Florida’s Licensed Practical Nurses Offer Hemochromatosis Patients In-Home Care

Did you know that approximately 2 in every 400 people have hemochromatosis? It is a serious, hard to diagnose, hereditary disease that is caused by a single gene, HFE.

The malfunctioning gene, which is believed to have started in North Europeans, causes the body to absorb an exorbitant amount of iron. Over time, that can lead to the development of many different health problems that may be treated at home with the assistance of licensed practical nurses.

Although it is a hard to diagnose condition, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) can help patients by being on the lookout for various signs and symptoms associated with the disorder. A few of a hemochromatosis sufferer’s most common complaints are heart arrhythmia, delirium, lethargy, abdominal pain and a disinterest in having sexual relations.

If a licensed practical nurse becomes aware that his or her home care patient has those complaints, he or she may notify the person’s physician. At that point, the physician may order serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity, serum iron, genetic and transferrin-iron saturation percentage tests. Collectively, they will either confirm or deny the doctor and licensed practical nurse’s assumptions.

Once a hemochromatosis disorder diagnosis has been confirmed, licensed practical nurses can assist with patients’ therapeutic phlebotomy and dietary needs. Depending on the severity of the person’s hemochromatosis disorder, therapeutic phlebotomy may need to take place several times a month or every few months. As for a hemochromatosis patient’s dietary needs, they will need to be monitored and adhered to daily. Part of the process involves knowing how much non-heme and heme iron is inherent in certain foods, how fast it is absorbed into the body and how much iron consumption is allowed.

In addition, LPNs can help at-home patients manage health conditions that may have arisen in response to prolonged, untreated hemochromatosis disorder. Examples of adverse health conditions that may come into play are congestive heart failure, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and enlarged spleen and cirrhosis.

To discover more about licensed practical nurses and how they may assist those coping with hemochromatosis disorder in the Sunshine State, please contact us at Best Care. We presently serve hemochromatosis patients and their families from Broward, Palm Beach and Dade Counties.

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