Common Complaints
Chronic fatigue and joint pain are the most common complaints of people with hemochromatosis. For this reason, the complete diagnosis is often delayed because these two symptoms are commonly seen in other diseases. Pain in the knuckles of the pointer and middle finger “The Iron Fist” is the only sign or symptom specific to hemochromatosis, but not everyone with HHC experiences the Iron Fist.
Symptom List
Some complain of the following symptoms with Hemochromatosis. However these symptoms are not specific to hemochromatosis:
- Lack of energy
- Abdominal pain
- Memory fog
- Loss of sex drive
- Heart flutters
- Irregular heart beat.
When symptoms are associated with hemochromatosis, these usually begin in men in their late 20’s to early 30’s. In women, symptoms usually start about 10-15 years after they stop having a period due to menopause, birth control pills or hysterectomy.
If hemochromatosis is not found early and treated, disease develops in vital organs such as:
- Bone and joint: (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis) knuckles, ankles and hips
- Liver: enlarged liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure diabetes
- Spleen: enlarged spleen
- Heart: irregular heart beat, enlarged heart, congestive heart failure
- Endocrine: diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, (infertility, impotence), hormone imbalances
- Skin: abnormal color (bronze, reddish or ashen-gray)
Hemochromatosis can be overlooked by a doctor who is concentrating on treatment of diseases that are present in the patient. Many doctors still believe what they learned in medical school, that hemochromatosis is rare and only happens in older men. When hemochromatosis is discovered early and treated before organ damage can occur, a person can live a normal, healthy life.Any family practice physician is qualified to diagnose and order treatment for a hemochromatosis patient.
If there are complications with diseased organs, the patient may need a specialist:
- Cardiologist
- Endocrinologist
- Gastroenterologist
- Gynecologist
- Hematologist/Oncologist
- Hepatologist
- Internist
- Rheumatologist
- Urologist
- Psychiatrist