Anemia, doctor says it could be thalassemia.

I've been lurking here this morning. I have a couple of questions.

At my routine physical recently my blood tests were showing anemia. After supplementing iron and then doubling the iron and drinking orange juice with it without a marked improvement I have been given a referral to a specialist. How did you guys find out that you had thalassemia? I've had three CBCs since my physical. All are still below the minimum acceptable levels and other parts of it are off (Monocytes I believe and I can't remember the others). On my CBCs my hemocrit was well below the acceptable 35% for women and my RDW is about twice the highest acceptable limit. What did your CBCs look like when you were diagnosed?

I saw another post on the site where a woman was talking about having perpetually cold extremities. Is this common to thalassemia? What other indications did you have? Mostly I have times where I feel like I'm going to pass out. I have an infant son and there are times when I am trying to pick up his carrier to get him out of the truck and my vision starts to get blurry as though I'm about to pass out and have to just lean against the truck until it passes. I also get nausea sometimes as though I'm going to pass out.

Thanks for your time and any information you can share will be greatly appreciated.

[Schelby]

You probably have Thal minor if you are older and have never been diagnosed. Iron deficiency can happen with Thal minor. Us with Thal Intermedia and Thal Major have iron overload from transfusions and over absorption from food. Nausea is a symptom I wpuld get when my HB is too low, also loss of appetite. I don't usually get cold. I know those with low iron get cold easily.

How anemic are you? Do you know your hemoglobin numbers? Almost passing out from mild exertion is NOT normal and NOT acceptable. Go to a hematologist ASAP. If he suspects Thalassemia, you should get your ferritin level checked, BEFORE taking anymore iron. Too much iron is very bad and hard to get out of your system.

[Schelby]

Also, the CLUE on the CBC is to look at the MCV. A low MCV without iron deficiency can indicate Thalassemia. Look here: Thalassemia