This is my St. Patrick's Day gift to all of you . . . Just one year ago today I was diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis. It is also referred to as "THE IRISHMAN'S DISEASE." One in four people of Irish descent either have it, or are carriers of the mutant chromosomes. Since most folks on this listserv have Irish ancestors within the past seven generations, you are at high risk of either having this, or passing it on. We have already lost several relatives to the affects of this disease, so I just want to do my part to call your attention to this. You are also at risk if your ancestors came from England, or Northern Europe. Here is what it is: Iron overload. People with HH absorb up to 10 times more iron than normal, then do not expel it. The only way to control it is with therapeutic phlebotomies (giving blood). HH can cause diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, etc. The organs literally fill up with iron and solidify, causing major organ failure. We have lost way too many relatives in their late 50s and early 60s, AND NO DOCTOR EVER CHECKED FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE MOST COMMON HEREDITARY DISEASE IN THE COUNTRY! The DNA test for this is simple, or perhaps your doctor is smart enough to catch this, as was mine. During a regular blood test it was noted that my iron count was high, and although I felt smug and sort of like Popeye, my doctor said that too much iron is worse than too little, and that she wanted to do a DNA test. Next was a liver biopsy (which showed that my liver was on it's way to permanent damage). After three months of giving a pint of blood a week, my iron count is now back to normal, although I have to have it checked frequently, and my liver is back to normal. All three of my children are carriers, as is my husband. Good Luck, and God Bless. Great Hemochromatosis Links http://www.cdc.gov/hemochromatosis/patient_info.htm http://hemochromatose.tripod.com/ http://hemochromatose.tripod.com/books.html http://genomelink.org/hemochromatosis/ http://www.hosppract.com/genetics/9908mmc.htm [email protected]