Had my first hematology appointment today. Still no solid understanding on where I’m starting from exactly. New blood work - more confusing numbers. Next step: a Liver MRI. Hopefully this will give us the baseline to build on.

I got my HH “diagnosis” about 7-weeks ago now and immediately everyone (myself included) started using words like ‘chronic illness’ and ‘condition.’

But sitting here today, something clicked with me.

Want to know what that was? Come see me over on IG for the rest of the story …. @thehhlife1

ECHOCARDIOGRAM RESULTS:

Just got my echocardiogram results back and my heart is PERFECT. No changes since 2020, everything functioning beautifully despite my recent HH diagnosis. I'm not gonna lie - I was scared.

Echocardiogram Day - I’m not terribly concerned, but I do know that there is quite possibly damage to my heart from the “free iron” running unchecked in my system right now. Here’s the morning ritual I’m leaning on to help me get centered and grounded for my appointment today.

The more you know ….

HH & Overheating

Excess iron messes with cellular energy production, making our bodies unable to regulate our temperature.

Symptoms include: • Hot flashes that make menopause look mild • Sweating that soaks through clothes • Feeling like you're melting • Inability to handle normal temperatures.

This page is a real-time documentation of my HH journey. I’d never even heard of it before being diagnosed with it in mid-July. 1 in 300 people are diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis. Between 80-90% of those with Hemochromatosis have Type 1. It’s a moderate to severe condition.

Preparing for this upcoming echocardiogram next week, I’m learning what happens to the heart when “free iron” goes wreaking havoc in your system. My growing list of questions for my healthcare team grows as I research more into what HH can do & what I can do to keep my heart healthy. #thehhlife1

My latest Substack.

Though I’m new to Hereditary Hemochromatosis, I’m learning a ton. It’s so important to get as much information as you can so you can safely make lifestyle adjustments - with your healthcare professionals assistance, of course - as soon as you can.

Join me on IG @thehhlife1 to follow my journey.