My father and the ‘Celtic curse’

The ‘Celtic curse’ is the name popularly given to the condition haemochromatosis, a genetic disorder where excessive amounts of iron are absorbed from the diet, leading to organ and tissue damage and even death, if left untreated.

It’s nicknamed the ‘Celtic curse’ because, while one-in-400 Europeans has the condition, in Ireland it’s one-in-83, and one-in-five of us actually carries the gene. But while having too much iron is not as widely discussed, it is actually a very serious condition, affecting an estimated 40,000 Irish people. Like many people, Westmeath Rose Shauna Coyne (26) had never heard of the condition until it hit close to home.

“My dad Shaun developed stomach problems about eight years ago, and even though he went to various doctors and specialists, they didn’t know what was causing it,” says Shauna. “He also used to get quite flushed and red in the face, which is a very common symptom, especially among men. He wondered if he had high blood pressure, but eventually he was diagnosed with haemochromatosis, which none of us knew anything about.”

“I had suffered with a loose bowel since I was 17,” says Shaun, now aged 55. “It was getting worse, and I thought it might be coeliac disease.”

One he was diagnosed, Shaun had to undergo treatment, which is done simply by phlebotomy, or drawing blood. Once her father was diagnosed, Shauna and her three younger siblings were tested for the illness, as were her dad’s brothers and sisters.

“The results showed that I don’t have haemochromatosis, nor do my brothers and sister,” she says. “We also don’t carry the gene, which is a relief. My dad is one of nine, and two of his brothers were also found to have it. The problem is that the symptoms can be very vague, such as fatigue and itchy or prickly skin, so that makes it hard to diagnose at first. Luckily Shauna works with her dad, so she can also keep a beady eye on his health.

Interestingly, men tend to be more seriously affected by the condition, due to the fact that women menstruate and give birth, so naturally lose blood along the way. Happily, patients can expect to have a normal life expectancy once treated. Sadly, if left undiagnosed and untreated, the illness can have fatal consequences.