Julie James, 71, a retired HR director from London now living in Carmarthenshire, Wales, had a routine private health assessment in March 2024 due to her parents' sudden cardiac deaths. The test revealed elevated iron levels, leading to a diagnosis of hereditary haemochromatosis—a genetic condition causing iron buildup. Over a year, she underwent 18 venesections, removing more than 14 pints (8,100 mL) of blood, to prevent life-threatening liver damage.
Routine Check Uncovers Hidden Danger
Julie's electrocardiogram was normal, but her blood test on April 11 showed iron at 34.1 micromoles per litre (umol)—above the normal range of 10 to 25 for adult women. Follow-up ferritin tests climbed from 554 micrograms per litre (ug/L) in April to 798 ug/L in July, far exceeding the normal range of 11 to 310 ug/L. A genetic test in September 2024 confirmed haemochromatosis.
“I had no symptoms at all,” Julie said. “There I am, thinking I’m healthy. Then I go for a private medical assessment in March, and by the time we get from April to July, it has gone up even higher.”
Treatment and Lifestyle Changes
Starting September 24, 2024, Julie had fortnightly venesections—each removing about 450 mL of blood. After 15 sessions, her ferritin dropped to 50 ug/L by October 2025. She has since needed three more venesections. She also cut out red meat and alcohol, losing over a stone in weight. “The earlier you know these things, the better they can be managed and treated,” she advised.
Dr Martin Thornton, chief medical officer at Bluecrest, explained: “Hereditary haemochromatosis is caused by a faulty gene and is inherited from both parents. Iron builds up very slowly, so many people don’t develop symptoms until middle or later life.”
Ongoing Monitoring and Advocacy
Julie now has blood tests every six months and occasional venesections. She supports Haemochromatosis UK and urges others: “Be proactive and advocate for yourself. It’s your body, it’s your life.” Her husband, a retired GP, also underwent screening and was found to be low in iron due to their shared dietary changes.
