Beta Thalassemia Minor

[Jules919]

How is it that I have the trait for this Mediterranean blood disease when I am of Scotch-Irish descent?

[Landryd]

I have beta thalassemia minor and suffer most of the same symptoms, fatigue and foggy headed are the two big one's. I have been told by friends and family that i am just lazy and stupid, get up and do something. They push me to do so. So I force myself, to the point of feeling like death, to get up and do things. I stuggle to pay attention when I'm fog headed. I'm not stupid or lazy, they just don't understand. These are the people who love me. I get more sympathy from strangers. Does anyone know how to deal with this cause this is and always has been my biggest problem. I push myself to hard already and they want more. What?

[Landryd]

I was diagnosed with being anemic about 16 years ago. The doctor told me to take iron supplements twice a day. So I did and have been for 16 years. Last year I was diagnosed with beta thalassemia minor by a new doctor. He told me I would be fine and as long as I am careful now to take any iron or iron containing vitamins. Then I hold him about the diagnoses of anemic. He said it was a common misdiagnoses. He pushed on my spleen, I think, and some other pushing to check for damage do to iron overload. He said I was ok. I am still worried about what damage I did taking so much iron for so long. I suffer from extreme fatigue every day, like most of us. I am taking folic acid per doc's orders. I sweat when the temp out side rises just alittle. Extreme sweat like nothing I had ever seen from anyone else. I have to drink soooo much water. Even then I still cramp up. I work outside in Florida and i spend more time drinking water than anything else. Here is the big question- every day at work, my ears will muffle. Like water in the ear, I can still hear alittle. They stay like that the whole day still I go home in the evening and cold shower and a/c, still takes a few hours. Then they return to normal. Does anyone else have this problem? Is it related to the thalassemia. I have to mention that I did suffer a mild heat stroke last year. Overheating and ear problems.

[mommabull]

I also have it with no mediterranean heritage that I know of. I have doctors ask me all the time if I am mediterranean while looking at me fnny because I am covered in freckles and pale with black hair lol.