Originally Posted by Battle Axe

I had it done by both companies: 23 and me and Ancestry. The results were similar, but the first report I got from 23 and me was revised later.

The family folklore said that side came from Northern Austria and then into Southern Germany. I can trace the name back to Wuttenburg, Germany, which is in the southern part next to France. But when I got 23 and me back it said GREEK!! Well, Good Grief, no one ever mentioned that. Then I started looking at migration charts. Where did the folks come from who were in Austria, they migrated north from Italy and Greece. I thought there were also mercenaries that came with the Roman invaders who came to England, Ireland, etc.

I first became interested in this when my brother called and told me I needed to have my iron checked. One grandfather was pure Irish and hemochromatosis is called the Irish disease. It doesn't show up until a woman is about 60 and men about 55. Normally you take in 4 iron molecules, use one, and send the other out. But a hemochromatosis suffer stores the other 3 on any shelf that is available, like the liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, in places you sure don't need iron stored.

There are 6 bad genes: 282, 63 and 65. And you can have two copies (thus 6) of each one. Sure nuf, I have it too and I think that is why I came down with a hyperparathyroid tumor, colon cancer, restless leg syndrome, stomach trouble and all my other ills. My ferritin was 1060 at it's highest. Anything over 1000 and you are damaging your organs. Normal is 15-50. The cure is blood-letting. So if you are a regular blood giver to the Red Cross, you can keep it in check.

I had never given blood as I didn't want anyone to catch my restless leg syndrome that I had suffered with since I was 12. I gave 6 pints in 10 weeks, but my count is below 50 which is where the Dr. wants it. And I only have one copy of gene 282 and one copy of gene 63. If you have two copies of gene 282, that is the worst.

The symptoms of hemochromotosis are the same as old age....gradually falling apart. So I was glad to learn that yes, I am Irish, probably 25%. The incidence of this disorder is 9%, so not every Irishman has it, but it is worth checking.

I'll be glad to help anyone with more information. I had the cancerous part of the colon taken out, I went to Tampa, FLA and had the parathyroid tumor removed, Dr. put me on Parkinson's meds for the legs. I'm really much better. I've had two tests under 50 on the iron, next one April 2017. I do not eat out of an iron skillet, limit my Vit. C, no booze, but I'm 70 now.