Maybe I’m just overreacting, but is it possible to develop Aquired Hemochromatosis in 6-8 weeks?
I ask this because I started taking a multi-vitamin with 18mg of iron in it that long ago, along with increasing my protein intake, and just this week, I started having bad abdominal cramps, joint pain and fatigue, all of which are symptoms of hemochromatosis.
I stopped taking the multi this morning. Should I just wait and see if the symptoms go away, or is it serious enough that I need to see my doctor and get a blood test?
Symptoms of hemochromotosis do not begin until the iron load has reached a significant amount. The process is ongoing for years, but does not become symptomatic until the overload is reached. This does not mean you have it, though. If there is a family history the changes rise dramatically.
Docfuel is right. It would be unusual in the extreme to develop symptomatic hemochromatosis after 6-8 weeks of an MVI/iron supplement even if you were a carrier for the gene. If you were a homozygote (two copies of the gene) you probably wouldn’t be doing endurance sports if you were old enough to be bald (hence the term baldguy?) and never previously diagnosed! :-). I have seen a fair amount of hemochromatosis and it is almost always asymptomatic until pretty far advanced and obvious on routine check-ups (usually found by noting elevated liver enzymes on routine bloodwork.) Some experts estimate that about 9-10% of those of us with northern European ancestry carry the gene and recommend routine screening. Screening is easy and involves checking a serum ferritin +/- a serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) with a routine blood draw.
I think something else is causing your stomach ache and joint pain. Sometimes vitamins with iron (especially the iron) cause stomach aches by themselves. If it keeps up, it warrants checking out.
Is there a reason you were taking a multi with iron? Personally I take a generic version of Centrum Silver - for whatever reason it doesn’t contain iron.
Thank you both for your replies! It seemed unlikely to develop so quickly, but the symptoms were a little too close for comfort. Your reassurance is definitely a welcome relief.
I suppose it could be a touch of the stomach flu, which I’ve heard is going around, but I’m still going to get a different multi without iron and see how it goes.
(BTW, I’m bald by choice (i.e. shaving), but “shavedguy” or “skinhead” seemed to invite the wrong kind of impression of me!)
Actually, I bought these at a health food store and didn’t think to get the kind without iron. Call me an idiot, but rather than throw them out and waste the $$ (they were rather expensive), I figured I would just use them up.
So much for that bright idea, although the neon yellow urine has been a fun side-effect…
I think the neon urine is from one of the B vitamins. I used to have a B complex vitamin (somethig like 1500% RDA for each) that gave me the crazy urine every time I took it…