Does anyone have experience of haemochromatosis?

[thecaptaincrocfamily]

DH's dad has just been diagnosed with it. I know it is common 1:200 prevelance,its genetic and causes several diseases etc.
Has anyone experience of it and has anyone been tested because a relative has it. Apparantly it can be treated my modifying diet to prevent other illness and disease, so is it worth doing this in case DD1 and 2 are affected? i.e. if I am a carrier?

My dad has recently been diagnosed with this. Too much iron in the blood I believe. My sister got tested and is fine. I am working up to it. I don't think you can be a "carrier" as such. You either have it or you don't. So if you and DH are fine, then your children will be.

I didn't know it was so common though. To be honest I have a bit of phobia about drs and disease, so I have purposely avoided googling it!

They were apparently going to "bleed" my dad. I can;t help but think of leeches!

lol at leeches! You can inherit it. It takes a double recessive gene so both parents need to contribute. Out of a family with 4 children 1 will have it,2 carry it and 1 won't be a carrier or have it. If DH dad has it then DH could be a carrier and would not know, I could be and not know and we could produce a child with it iyswim. Trouble is that if you carry it you don't have symptoms so wouldn't know.

Aah you know more than me! I guess the next time I see my GP I will ask about testing for me and dd. We're in Belgium so i guess I need to see a specialist. What kind of specialist I have no clue.

My dad never reported any symptons. I know it can lead to increased levels of liver cancer/heart disease and the like. I used to work for a pharmaceutical company and in the past was offered full blood work ups. Mine were always normal - but no idea whether such genetic conditions would have been picked up.

probably not because they just do things like liver function, red and white cell count etc. This needs to be a DNA profile.

My dm was diagnosed with this a couple of years ago but is doing fine. She just needs to go into hospital every couple of months to have her levels checked and for blood to be taken if they're too high. She's ok with it all but it's a hassle. I was tested and was clear.