Check Your Iron Levels!

I have posted here before about my success in eliminating both my AFIB and Irregular Heart but never knew what the real culprit may haven been.

Since I’ve been experiencing some fatigue I asked the doc to do a complete iron panel. Normally, they only look at the hemoglobin to check if your iron is low but this does not tell the whole story. So a complete iron panel will test for Ferritin, Iron, TIBC & Saturation. Mine came back with both a high Ferritin (495) and Saturation (73) indicating what they call an “Iron Overload” or a possible Hemochromatosis condition. Further genetic testing verified I do carry the gene for developing Hemochromatosis.

I have yet to get an appointment with a Hematologist but after much reading I’ve learned a lot about this problem. Iron is a unique mineral in the way your body deals with it and having too much is very bad as your body stores any excess into you organs such as your HEART. Also, once this occurs the only way to get rid of it is through phlebotomy and to a much lessor degree by eliminating iron intake – very difficult to do. This problem is easily corrected through phlebotomy treatments but you must make sure to know the source of your Iron Overload, i.e., genetic and/or inflammation. In my case I have no inflammatory markers in my blood work and have the gene mutation so it seems pretty clear.

Anyway, my point is through all my life style changes to combat AFIB and Irregular Heart I unknowingly lowered my iron intake and the foods that exacerbate the condition. Iron Overload is a known contributor to both AFIB & Irregular Heart.

So I’m just sitting here contemplating the possibility this was the source of my AFIB & Irregular Heart to begin with and thought I would throw this information out here.

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Rob626
Further genetic testing verified I do carry the gene for developing Hemochromatosis.

Hey Rob, here are some searches that may be useful. Former member Isabelle posted a lot about iron, afib & hemochromatosis. She never really registered after some system changes 13 or so years ago, so I searched on her name and iron in posts, so some may be others replying to a post of hers. [www.afibbers.org]

Longtime current member Jackie has also posted about iron over the years: [www.afibbers.org]

If someone wants to comment on one of these old posts, please comment here in this thread and post a link to the post you are referring to. Otherwise no one will ever see your comment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2025 06:55PM by GeorgeN.

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GeorgeN
If someone wants to comment on one of these old posts, please comment here in this thread and post a link to the post you are referring to. Otherwise no one will ever see your comment.

Thanks for reminding people of that, George. It drives me nuts to see there's an unread message and even if I go back 5 years I can't find it.

On the plus side, new forum software is in the budget and the plans for this year.

There are different types or variants for Hereditary Hemochromatosis. I'm positive for the H63D variant, but in most cases this is not threatening to turn into full blown Hemochromatosis. On the other hand, the C282Y variant is the one that can be problematic if not treated.

A few years ago, while going through a full cardiac workup, it was found that I have high ferritin counts. It was also found that I have high red blood cell counts (Hematocrit and Hemoglobin), with suspected Polycythemia Vera. I see a Hematologist/Oncologist at Dana Farber and the testing they did came back negative for PV. The treatment for any of this stuff is regular phlebotomies, which I do every few months. I believe I read on this site a while back of cardiac benefits of regular phlebotomies so I do them for a variety of reasons.

So after visiting the hematologist I am positive for the H63D variant. After ruling out any body inflammation, cancers etc, it appears I have a mild form of Hemochromatosis. So the treatment is I donate blood to the red cross every 52 days and check my levels. They are coming down and the last tests show me approaching high-end of normal. So just another thing to manage as I get older.

I still pinch myself every morning to remind myself I no longer have any AFIB or irregular heart beat as I have posted here – all lifestyle changes. However, during all the echos and what not it was discovered I have an ascending aorta aneurysm of 4.7cm. Not so good but it’s been stable for the last 6 years. Just another thing to monitor & keep my fingers crossed.

I guess were not going to get out of here alive

So said Jim Morrison. I suspect he may have been onto something. ><