Blogtober Day 12

I had just a few things on the agenda for today, the first being a visit to the pop-up blood donor centre. My family carries a genetic disorder called hemochromatosis which causes a build-up of iron in the blood. I don't have hemochromatosis, but I do carry two of the genes that cause it so to keep my iron levels low and avoid any problems associated with iron overload I have to give blood on a fairly regular basis. 

Waiting for the bus.

Not something you expect to see when donating blood, but he was a very cute distraction.

Once back at home I had lunch and then I got busy potting on those tomato seedlings that needed a bigger pot. I forgot to put name tags in the pots as I transplanted them so I have no idea which tomato is which now. I guess I will have to wait until they start fruiting to find out. I also planted out the beans that I was meant to do the other day but never got around to. 

 

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Haemochromatosis

A little over ten years ago two of my relatives were diagnosed with haemochromatosis, have you heard of it? It is a genetic blood disorder also known as "iron overload disorder". It was suggested that all members of the family be tested and when my results came back I discovered that although I don't have haemochromatosis I do however have two of the genes that cause it which puts me in the medium-risk category for iron overload. A few months ago, I had started to feel extremely tired, thinking that I might be anemic I had a blood test done, turns out rather than my iron levels being low they were in fact way too high. 

The only treatment for women past childbearing years, which I am, is to become a "therapeutic blood donor", so once a month, for three months that's exactly what I became. My last blood donation was a couple of weeks ago and I'm due to have a blood test next week to see if having blood taken has worked in lowering my iron levels, hopefully, they will be okay and from now on I will only have to give blood every three months instead of monthly. 

High irons levels may not sound like a bad thing, but left untreated it can lead to some major health issues such as cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes and congestive heart failure. People most at risk for haemochromatosis are those of Northern European descent, if you would like to know more about it this website, has some very good information.

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