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.

[tlfsmith]

Your comment is silly, at best.  Sickle cell anemia also "protects people from malaria" as you state, however, it isn't without consequence.  The same is true of beta thalassemia minor.  If you are a pharmacist, you should be familiar with PubMed.  A quick look demonstrates that people with BTM can be symptomatic and may experience significant complications (e.g., mild hypochromic or microcytic anemia, proximal renal tubule dysfunction, fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness - have all been associated with BTM).

[MjoyingAZ]

I am 60 years old and have known I had thalassemia since I was 20.  I have lead a very wonderful life.  I have five children and now 12 grandchildren.  I have what has been described as "major Minor" beta thalassemia.  I had my spleen out when I was 17, and several other surgeries since.  My ferritin iron level was very high last year and they started taking a pint of blood every month for a year.  

I guess what I am trying to tell you is that you can live a very good, Normal life with thalassemia.  You can have children and they will have wonderful lives.  Of my five children I have two with thalassemia and one who is a carrier and he has passed it on to one of his daughters.  All my children are very intelligent, wonderful, caring individuals who value their lives.  

Please don't let the diagnosis of thalassemia stop you from doing anything you want to do.  I know I didn't let it slow me down.  Enjoy life!  It is a gift.

MjoyingAZ

[BEL0VED]

Awesome music!  Thanks for sharing.  You must have killer schedule.  This is inspiring.  I am TBM carrier and have two kids who are also.  I am finding it affects each of them differently.  But not altogether a bad thing.  I have learned to cope and helping them to find their way.  Condition is manageable.  I found iron does help get me over energy humps when I don't eat well..  I almost never get sick.  And I do look much younger than I am.  Bonus!!  :)

[dafule]

I could not accomplish my days work without stopping my truck and recovering for a period, sometimes two or three times a day, and over the last couple of years the hours at work I could manage have reduced from 70 to around 60 hours per week.

My left thyroid gland was taken out around two years ago. I think it stands to reason that th also caused the bad car sickness I used to suffer from, but not my brothers and sisters.

[sunil47]

Hey i have symptoms like Foggy memory and laziness and these are killing me . I was very smart during school days and as i grew up i am feeling to become dull.  Do u have any idea and cure for this ?

[James_Bond_2014]

Chill out. I'm sure many people here are very positive, its just that here is a good place to share symptoms and have a little moan together. Its quite nice to discover other people who fall asleep and the drop of a hat! its also a little bit funny when you really think about how many people are cursed with insomnia! Despite this 'condition' I have been able to tour and play literally thousands of concerts (see www.peyoti.com) but I must confess I suffer from all the symptoms described here and the tiredness can be a real killer, especially, after concerts parties when I end up crashing really early (sometimes). So, no… its not all bad and nobodies saying it is… ,-)