is that it's a
fail-safe type of situation. I "assume" that each time they drain a pint out they
check it's iron level in order to know what progress is being made. So it should
not be long until they can build a picture from the accumulated test of what's
going on.

Bill


I second Ricks opinion, and wish to caution you on "assuming" anything.

Perhaps it is just me and my limited experiences finding myself in the
hospital all on my own and having to be both the patient and advocate. Don't
assume anything. It is your body and your health. You get to decide how
things go down. The doctor is the expert (but remember experts range from
really really good to how did this guy graduate) and you have to let them do
their job, but you do get a say in things. If a test comes back slightly
irregular and they want to start doing all kinds of things really quick, you
should be asking why. What does the test measure? What do the numbers mean?
What happens if you do nothing for a week or two? Could it change on its
own? How about a retest in two weeks to see if it was a fluke? If he has a
good reason why this is an issue that has to attended to now, then he better
explain it to you. A test that is an order of magnitude off should (in my
opinion) get a retest no matter what. When you leave the office, you read.
See what there is out there on the problem or condition. There are groups
for everything today, so you should be able to find people that have been
there and done that before. You will probably find the range that have done
nothing and know what comes of it and those that did everything and what
comes of it. Now that you have some idea of what you are dealing with, go
ask questions. If something looks out of the ordinary, ask why he chose the
approach he is taking. If you aren't satisfied, get a second opinion. If it
is a big enough deal, get one anyway.

I am by my nature a difficult patient since I won't just sit there and let
them do whatever they want. I want to know what they are going to do, why
they are doing it, what to expect, and so on. When I was in the hospital for
a really nasty kidney infection, I was getting no information from anyone.
No one would tell me what tests came back and how they turned out. No one
would tell me how long I could expect to be in the hospital, no one was
talking to me. I ended up telling the nurse that she had two options, find a
doctor to talk to me, or get the papers ready as I was leaving ADA. That
finally got a doctor to talk to me and explain why I shouldn't leave.
Finally I started to get some answers and understand my condition (really
really nasty antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria). Yes I was a pain (I
did apologize to the nurses for being such a pain) but I wasn't about to sit
there an let people I don't know do things to my body for reasons I don't
know.

It's your life, take some interest in it while you have it.

-- Joe

--
Joseph M. Krzeszewski Mechanical Engineering and stuff
Jack of All Trades, Master of None... Yet

wrote:

snip excellent example

Yes I was a pain (I
did apologize to the nurses for being such a pain) but I wasn't about to sit
there an let people I don't know do things to my body for reasons I don't
know.

Yes! That is exactly what I mean when I say the hand on the tiller of
your health care has to be your won.

Fitch

ANSPAM (Rhbuxton) wrote:
The worst story was of a brain operation that was done on the wrong
person and on the wrong side of the head

If it was the wrong person, either side was the wrong side.


jk

Bill Darby wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180.

Don't drink any water, your joints will rust into immobility. G

Fitch

"Fitch R. Williams" wrote:

Bill Darby wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180.

Don't drink any water, your joints will rust into immobility. G

Fitch

Ah Ha Fitch!!!!!!!! Been doing that for a very long while. I won't even need
to be embalmed. VBG also

Bill

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)


I don't like to use the word vegetarian, but I haven't eaten red meat
in nearly 35 years. My iron level is just above the lower level of
acceptability. Of course, diet is only one of many factors....

It does seem like blood letting is a rather invasive solution to
excess iron. I think I'd get a 2nd opinion.

Mickey Feldman wrote:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)


I don't like to use the word vegetarian, but I haven't eaten red meat
in nearly 35 years. My iron level is just above the lower level of
acceptability. Of course, diet is only one of many factors....

It does seem like blood letting is a rather invasive solution to
excess iron. I think I'd get a 2nd opinion.

Thanks Mickey

That's an angle I had not considered. I have been doing the Atkins diet for
about three years and I live on meat. I wonder????

Bill

Hey Bill,

Hmmmm to your Hmmmm. I've been doing the Atkins for well over two
years. My Type 2 diabetes disappeared and my cholesterol is back to
normal and I've lost over 80 pounds, although there is always a two or
three pound weight reversal at any Holiday time, with now being no
exception!! But your thoughts are interesting and well worth
considering I think, and I'll ask my Doctor if she will include an
iron levels test with my semi-annual blood work which is due again
soon. I've already got her to tick the little check box for the PSA
each time, due to Fitch's "Happy Christmas" tale of two years back.
The PSA lab test is an extra not covered by OHIP, but well worth the
$25 for peace of mind.

Thanks for the heads-up on all this too.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 23:59:25 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:



Mickey Feldman wrote:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)


I don't like to use the word vegetarian, but I haven't eaten red meat
in nearly 35 years. My iron level is just above the lower level of
acceptability. Of course, diet is only one of many factors....

It does seem like blood letting is a rather invasive solution to
excess iron. I think I'd get a 2nd opinion.

Thanks Mickey

That's an angle I had not considered. I have been doing the Atkins diet for
about three years and I live on meat. I wonder????

Bill

In article ,
says...
I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180.
...snippage...

HOLY SMOKE! So, are you magnetic?

