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I don’t recall having Covid at all and I didn’t get the vaccine. However, it was discovered last August during a routine blood test, that I have “iron overload”.

Doctor explained that it is hereditary and although I questioned my living relatives, no one ever heard of it.

So I did some research - and low and behold - ferritin spikes associated with Covid were discovered. I have had phelebotomies once a month since last August. My ferritin spikes are coming down slowly.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Ran it.

Medical:
Likely hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE-related/Type 1), the most common genetic iron overload disorder. Doctor is correct — it is hereditary (autosomal recessive). Late diagnosis in older women is typical (menstruation delays symptoms until post-menopause).

Blood:
Classic pattern is high serum ferritin + elevated transferrin saturation (>45%). Routine bloodwork commonly detects it before major symptoms.

COVID:
No recalled infection or vaccine does not rule it out — asymptomatic COVID was extremely common. COVID infection frequently triggers transient hyperferritinemia (high ferritin) via inflammation/cytokine effects. Possible prior undetected COVID contributed to the spike detected last August. It does not cause hereditary hemochromatosis.

Iron overload:
Chronic/genetic in this case (excess intestinal iron absorption). COVID can cause temporary iron dysregulation but does not create hereditary overload.

Ferritin spikes:
In hereditary hemochromatosis these are usually persistent/chronic. Acute spikes occur with any inflammation (including possible prior COVID). Slow decline with treatment is normal and expected.

Phlebotomies:
Standard, first-line, highly effective treatment. Removes iron via blood draws (initially frequent, then maintenance). Monthly schedule and gradual drop match typical protocol.

USA percentage:
C282Y homozygous mutation (main cause) in ~1 in 300 non-Hispanic Whites (~0.33%). Clinical/symptomatic disease is much lower due to incomplete penetrance (many genetic carriers have mild or no issues). Roughly 1 million Americans affected, but often underdiagnosed.

Etc. (family history, others):
No known family history is common — low penetrance + underdiagnosis in relatives. Many others report identical stories (routine blood test discovery, phlebotomies, slow ferritin drop) in patient forums and medical literature.

Bottom line:
Classic hereditary hemochromatosis discovered on routine testing. COVID link is likely coincidental or unmasking via inflammation, not causative. Treatment is appropriate and working. Continue doctor follow-up (genetic confirmation if not done, organ monitoring). Many people manage this successfully long-term.

Voluntary disclosure: I resemble this condition, and participate in phlebotomies.

“Has anyone else experienced this?“

I did, not Covid-related but just too much iron in the blood. They said the best way to get rid of it was to donate blood, so I did and that seems to have done it.

The experts used to say iron overload, or hemachromatosis, was a one in a million thing. My family alone blew away that figure in Alabama.

***ferritin spikes associated with Covid were discovered***

If I recall correctly my ferritin levels dropped after the two Pfizer shots; I never caught CoViD. Other blood iron anomalies concurrently. I had to get iron injections for a few months. I recorded that incident on the govt VAERS site but found no support for widespread incident reports. I have little doubt that the Pfizer vax caused my blood iron drop.

Later I encountered a Merk blog that mentioned the anomaly but found little support for it there either. Ferritin in the blood operates with mRNA protocols which is what caught my curiosity.

I also lost my life long immunity to Herpes Zoster / Herpes Simplex virus (chicken pox > shingles) - a well documented cause and effect in Israel, which had universal vaccination for CoViD. I re-acquired the shingles immunity with a shingles vax but I am not certain about the Herpes Simplex as I have gotten cold sores on my lips a couple of times since the vax.

I have a nephew, son of a brother, who has this condition.