Although it is commonplace, Genetic Haemochromatosis is significantly under diagnosed in the UK as the symptoms are not often known. This can cause a delay in treatment.

Haemochromatosis is an inherited condition where iron levels gradually build up in your body over many years. This build up of iron, known as iron overload, can caused unpleasant symptoms and if not treated can damage parts of the body such as the liver, joints, pancreas and heart.

When I was diagnosed with Haemochromatosis in 2015, my primary symptom was exhaustion. I had a busy career at the time. The answer, I thought, was food supplementation. I began taking multivitamins. When they made no difference, I took more. Every pill I put into my body contained iron, increased my levels and made me more and more unwell.

Luckily, my condition was caught early before organ damage took place. It’s not like that for everyone. Despite this, it still took 9 months of fortnightly venesections to bring my iron levels to a tolerable level. Venesections themselves are usually pretty manageable, but the frequency of treatment required in the early months can be emotionally draining, time consuming and exhausting. It wasn’t something I was able to endure alongside a busy career. I am now in maintenance, which means I only need to have a venesection every 3 months.

Haemochromatosis UK is a vital charity, providing support and guidance to those newly diagnosed and their families (as it is a hereditary condition, all members of the family need to get tested) as well as those living with longer term affects of the condition. The charity also arrives out action-based research into the effects of living with Haemochromatosis and provides guidance, training and support for GPs and other professionals in the diagnosis of Haemochromatosis.

PLEASE SUPPORT MY FUNDRAISER SO MORE PEOPLE CAN BE DIAGNOSED MORE QUICKLY AND - IF YOU ARE TIRED - PLEASE GET YOUR IRON LEVELS CHECKED!

Karen Richardson