Can Beta-Thalassemia Minor have symptoms?

[Bee Cham]

I am 22 years old and have been diagnosed with Beta Thallassemia minor by a doctor. All my life I have felt tired, had palpitations (When I was younger), flatulence and difficulty concentrating and fuzziness. I cannot really look people directly in the eye sometimes because its too hard on my eyes (it strains them) even though I have perfect vision. Doctors have told me that I need no treatment and that Thallassemia has no symtpoms. I go to sleep tired and I wake up tired. I can be tired after 12 hours sleep! Can I be suffering symptoms from my thallassemia. Does any one else feel the same way that I do? This is a little bit hard for me, but I don't want to complain.

[DevilDocrn]

I played sports as a child and was always teased because I tired quickly. In high school I wrestled and was always called lazy because I lost matches if I did not win in the first minute. In high school I was 5'11, 195 pounds with a 48 inch chest and a 35 inch waiste and could bench press well over 350 pounds. It just didn't make sense why I was so tired after a few minutes. Later I went into the military and had the hardest time with boot camp. I still could not figure out my fatigue issue and searted to believe that I was lazy. A few years ago I was diagnosed with beta thalesemia and finally felt a little better about my psyche. The hematologist that diagnosed me told me it has no bearing on my physical capability. What a load of crap. I think that there needs to be more research done and more thought put into treat ment.

[Sony99]

i'm 40, just got diagnosed recently. Had been having the symptoms all these years and felt as if this is 'just me', I'm different. Ignorance was bliss ! Now that I know, I've decided not to worry....40 went without knowing and the next forty can go without worry. No one has perfect health. At lease I dont have a life threatenning disease. Also most illesses are to do with our attitude to life. Staying postive amidst all adversity is the best answer to all life's problems. Yes its easier said than done. But we all learnt to brush our teeth from a young age which is why, we have most of our teeth intact, right. It never too late to practice, staying postive and not worrying. Life is not perfect for anyone. We just dont count our blessings and miss the parts of perfection that each and everyone of us has ! Smile people, life is not all that bad....

[valsalva]

I am a 29 year old male, I have beta thelassemia minor! I have always been told by my mother that there isn't much reason to be concerned and therefore have ignored the blood disorder.  I believe that most of the symptoms mentioned, low energy, feeling tired, sore joints, cold feet, heart murmurs, difficult sleep patters may be common for people in general, I cannot say I've experience all of these symptoms regularly.  As a teenager, I played basketball often and when conitioned my energy was good.  I stil play sports regularly and work out, without findng myself any worse off than others.  It may be possible, that a majority of people out there are just lazy?  Countless numbers of people experience fatigue and don't have BTM, they just don't excercise.  In my family, my mom, and 3 sisters also hve BTM, and they all appear to be fine.
On a different note, my wife and I have three boys. The oldest of my boys and youngest both have BTM.  The middle does not.  Ill be interested to see how they do growing up.  

[dannib721]

Hi,
I have know about my thalassemia since I was a teenager, and for the most part it has never really bothered me, I am 39.  There has been some fatigue, cold hand and feet, irritability, and dark circles under my eyes.  I dabbled into vegetarianism and found that it didn't work for me,   This all change about two years ago when my fatigue was so extreme that I was sleeping for 14 hours a day, basically I got up, went to work, came home to bed.  After a little persuasion my doctor ran a vitamin D test, along with the regular CBCs and found that my vitamin D levels were really low.  The doctor started me on 6000 mg of Vit D.  I am subsequently on 3000-4000 mg of Vit D. The vitamin D helped alot. I live in Canada and our winters don't allow for much sun exposure.  Most recently I also found out that I am allergic to dairy, including whey and casein.  I have completely eliminated dairy from my diet and have found the mental fogginess has gone away.  When I do experience it, it is usually my body's way of tell me to that I probably need a protein from meat.  
What has really helped and works best for me is
a. a diet of fruits, vegetable and lean protein, even occasional red meat.
b. I try organic as much as possible to limit exposure to pesticides and other chemicals
c. I have cut out refined sugars and processed grains, agave nectar is a great substitute
d. I supplement with vitamin D, folic acid, calcium and magnesium (because of the lack of dairy), CoQ10 and the full spectrum of Vitamin D
e. I don't take iron as my ferritin levels are normal
f.  I do yoga, anywhere from 5 to 6 classes a week, (Ashtanga, Hatha and restorative)
Overall, I feel better now then I have in a long while.

You have to be your own advocate, some of your symptoms may be related to the Thalessemai, however there could be underlying conditions that exasperate the symptoms.  
a. Do a full blood work up, including vitamin D,
b. Look into any food allergies,
c. Change your diet (this is really important)
c. Include some form of exercise, even if you are tired -

Good luck

[eva135]

Hello I found out around year 2000 I had Thalassemia when the my doctor called me about a blood test .  The doctor thought I was hemorrhaging and wanted me to go to the emergency room .   I called my father and he then told me I might have Thalassemia minor not internal bleeding.   But as a child I do remember my mother said my lips would turn blue and I would pass out a lot.   I'm very athletic and throughout my life have felt somewhat tired but not until I turned 50 I started really feeling fatigued with migraines.  I was also diagnosed with adrenal fatigue too   I had to take a lot of vitamin C, B-complex vitamin,  and adrenal bovine. This helped me out a lot.  Thank you for all your comments.  All of your suggestions to use Folic -acid and refrain from iron has been helpful.  I too am  part Mediterranean or Greek descent.  It is very frustrating that the medical field has not researched BTM.  I will be going to a physician who claim he has done a lot research on BTM .  I will post again if I receive some helpful advice that will benefit everyone.  

[edalim]

Hallo,

bin 38 jahre alt und habe auch anfang 30 erfahren,dass ich an thalassamie erkrankt bin.mein arzt wollte irgendwann mal diesen test durchführen und wie die anderen krannkheiten kam auch das dazu.habe noch schilddrüsenunterfunktion, eiweißausscheidung,an der grenze diabetes typ 2 und vor eiigen jahren sehr starke migrän anfälle wobei mittlerweile ich gar keine migräne mehr habe.deshalb schreibe ich auch.ich wusste nicht wie es möglich war einfach so keine migräne mehr zu haben, als ich irgendwann mal im internet gelesen habe das magnesium bei manchen menschen helfen war mir klar wieso es weg war,weil ich seit einigen jahren jeden tag magnesium 300 kapseln von biolektra nehme.ich habe damit angefangen, weil ich nachts bein krämpfe hatte aber sehr schlimme. ich habe seitdem weder krämpfe noch migräne.im jahr vielleicht 2-3 mal. probiert es aus aber die hochdosierte ist auch sehr gut für den herzen. alles gute für euch alle ich weiß wie schwer es ist manchmal andere leute klar zu machen das man sich so krank und müde fühlt.