Safety Net

[ribbitsmum]

That's what my mom called me this afternoon. There of course is a backstory....

The stomach flu thing has been relcutant to leave so my doctor ordered up a few blood tests. Since I have crummy veins I requested a test for hemochromatosisto be done at the same time, since my grandmother had it and my aunt

Comments

[conejodanz]

Yikes. Sounds like you've gotten more than your share. Although the list of symptoms at that site seems a bit... broad. And I have to admit to giggling at "set off the airport metal detector for no apparent reason."

[ribbitsmum]

I don't know why they list "symptoms" that could be caused by many things, possibly because many people are asymptomatic until they are in liver failure, like my grandmother was.

And I have set of metal detectors for no reason... it is kind of funny

[conejodanz]

I have no problem if they're just saying it should be a routine screening test. But if you have never had any relatives, living or dead, that have had any of these symptoms, you had few relatives who died young ... so many of them are general old-age symptoms (joint pain? Hair loss?). I would say the number of people in the U.S. who could claim at least one of these risk factors approaches 100%.

[jspencer91]

Its a little expensive for a general screening test. Without insurance, it would be $1400. I don't think in general health insurance will even cover it unless there is a strong reason to. Its because of Alice's family history that ours didn't squack, and won't squack about Maddy being tested.

But as the price goes down, it might be more common to screen for it. What was it you told me, Alice? 1 in 200 people in the US is a carrier? And in Ireland, 1 in 8 is a carrier, 1 in 64 has the disease?

All else aside...

[conejodanz]

Despite the rantings of my inner health services researcher, I am glad you found a helpful resource. I'm very sorry that you are facing this... your aunt as well. I hope your doctor is able to give you some more concrete information soon.