I have hereditary hemochromatosis and am trying to get pregnant. What's a good prenatal vitamin without iron?

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I can't take an iron supplement and have to really watch how much vitamin C I take (because C helps the body absorb iron). Has anyone been in this position? My hematologist said to take nothing and my OB said to take a folic acid supplement alone. But I want to make sure I get enough of all the other vitamins usually found in a prenatal.
Sorry, every prenatal vitamin contains large amounts of iron and vitamin C. Asyou probably already know most women are the opposite to you and have a tendency toward low iron levels.

I'd say it is best to follow your doctors advice and take a folic acid supplement on its own.

Don't worry too much about supplements as they are only of benefit if your dietary intake is inadequate. Make sure you eat really, really well (get lots of greens, protein and calicium) and you should be fine.

Most of our mothers never took prenatal vitamins. I think it's safe to say that most of us turned out fine.

Good luck.  (+ info)

Are Carriers of hemochromatosis at risk of the illness or does it skip to the next generation?

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My nephew is a carrier and he has been complaining of most of the symtoms that go with the disease (his father had it)
There is no straight answer to that because there is more than gene involved.

Of the two major types of hemochomatosis, you would have to have one bad gene from each parent to manifest symptoms.

It has been suggested that the offspring of two carriers, one of each type, would have symptoms.

There are other rare types.

There is a really good explanation of the genetics of hemochromatosis on Wikipedia. Check the link.  (+ info)

I just found out I am a carrier of hemochromatosis, what does that mean exactly?

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I think it means if I ever have kids, they are likely to have it.

I am just double checking
What Causes Hereditary Hemochromatosis?
Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder. It is passed from a parent to a child (inherited). Most people who have hemochromatosis inherit defective genes from both parents. In rare cases, a person can have hemochromatosis by inheriting defective genes from just one parent.

A person who has inherited only one defective gene will most likely be a carrier of hemochromatosis and will not have the disease. A carrier can pass the defective gene on to his or her children.

If only one parent is a carrier of a defective gene, the child will not have hemochromatosis; however, there is a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier.
If both parents are carriers, there is only a 25% chance that the child will have hemochromatosis, but a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier.  (+ info)

what food do i avoid when i have been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis i.e too much iron in the body ?

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i have been given a diet sheet but it is very vauge!
red meat mainly.
try not to drink orange juice with your cereal etc in the morning...lower overall vit c intake too  (+ info)

Whats the best treatment for hemochromatosis?

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Besides withdrawal of blood on a monthly basis.
Chelating agent like Deferoxamine  (+ info)

I have genetic hemochromatosis, can I donate blood?

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I live in the UK and was wondering whether I can give blood? I would like to so that I feel a bit more in control of my haemochromatis, can anyone advise?
Well, I am sure you could in some way. There are lots of things people need blood for. They can use albumin from your blood, or packed red blood cells. Although with the high iron they may not be able to use all of your blood. Getting it drawn would help control it though. Call them and find out!  (+ info)

I need a food list for Hemochromatosis?

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I am sixteen and just found out I have hereditary Hemochromatosis does anyone have a list of foods I should be eating to help me not gain any more iron?
I do not have a food list but I do know that you need to be careful with vitamin-C rich foods as well, such as orange juice. Drink that between meals and not with meals. Vitamin c promotes the absorption of iron, which you obviously do not need. Also, you should stay away from shellfish due to the bacteria involved. Other than that, it is tough to outline a diet for hemochromatosis suffers as iron is in most things we eat. I'll provide a link below to a good reference concerning your diet.  (+ info)

What can you expect if diagnosed with 'hemochromatosis' ?

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I am no expert on that but I did find a website devoted to people with that condition:

http://www.hemochromatosis.org/  (+ info)

What is the impact of Hemochromatosis?

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What is the impact of Hemochromatosis on the individual, family and society???

Thank you so much for your help! :)
Untreated, hereditary hemochromatosis can lead to a number of complications, especially in your joints and in organs where excess iron tends to be stored — your liver, pancreas and heart. Many of these complications are serious and some may be life-threatening:

Cirrhosis. Because your liver is a primary storage area for excess iron, it's especially likely to be damaged by long-term iron overload. Cirrhosis — permanent scarring of the liver — is just one of the problems that may occur. Cirrhosis itself may lead to serious complications, including bleeding from dilated veins in your esophagus and stomach (varices) and severe fluid retention in your abdomen (ascites). Toxins that accumulate in your blood can affect your mental functioning, leading to confusion and even coma (hepatic encephalopathy). A number of factors other than hereditary hemochromatosis also can cause cirrhosis — the most common are long-term alcohol abuse and chronic hepatitis.
Liver cancer. If you have both cirrhosis and hereditary hemochromatosis, your risk of liver cancer increases greatly. Because liver cancer must be diagnosed and treated early for the best outcome, your doctor will likely monitor you for any liver problems.
Diabetes. This disease affects the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Diabetes is the leading cause of adult-onset blindness and can contribute to serious health problems such as kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.
Congestive heart failure. This potentially life-threatening condition may occur when excess iron in your heart interferes with its ability to circulate enough blood to meet your body's needs. Untreated congestive heart failure can be fatal, but the condition may be reversible when hereditary hemochromatosis is treated and excess iron stores reduced.
Heart arrhythmias. Abnormal heart rhythms can cause heart palpitations, chest pain and lightheadedness. In some cases, they may be life-threatening. Like congestive heart failure, arrhythmias can often be reversed with treatment for hereditary hemochromatosis.
Pigment changes. Deposits of iron in skin cells can turn your skin a bronze or gray color.

You can't prevent hereditary hemochromatosis, but if you have the disease, the following measures may help:

Avoid iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron. These can increase your iron levels even more.
Avoid vitamin C supplements, especially with food. Vitamin C increases absorption of iron. Try to drink vitamin C-rich juices, such as orange juice, between meals. Whole fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C are fine.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol and iron combine to cause more liver damage. If you have liver disease and hereditary hemochromatosis, avoid alcohol completely. If you have hereditary hemochromatosis but don't have liver disease, don't drink more than one to two alcoholic beverages a day.
Avoid eating raw shellfish. People with hereditary hemochromatosis are susceptible to infections, especially those caused by certain bacteria in raw shellfish.

Tin  (+ info)

Can I go into the Army with Hemochromatosis?

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Can I go into the Army with Hemochromatosis? (I don't require treatment at this time.)
No.

The armed forces (any branch) will not accept a person with a chronic disease, whether or not treatment is required. A person such as that is viewed as too much of a liability.

I thought about that...but I have type 1 diabetes. I already knew they would not accept me so I didn't even try.

EMT  (+ info)

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