Thalessemia Minor

Hi Everybody,

I did register myself on the forum but still dont have the permissions to post in the regular area,so i had to post here .
.
I am a 30 years old male in the US, originally belonging to India. I have been recently diagnosed to have Thalessmia Minor. (MCV 60 , HB F 1% HBA2 5.3 % and rest being HBA).My GP wants me to see a hematologist, and i am not sure whether i should see him or not.

I also have a son , who is 15 months old, and when i came to know about myself, i immediately got her Doc to test him for Thal , My wife had normal size of MCV during her previous examinations, but still she would meet her ob/gyn soon.

My Son MCV size is pretty similar to myself is MCV=60, his HBF 5.3 % and HBA2 5.3 and the rest being HBA).

I am really not so much bothered about myself, as my thalessemia minor was mostly without any symptoms, other than being little anemic (ie less hemoglobin). I am worried about my son, as my HBF was normal and his was around 5.3 ( He is 15th month old). I need your suggestions and thought on this. What should be my future course of action regarding him ? Is a DNA test recommended for him? Can he face any problems later on?

I would really appreciate your inputs.

[rajeshpop]

Originally Posted by sidbee_again

Hi Everybody,

I did register myself on the forum but still dont have the permissions to post in the regular area,so i had to post here .
.
I am a 30 years old male in the US, originally belonging to India. I have been recently diagnosed to have Thalessmia Minor. (MCV 60 , HB F 1% HBA2 5.3 % and rest being HBA).My GP wants me to see a hematologist, and i am not sure whether i should see him or not.

I also have a son , who is 15 months old, and when i came to know about myself, i immediately got her Doc to test him for Thal , My wife had normal size of MCV during her previous examinations, but still she would meet her ob/gyn soon.

My Son MCV size is pretty similar to myself is MCV=60, his HBF 5.3 % and HBA2 5.3 and the rest being HBA).

I am really not so much bothered about myself, as my thalessemia minor was mostly without any symptoms, other than being little anemic (ie less hemoglobin). I am worried about my son, as my HBF was normal and his was around 5.3 ( He is 15th month old). I need your suggestions and thought on this. What should be my future course of action regarding him ? Is a DNA test recommended for him? Can he face any problems later on?

I would really appreciate your inputs.

The child's counts are pointing to Thal Minor only but to be more sure go for DNA test as it will give the best values. Stop worrying it is not dangerous.

Regarding you being a Thal Minor please eat food like green leafy veg,fruits & red meat to keep yourself healthy.
with regards
rajesh popli thal minor

Thanks Rajesh,

In the US i talked to 2 doctors but they didnt prescribe dna test, infact mostly doctors dont know about thalessemia in detail.

Thanks a lot for your advice

[Narendra]

Doctor's need to be educated about thalassemia if they don't know about it. With the recent pattern of immigration to US, they might want to start learning about thal as more and more people migrate from regions where incidence of thal is more. I would ask the Primary Care Physician to get a referral to a thal knowledgeble hematologist for complete testing.

I see that in the US, Doctor's prefer NOT to do DNA test until they absolutely have to. Which state do you live in? I might be able to give you name of some doctor's who know about thal. You can send me a personal message if you want.

Originally Posted by Narendra

Doctor's need to be educated about thalassemia if they don't know about it. With the recent pattern of immigration to US, they might want to start learning about thal as more and more people migrate from regions where incidence of thal is more. I would ask the Primary Care Physician to get a referral to a thal knowledgeble hematologist for complete testing.

I see that in the US, Doctor's prefer NOT to do DNA test until they absolutely have to. Which state do you live in? I might be able to give you name of some doctor's who know about thal. You can send me a personal message if you want.

I am in a small town 80 miles west of Philadelphia. I read so much about Thalessemia , that i could contradict my doctor, but i didn't feel comfortable doing that.

my PCP wants me to see any hemotologist , but i know that he would just look at the hemoglobin a2 and say , what i already know.

[Narendra]

Not sure if you have heard of Dr Alan Cohen of Chidren's Hospital of Philadelphia. You might be able to call Marie Martin at (215) 590-2197 and ask her what she suggests.

Children's of Philadelphia is one of the centers for CDC education for thalassemia in USA. That information is from:- http://www.cooleysanemia.com/sections.php?sec=366

Hi all! I am a 29 year thalassemic boy. unfortunately me and my girlfriend have the same blood type which is Thalessemia Minor and we are very warred to get marred, we are warred that our babe born sick and also our parents are not agree because of the Thalessemia Minor.
I don’t know what to do, we love each other very much, please advise me if there is any solution for our future babe

[rajeshpop]

Originally Posted by HI THERE

Hi all! I am a 29 year thalassemic boy. unfortunately me and my girlfriend have the same blood type which is Thalessemia Minor and we are very warred to get marred, we are warred that our babe born sick and also our parents are not agree because of the Thalessemia Minor.
I don’t know what to do, we love each other very much, please advise me if there is any solution for our future babe

If you love each other then make love not babies, because both being Thal Minor will produce a child (50% Chance) who will be Blood Transfusion dependent & in other 50% the child can be like parents,so decide yourselves.

