At what age did you get diagnosed with iron overload / hemochromatosis?

Around 12 or 13 years old

At what age did you start feeling symptoms?

12 years old

What were your symptoms?

• Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Muscle weakness
• Brain fog
• Memory problems
• Anxiety
• Heart flutters / abnormal heart rhythm
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Fatigue / feeling tired
• Liver problems
• Other symptoms - I got the flu pretty much for a whole year, missed a lot of school due to it. The doctors had no idea why I was always so sick. They wondered if I had cancer. Until I was finally diagnosed.

Which symptoms affected you the most?

The symptoms that affected me the most were diarrhea, which happened every single night. I would sit in the loo for hours. Also hair loss. I used to have such thick hair, [now] I hardly have any.

Did your symptoms affect your daily life?

Yes I missed a lot of school.

How did you discover you had iron overload / hemochromatosis?

I went to a natural place who figured it out and then the doctors also diagnosed it.

If you know your test results from when you first got diagnosed, would you be willing to share those numbers so other people can compare?

My ferritin level was around 600

When you got diagnosed, what was the treatment plan your doctor gave you? Did you make any diet or lifestyle changes?

No I haven't done anything. The natural place helped me to lower the levels.

How did your family, friends, and peers react when you told them you have iron overload / hemochromatosis?

I don't talk about it at all really. I don't think people really would understand what it actually does to you.

Did you continue to experience any symptoms after your diagnosis? How do you feel today?

I still get very tired, and I experience a lot of anxiety and heart flutters. My biggest symptom now is hair loss. Unsure how to fix this.

Do you have any tips or advice for others struggling with iron overload / hemochromatosis?

Just relax, research, and do the best you can to help yourself out.

Bio:

I am a 20 year old Auckland girl who loves working, exercising and having a good laugh!