u/Mysterious_Seat_9146

21 FTM (on T non-menstruating for 5 years, PMOS before that)
Ferritin 971
TIBC 40
Iron saturation index 0.88

My mom was diagnosed around a year or two ago, in her early-mid 50s. Because it’s genetic, I was also tested, and I also carry it. I Recently went to my doctor because I’ve been so fatigued lately- terrible brain fog, never feeling rested, exhausted all the time, (with other symptoms that I’m not sure are related) so he wanted to do a general blood panel to start, and I got my results today. I was hoping it wasn’t hemochromatosis causing problems because I’m barely 21. I wasn’t expecting it to affect me so young.

I’m just really intimidated right now. I don’t know what to do with this information. I’m going to struggle with getting phlebotomies but I’ll eventually adjust. I just know close to nothing about this.

Any support would be appreciated

I (21 FTM) have no way of paying for most of my medications and I don’t know what to do.

I can’t work (or at least struggle a lot with it) because of chronic illness so I’m on income support, but income support doesn’t cover most meds, so I can’t be functioning, and the cycle repeats. I don’t want to be taking 4-8 extra strength ibuprofen a day for the rest of my life.

I’m grateful I have coverage for appointments and some treatments (unless it’s private practice) but I still struggle in my day-to-day life. Like it’s debilitating and I don’t know what to do.

It’s not an emergency because it’s chronic so I can’t seek emergency funding. I’ve tried all the ways I could via my doctor and pharmacy and phone calls to my income support providers.

Being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed is also so awful because I’m not taken nearly as seriously as I should be, and I can’t get the supports I need.

I’m in Alberta (Canada) and trying to get on AISH but I’m also not being taken as seriously there. I need more tests and diagnostics to prove I’m as ill as I am, so I need to wait for however long like this. I’m losing hope.