Hemochromatosis

If you’ve heard of hemochromatosis, then you most likely have it yourself or have a family member who does. I am one of the lucky ones to have genetic hemochromatosis with both dominant genes, and both of my daughters also have it as well. This is why it is so near and dear to my heart—and why I specialize in this condition, both clinically and genetically. God really does use all things for good! I use my expertise not only as someone who has this condition, but also as a Board-Certified Traditional Naturopathic Doctor, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Certified Root Cause Protocol Practitioner, and Bioenergetic Practitioner to help you address iron overload and many of the other challenges you may be trying to find answers to.

Why Hemochromatosis Is Often Overlooked

Hemochromatosis can seem like a rare diagnosis, and more often than not, it’s never even discovered. It hides behind other conditions and symptoms. Many doctors don’t test for it, for a few reasons: there’s no pharmaceutical “cure” for the genetic form, and there’s no profit in it—there are no prescriptions that treat the full picture. Most conventional doctors aren’t trained to look for it, so they don’t.

What Is Hemochromatosis?

Hemochromatosis is a condition where the body absorbs too much iron from the diet. That might sound strange—after all, we’re often told iron is a good thing and encouraged to take iron supplements. But in this case, more is not better.

When too much iron builds up, it doesn’t stay in the blood—it gets stored in tissues like the liver, spleen, heart, pancreas, joints, and intestines. This leads to oxidative stress, which causes systemic inflammation—basically, internal rusting.

Clinical vs. Genetic Hemochromatosis

Clinical hemochromatosis (iron overload not caused by a genetic mutation) is surprisingly common and can often be reversed when mineral balance is restored.

Genetic hemochromatosis cannot be reversed, but it is very manageable—especially when caught before it causes organ or tissue damage.

Common Symptoms of Hemochromatosis

Whether it’s clinical or genetic, hemochromatosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

  • Fatigue or chronic fatigue

  • General weakness and joint pain

  • Headaches or migraines

  • Abdominal pain (sometimes so severe it’s diagnosed as an abdominal migraine)

  • Shortness of breath

  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, cirrhosis

  • Diabetes or insulin resistance

  • Hormonal imbalances

  • Irregular heartbeat

If left undiagnosed or untreated for many years, it can lead to more serious conditions, such as:

  • Liver damage, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer

  • Debilitating arthritis in the knees, wrists, and hands

  • Osteoporosis

  • Parkinson’s, dementia, or Alzheimer’s

  • Increased risk of many types of cancer

Can You Have Hemochromatosis and Anemia?

Yes—you can actually be diagnosed with anemia and still have clinical hemochromatosis at the same time. That’s because iron can be trapped in the tissues, and not show up in the blood.

These are the overlapping symptoms of anemia and hemochromatosis:

  • Fatigue or chronic fatigue

  • Shortness of breath

  • Frequent illness or lowered immunity

  • Hormonal imbalances

  • Trouble relaxing

  • Irritability or anxiety

In cases of clinical hemochromatosis, people are often misdiagnosed as anemic and given synthetic iron because their bloodwork appears low in iron. This may make them feel better for a short time—but then the symptoms come back, sometimes worse. They may assume they need even more iron, which only compounds the issue, making mineral imbalances worse and increasing inflammation and iron storage in the tissues.

What Blood Work Can Reveal

In genetic hemochromatosis, bloodwork often shows:

  • Very high ferritin levels

  • High serum iron

  • High percent saturation

  • Low transferrin

These numbers are usually what prompt doctors to refer patients to a hematologist or hematology oncologist for further testing. That can be scary. And fear, unfortunately, only makes things worse. Iron’s symbol on the periodic table is Fe—and FE-ar actually causes iron to rise even more in the body.

But please hear this: there is no need to be afraid. This condition is absolutely manageable—and I’m here to walk with you every step of the way, with peace and clarity.

The Good News

The best news of all? Whether you're dealing with clinical or genetic hemochromatosis, you can feel better. You can balance your minerals, reduce inflammation, regain your energy, and live a vibrant, healthy life.

This is manageable. This is reversible. This is not the end—it can be the beginning of true healing.