Home care

• Tell your children, brothers, and sisters that you have hemochromatosis. The disease is inherited. Other family members may have it and not know it. Your first-degree family members should talk to their healthcare providers about the need for blood testing.

• Have your iron levels checked regularly, as directed by your healthcare team.

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.

• Limit how much alcohol you drink. It can increase your risk for liver problems. Don't drink alcohol if you have liver problems.

• Don't eat raw or undercooked seafood. It may cause an infection.

• Never take iron supplements. And don't take multivitamins that have iron. Even small amounts of iron in some multivitamins can be harmful.

• Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any vitamins, herbs, supplements, or alternative medicines.

Follow-up care

• Make a follow-up appointment.

• Keep your follow-up appointments. You may need to have a pint of blood removed (phlebotomy) on a regular basis to keep your iron levels normal.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Tiredness

• Irregular pulse or heartbeat

• Any chest pain

• Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting

• Trouble breathing or exercising

• Increased thirst or increased need to urinate

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Muscle aches, joint pains, or pain in your belly

• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)