Option is: In the 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy get a test named CVS done which will give you the status of the to be born child, can give you 98% of the result correct & 2% will be human error & can be fatal.

Another option is adopt a child.
with regards & hope you love each other forever without being tensed for arranging blood & transfusion.

Hi i am thal minor i suffer from insomina caused by anemia i tend to eat really healthy and exercise but somtimes. i am sumtimes so low i cant get out of bed but i still get on with it and drag myself outta bed which is a good and bad thing.

Most u guys are lucky i live in England and they are clueless on thal and everything about it.

One question is i would like to ask is can i take iron to boost me up a bit because when i have periods i am so low and my body aches and i have no energy and the itching i hate it.

Well guys hopefully i can join soon.

Take care
xx
vicky , Manchester England , age 22

Hi All
My Name is Rafiq and i wan't to ask few quistion regarding the thelesemia Minor

I Had just found that my Wife & New born baby have a Thelesemia Minor and she is only 4 months and 10 days

right now i am giving you her blood report which show thelesemia minor


DETAILS OF HER

NAME ; DUA FATIMA
AGE : 4.MONTH 10 DAYS
BIRTH WEIGHT : 2.7KG
HOSPITAL RELEASE WEIGHT : 2.5 KG
CURRENT WEIGHT : 4.7 KG
FAMILY HISTORY : MY WIFE IS ALSO THELESEMIA MINOR POSSITIVE



Report name : HB ELECTROPHORESIS REPORT

HOMOGLOBINE - 10.8 AM/DL
HAEMATOCRIT 33.1%
R.B.C. 5.09 10E12/L
M.C.V. 64.9 FL
M.C.H. 21.1.PG
M.C.H.C. 32.5%


PERIPHERAL FILM --------
ANISOCYTOSIS. HYPOCHROMIC. MICROCYTIC
POIKILOCYTOSIS. POLYCHROMASIA. TARGET CELLS


HAEMOGLOBIN A = 79.2%
HAEMOGLOBIN A2 = 4.6%
HAEMOGLOBIN F = 16.2%
INTERPRETATION ----------A + F + A2

SUGGESTIVE OF THALASSEMIA MINOR.
SUGGEST REPEAT HB ELECTROPHORESIS AFTER ONE YEAR OF AGE



NOTE I HAVE FEW MORE REPORTS WITH ME WHICH IS

1. C - REACTIVE PROTEIN
2. CBC ESR PLATELETS
3. SERUM IRON / TIBC
4. URINE DR & CS


IF ANY ONE CAN HELP ME I HAVE TOTAL 3 KIDS AND I DON'T KNOW I AM A CARRER TOO OR MY OTHER KIDS ARE THE CARRER

I LIKE TO KNOW IS THERE ANY TREATMENT FOR THE MINORS ??????????

PLS. HELP
Rafiq Ahmed Chinoy

[Narendra]

Rafiq,

Best way to find out if you are a thal(minor) is to see a doctor and get your blood test done.

Thal(Minor) is NOT a disease. It is just a condition. Similar to how we get our hair color, eye color, skin color and features from our parents, we pass on the blood making genes to the child. Sometimes, this gene is a carrier and the parents pass it on (Sometiems Knowingly and sometimes Unknowingly). There is no treatment for thal(minor) as of such but as with a normal person, eating well balanced diet and being active, excercising help.

Hi,
I have been going through the Thal Minor forum and I see that many people know what their hg is averaging? Is this from multiple doctor visits? How do you all periodically check your hg?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi i am thal minor i suffer from insomina caused by anemia i tend to eat really healthy and exercise but somtimes. i am sumtimes so low i cant get out of bed but i still get on with it and drag myself outta bed which is a good and bad thing.

Most u guys are lucky i live in England and they are clueless on thal and everything about it.

One question is i would like to ask is can i take iron to boost me up a bit because when i have periods i am so low and my body aches and i have no energy and the itching i hate it.

Well guys hopefully i can join soon.

Take care
xx
vicky , Manchester England , age 22

hi vicky.
im also in the uk and am a thal alpha minor sufferer. people with thal are unable to take iron tablets, you need to supplement your diet by eating more red meat and / or more green leafy veg like spinach. also try and increase your intake of vit c as this will help your body to get as much iron out of the meat and veg as possible. if this doesnt work for you, you could take folic acid tablets, or do both the diet and the tablets.

hope this is helpful to you.

sonia, london