yvonne's interview
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How did all start?
It started with me feeling tired and relaxed all the time. Had pain in finger joints and knees. Later I got pain in the hip especially the left side. I took the gene test for hemochromatosis at a young age but was told not to think about it because it did not come until the age of 50 if it came at all. But then I figured it out after talking to my uncle who also has it, that I decided to ask the doctor to check my levels. Then the journey started with blood donation and I am still trying to find out the rest and how to live with it to have the best possible.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
The gene test I got a positive answer to when I was around 20 years old. The actual blood draw I started with when I was 34 years old.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
For now I have only done blood draw.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Blood draw
What have been your biggest difficulties?
fatigue, tiredness, joint pain and especially hip.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My girlfriend from America has reacted strongly and are worried and supportive. My family is supportive when I have time for blood draw but otherwise not reacted very much.
What do you think about the future?
When I think about the future, I hope that I will eventually get more energy and less pain. Because the way I feel now, I do not have much energy.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Start working again, enjoy life, go hiking in the woods, fields and mountains.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Start treatment as soon as possible, read up on the page about hemochromatosis because not all doctors have a good knowledge of this disease.
