Hi madcow, I am glad Haemochromatosis clicked with you. I have found that a lot of people just do not want to know. As you are menstruating, your levels may not be high yet, although I know of some, even young, women who have a very high serum ferritin Iron and symptoms even though they are menstruating, which might explain why you are having some of these problems.
You have been doing yourself a big favour being a blood donor - I wish everyone who can, would do so. When you are menstruating, sometimes 2 donations per year is enough, otherwise you can end up with a low Haemoglobin as you discovered.
If your father was actually diagnosed with HH (Hereditary Haemochromatosis), you can ask for a genetic test for it whether your levels are currently high or not (first degree relationship). Forewarned is forearmed. If your Ferritin Iron is normal, just keep donating. If you do have HH, you will probably have a TS% greater than 40.
Then if you are positive for HH, you children are entitled to a genetic test as well. People don't usually need a liver biopsy these days because of the genetic test, unless you do have severe liver problems, and then I would hate the idea of somebody taking bits of a liver that is already damaged. MRIs and scans are the best non invasive way to go.
The liver is one of the organs that actually absorbs and stores iron, but it can go to your heart, joints, pancreas, brain, reproductive organs, etc as well. Generally not all at once, usually it picks a path of least resistence, it seems, and it is different for everyone.
The duodenum and a lower part of the intestines is said to actually absorb the excess iron whereas those people who do not have HH, excrete it.
The disorder generally sneaks up on men, and women who go through 'normal' menopause. But if one has a hysterectomy, we start iron loading immediately. In general, 1 in 200 get HH, and 1 in 7 are Carriers. In Ireland the incidence is 1 in 80 and I imagine it is fairly high in Scotland too. These are the places that the Celts end up settling and the mutation started with them.
Good luck with it - it is better to know and get treatment for it than harbour it for years.