A life ambition to retire in the Shetland Islands is now back in sight for West Sussex dad, after a home health test revealed dangerously high iron levels
Like many Brits, busy dad Chris Kirk often reached for cereal on days when he couldn’t fit in an evening meal or lunch break – unwittingly overdosing on iron and seriously jeopardising his health.
Averaging around two bowls of cornflakes each day, Chris began feeling unwell, and a frustrating and uncomfortable five-year search for answers ensued, with home-healthcare company Medichecks finally helping with a diagnosis.
The 51-year-old from Upper Beeding near Brighton, explains: “I began getting really itchy hands and feet, couldn’t sleep, had low energy levels and because I’d recently given up smoking, I’d gained some weight. So, my doctor ran a routine blood test.
“The results came back showing a problem with my liver. I was told to come back again in six months and when the same test was run, my liver damage had worsened. The doctor explained that it would be assessed again in another half year and if the issue was persisting then he’d get an expert in. Then COVID struck.”
As was the case across the whole nation, Chris was unable to get a GP appointment and have more checks undertaken, so he took matters into his own hands.
“I was lucky to have basic private healthcare through my employer and so through that, I ordered an Advanced Well Man Blood Test from Medichecks,” he explains. “As I was working in a care home, all I needed to do was pass one of the nurses the kit and they did the blood draw for me. Then I sent the sample to the lab in the post and awaited my results.”
Chris updated Medichecks’ GPs on the results of his previous tests. He recalls how, up to this point, there’d been an assumption that him being overweight, and within the obese category, was the cause of his liver damage.
His Medichecks test results showed his weight was not the issue and so began a process of elimination. Undertaking highly targeted checks for specific areas including the impact of alcohol, problems with his immune system and the potential for heavy metal poisoning, each test returned biomarkers in the normal range, except for ferritin which highlighted higher than average ratings on every check.
He continues: “One of Medichecks’ GPs explained that I was consistently presenting with high ferritin levels and that they were increasing every time my biomarkers were reviewed. They advised me to speak to my doctor, so I called 111 and described how I’d had the same problem for five years. They told me to remove iron from my diet.”
With many cereals containing 100% of the recommended daily allowance of iron, Chris’ liver was storing too much iron and poisoning his liver cells because he was eating too many of his beloved cornflakes. After cutting them out and eradicating other iron-rich foods, like spinach, he no longer suffers from his uncomfortable symptoms and his ferritin levels are back within the normal category.
“It’s frustrating, but because I was fat everyone thought I had liver cirrhosis caused by obesity, so they didn’t take me seriously or investigate my problem properly,” Chris adds. “I felt like a bit of a hypochondriac constantly looking up my symptoms and undertaking so many tests. I was paranoid that doctors thought I was one of those difficult patients who was imagining something.
“I’m really thankful for the Medichecks tests and the comments from their doctors which were so helpful and friendly, there was no judgement or time pressure, and it was so convenient.”
Chris says this is the first time in more than five years that he’s felt healthy and he has even started losing weight.
With his symptoms halting many of his hobbies, which include DIY and gardening, he is now back doing the activities he loves and has a new lease of life, planning his dream of retiring to the Shetland Islands with his wife, Louise.
Recent proprietary data from Medichecks, based on 9,402 men, has revealed that around 2% of males had iron blood test results that suggested they had too much iron. Which, left undetected, could lead to health complications.
Dr Sam Rodgers, chief medical officer at Medichecks, says: “Breakfast cereal can be an excellent source of iron for most people, particularly for vegans and vegetarians that may be deficient, however, it’s important for individuals to monitor their vitamin and mineral levels and to eat things in moderation.
“Chris’ story highlights just how dangerous too much ferritin can be. In his case, his liver was storing too much iron, which poisoned the liver cells, all because he was eating too much of what many would consider a quick and nutritious meal.”
Medichecks’ range of remote blood tests provides key health insights to help individuals make informed choices at different milestones in their life. Biomarkers which can be tested include everything from cholesterol status, thyroid, kidney, and liver function, as well as vitamins and minerals that can affect energy levels and mental wellbeing.
For further information, visit www.medichecks.com