--
Doug d e s @ i n d i a n c h i e f d o t c o m
http://www.des.indianchief.com/index.htm

Bill Darby wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)


Two pints a week? That doesn't sound right. When I was a blood donor, I was
only allowed to donate a pint a of whole blood once every eight weeks?
(http://www.bloodbook.com/donr-requir.html). I was allowed to be a pheresis
donor (platelet donor) on a much higher frequency. They always gave me lots of
orange juice to drink afterwards, and suggested I drink much more to replace the
blood volume quickly.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.


Just think..you can get your Red Cross 5 Gallon Doner license plate
frame ahead of schedule.

Gunner

"Guns aren't toys. They're for family protection, hunting dangerous or
delicious animals, and keeping the King of England out of your face."

-- Krusty the Clown, "The Simpsons"

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

I have heard of people with your condition tripping metal detectors in
airports. Don't know if it is true.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/
Aurora, Ontario

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:29:41 -0500, Bill Darby
wrote:

I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180. If left untreated it
kills you and the treatment is to drain away normally two pints of blood
per week for from six months to three years or until the level is
reduced to 10. (This info is from the attached links.)

May sound like a bummer but I think it's very fortunate that my doctor,
acting on a hunch, decided to test for iron. Many do not find out until
Quincy is doing the autopsy.

In any case I mention it to see if there might be some link between my
shop work and the high levels of iron. ????? It is a hereditary
disease or may be brought on by consuming to much Iron. I always liked
grapes. (^:

I have always used a dust mask when buffing.????

Anyway it's a heads up to you. I do not look forward to draining out two
pints of blood every week for years but it's better then the
alternative.

Candidly I am hoping that someone just misplaced a decimal in my test
reading. I will know better after I see the medical specialist that my
GP is sending me to.

Any thoughts??

Some links

http://www.ironoverload.org/facts.html

http://www.ironoverload.org/treatment.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthsc...625genome1.asp


My neighbor is a certified Med Tech who sells lab equipment. His
father had this condition for nearly 20 years. I told him of your lab
results. His first suggestion was to get second and third tests at
independent different labs. The horror stories he tells will shake
your confidence in any lab tests.

He also wondered it they were draining 2 pints weekly, were they
returning the plasma?

Bill,

In 1998 there was a tremendous amount of discussion (and recommendations for
testing) about this issue on most of the Celtic internet sites where it was
referred to as the "Celtic Curse". Those of us with ancestry from Ireland,
Wales, Scotland, or Great Britain (England) are at high risk. The risk is an
inherited blood disorder called hemochromatosis (an inability of the body to
process its iron stores). Information about this can be found at the
American Hemochromatosis Society http://www.americanhs.org/celtic.htm .

Take care of yourself and keep us posted.

Terry

"Bill Darby" wrote in message
...
I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180.

Thanks Terry

That's an interesting link with lots of good background. It's kind of funny
how some otherwise very dull subjects, can suddenly become very very
interesting. (^:

Bill


Terry Ogletree wrote:

Bill,

In 1998 there was a tremendous amount of discussion (and recommendations for
testing) about this issue on most of the Celtic internet sites where it was
referred to as the "Celtic Curse". Those of us with ancestry from Ireland,
Wales, Scotland, or Great Britain (England) are at high risk. The risk is an
inherited blood disorder called hemochromatosis (an inability of the body to
process its iron stores). Information about this can be found at the
American Hemochromatosis Society http://www.americanhs.org/celtic.htm .

Take care of yourself and keep us posted.

Terry

"Bill Darby" wrote in message
...
I was told today that the iron level in my blood was to high. Normal is
between 10 and 80 units and mine was up to 1180.

You are absolutely right Bill. Now that I'm almost 55 and trying to track
down (via test after test) the source of an irritating chest pain I'm
tending to pay more attention to topics of medical interest, especially as
they relate to my own symptoms and conditions. Even though I don't yet have
iron overload I am concerned about it after the discussion on the Celtic
internet sites back in 1998. Thanks for bringing this subject to our
attention, hopefully more of us will get tested for it.

Terry

"Bill Darby" wrote in message
...
Thanks Terry

That's an interesting link with lots of good background. It's kind of
funny
how some otherwise very dull subjects, can suddenly become very very
interesting. (^:

Terry Ogletree wrote:

You are absolutely right Bill. Now that I'm almost 55

Ok Terry I am almost 65 so I'll act as your trail blazer. (I wonder who is the
hi mileage fleet leader in the group?) If I find any potholes or crevasses along
the way I'll just holler and you can steer clear! (^:

Seriously that was damned good info and I have given a heads up to my brothers
and kids. Can you imagine 1 in 200 have the double mutation, so that's more then
1.5 million just in the US of A.

Cheers Terry
Bill

I particularly like the one line naming the disease:
" the "British Gene", the "Celtic Curse" or the "Irish Illness" (^:


and trying to track
down (via test after test) the source of an irritating chest pain I'm
tending to pay more attention to topics of medical interest, especially as
they relate to my own symptoms and conditions. Even though I don't yet have
iron overload I am concerned about it after the discussion on the Celtic
internet sites back in 1998. Thanks for bringing this subject to our
attention, hopefully more of us will get tested for it.

Terry

"Bill Darby" wrote in message
...
Thanks Terry

That's an interesting link with lots of good background. It's kind of
funny
how some otherwise very dull subjects, can suddenly become very very
interesting. (^: