Iron: What gets it down?

[mike716]

Okay, I'm probably posting too much. So I'll ease up after this one. But I've seen some suggestions by forum members about how to get down iron levels, and I thought it would be a nice idea if everyone who knew of some way to do it posted it so that we'd have a list of them. I'm into organizing things. I know it's annoying but I can't help it, it's a mania of mine.

Like, I saw a post from MerryBe about a drug named desferal or something that reduces iron and maybe could even replace plebotomy. She also mentioned that black tea binds iron. I didn't know either of these things. I've got high iron and i want to get it down, if possible before starting therapy.

There's this webpage I read (http://lefcms.lef.org/protocols/infections/hepatitis_c_01.htm) that says: " Despite substantial scientific evidence, however, few physicians implement iron-depletion therapy before beginning antiviral therapy. This partially accounts for the high failure rate of conventional drugs in eradicating the virus (Boucher E et al 1997; Martin-Vivaldi R et al 1997; Tsai NC et al 1997). So it seems like it might be important for me to start doing something now rather than later about my high iron, but I don't really know what to do. I mean, there's lactoferrin and IP6/Inositol as supplements, but there are also probably a lot of other things that reduce iron. I'd really like to know what they all are so I could decide what to take.

Maybe others would benefit from the same info.

So, if I'm not making too much of a pain in the a$$ of myself, could I twist everyone's arm who knows something about this to post it here?

Thanks!

Mike

[GSDgirl]

Trinity and I have a another side effect of the hep c.  It is called porphyria PCT, that is what causes the awful blisters caused by the sun pulling the porphyrins out thru the skin.  It is very rare and very painful, hence the phlebotomies to get rid of the iron overload before tx.  SOOOO you are gonna probably keep your soft milky white skin but protect it thru tx.    You think it freaked you out?  just imagine what it did to us, but we dealt with it.  Just be glad you don't have it LOL.  Imagine being a female with purple scar looking messes on your hands & EVERYBODY asks.  Everybody has their little ? or not so little, sides to test them I guess.  I think that when we all get thru this we will be better for it. maybe more compasionate, more patient, more foregiving maybe.\, more helpful towards others.  Just maybe

GSD

[mike716]

Blisters...little white milia...iron coming out through your skin...Holy Cow, you girls are freaking me out, you mean I'm gonna lose my soft, milky-white skin on tx? No, no, anything but that...

M.

[Trinity4]

Oh yeah, I forgot about those damn blisters.  I guess I've been keeping myself busy picking at those little white milia (spelling?) lately!!  I'll bet nobody knows what those are!!!  It's a shame how easily I amuse myself anymore.  My life has been reduced to shots on Friday and picking milia.  I think I need professional help!!!!  LOL  

[GSDgirl]

Yea, I don't blame him either, it hurt like heII.  Ya know, most people don't even know what phlebotomy is let alone how to spell it.  I don't know about the iron man suit, can't imagine all that little iron coming out thru my skin.......remember Trin it already did that and made the blisters?

[Trinity4]

Phlebotomy Twins - I like that!!!   I don't blame him for not wanting phlebotomies.  IT *****!!   I hope he finds those magnets.  I guess he could borrow Iron Man's suit and have an MRI.  That's bound to pull something out of your body!

[mike716]

First it was Trinity4 gettin sassy, now it's you? What are you two, the phlebotomy twins?

And who sez I ain't tough? I'm pretty tough alright. Yeah. I just don't like to bleed, that's all. Anything wrong with that?

Man o man, people sure do get away with stuff here in virtual-ville where ya can't get yer hands on 'em...