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In 2021, the community group I run was approached by Haemochromatosis UK to collaborate on a community screening project here in the heart of the Creggan, Derry.

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We helped push the message out.

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We started off by testing our own team. When the results came back, I found out that I had haemochromatosis.

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If it hadn't have been for the community screening initiative I probably would never have knew that I had GH. I would exercise regularly, and the nature of my work is pretty hectic, so I just put the brain fog down to stress and tiredness. I’ve noticed it drastically reduce since starting venesection treatment. I had a big rash* on the side of my face and once I started getting venesected, it went.

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I didn’t know what to expect. It wasn’t a significant diagnosis in my eyes although once I looked into it, I thought, I'm glad I've picked up on this at the age I'm at rather than picking this up in 10, 15, 20 years' time.  

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*PCT porphyria cutanea tarda, a rare skin condition associated with iron overload & photosensitivity, caused by an imbalance in liver enzymes.