I've just been diagnosed with hereditary hemochromotosis, a disorder which causes your body to store more iron than it needs. Iron overload causes energy loss and ultimately the excess iron can damage the liver, pancreas and heart. The treatment is weekly phlebotomies (taking blood on a weekly basis) for anywhere from 6 - 80 weeks, then a routine maintenance schedule of every 2-3 months.
I curious if anyone has any experience with this and what effects this treatment will result in as far as my ability to train. I am a runner who is just starting tri's this year and my goal is an olympic in August. I start a group training class May 1, and since I'm 52, I don't expect to be super fast, though I'm pretty good for my age at the run portion. When told what I was planning to do my doc simply asked "how bad do you want to do this?" I'm taking this as saying if I want it bad enough I can still do it but it's going to be a lot tougher. Guess I'm going to have to view it as giving everyone else a "one up" advantage and, catch me if you can!
I curious if anyone has any experience with this and what effects this treatment will result in as far as my ability to train. I am a runner who is just starting tri's this year and my goal is an olympic in August. I start a group training class May 1, and since I'm 52, I don't expect to be super fast, though I'm pretty good for my age at the run portion. When told what I was planning to do my doc simply asked "how bad do you want to do this?" I'm taking this as saying if I want it bad enough I can still do it but it's going to be a lot tougher. Guess I'm going to have to view it as giving everyone else a "one up" advantage and, catch me if you can!