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.

[eleni27]

not everyone experiences exactly the same symptoms but I do seem to feel better when i maintain a diet plenty with a lot of red meat, fruits, juice and a lot of water. Taking folic acid everyday also helps my condition. About tiredness this really doen't go away for me. I chose to take up music and theatre at school, would prefer not to do any sports although I enjoy it.

[JackOfShadows]

Hello, I am currently 19, almost 20.
I was diagnosed with this blood condition when I was 17 after the doctor mistook it for Anemia, telling me to take Iron tablets (Huge waste of money)

After discovering that it was BTM I was immediately told that it had no symptoms to worry about, this was not the case for me, a bit later I was diagnosed with ADD, I have no problem paying attention, but the details of what I learned seem to become foggy or blurred when I try to recall them. My life seems to have been filled with people just being lazy about my conditions and passing it off as another.

During the span of my life I have had these symptoms, not sure if they are connected with my blood disorder, but here they are none the less, you will find that some are similar to others previously posted.

- Muscle pain, which could last up to three days
- Dizziness randomly
- Headaches randomly
- Dark circles under my eyes, even though I get a good amount of sleep
- Sometimes (Rarely) I cannot sleep at all for a whole day
- I will pass out if I stand up to fast
- Drowsiness throughout the day
- Easily fatigued
- And last but not least, Fogginess of memory.

I am fine with how my life is, It can be challenging at times but I've managed to keep my body in pretty good shape given that I become tired so easily and have the possibility of blacking out.

Let me know what comment you guys have on this.

Thanks for reading!

-Chris

[ALPHA666]

FIRSTLY  I WISH ALL THE BEST TO THOSE THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS.
RECENTLY FOUND OUT I AM A CARRIER. I  SUFFER FROM  FATIGUE. GO OUT FOR 6 HRS SLEEP FOR 18HRS. THE DOCTORS SAY I'M DEPRESSED DUE TO DELAYED BEREAVEMENT AND ARE TRYING TO FORCE SOME MEDICATION. THANKS TO ALL YOU LOT I KNOW BETTER.
I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH FATIGUE. I HAD A LOT OF ENERGY WHEN  I WAS YOUNG.
I THINK I SHOULD TARGET  BLONDE OR RED HAIRED GERMANIC/CELTIC INDIAN RACE OR JAPANESE MONGOLOID AS A POSSIBLE MATE TO BREED WITH.

[Lopita]

You may also be positive for the MTHFR genetic mutation (not uncommon). Whether you are or not, try taking only the active form of folic acid, that is, 5-methyltatrahydrofolate. If you have the mutation your body may not convert the folic acid you take to the form the body needs to use and the fa can pool in the blood and promote the growth of cancer cells. Also, I would suggest you take the active forms of B12, methylcobalamin, and B6 as P5P. You can visit mthfr.net for more info. I have chronic fatigue syndrome but I know my mother has thalassemia minor. So now,  after reading this blog, I am going to get checked for it.

[purpleclouds]

Hello, I guess almost everyone here has thalassemia right? Needless to say, I am one too. :( I was diagnosed with Thalassemia minor at the age of 4 but when I was young, I dont have much symptoms. However as I grow older, more symptoms started to appear, btw, I am only 14.
Despite sleeping for more than 10 hours on weekends, I will still feel tired and will take 2-3 hours afternoon nap. I cant sleep that long hours on weekdays because I attend a full day school. In school, we have mass run, about a mile, and the whole school will run together. It is quite embarrassing for me to run and pant loudly during the run, whereas my friends dont. My hands will turn cold and be numbed.
In school, it is a must to take up an extra activity. As I am not the musical talented type, I chose to play badminton. The physical during the training is really tough. Most of my friends will complete the physical with ease while I will turn pale and pant really hard. When it comes the stamina wise, I always will lose out.
My parents always nag at me for being an athletic yet have no stamina. It is not that I dont want to train or improve, but I am always tired out easily. Though my dad and sister has thalassemia, they dont really have much symptoms as me. They dont get as tired as me when it comes to long distance running and staying awake for long hours.
My head will throb whenever I dont not have enough sleep. I also cannot seem to study. I will always tend to doze off while studying.
Am I the only one who is experiencing this or...?  and how do I cope with this?  

[Frazer848]

I am 52 and a pharmacist in UK . with betathalasaemia minor..I dont know what all the fuss is about...It PROTECTS you from dying of malaria.( !)..In the past a lot of Italy  and europe was swampy malarious...therefore its prevalence  in that area and middle east.There is NOTHING to worry about...most people who visit these kind of forums are hypochondriac depressives...nothing to do with thalassaemia trait.. I have two lovely daughters.I look extremely young for my age..you will find this in other trait carrriers..this is because the oxygen tension in the blood is low and the body doesnt go'rusty' as quickly. I have Identicle twin..fit as a fiddle and has a Phd and three lovely clever kids. Chill. ... I think my sister is a carrier also.. she also is extremely young looking and pretty 50 years old with lovely healthy daughters.relax.