Discussion Forums > Thalassemia Major

large stomach, heart failure

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eesha:
hi i was just wonering if any of u other thals have large stomachs, is it a characteristic of thal, i thought it was coz i had desferal there? does any1 else have a big stomach (and i dont mean from eating!) or do u thnk i just have 1 coz i have coeliac disease.

also i wanted to knw more about heart failure in thalassaemia? why does it occur, does it happen to all thals? is there any precautions we can take?

§ãJ¡Ð ساجد:
Hi Eesha,

Both of these symptoms that you have mentioned are mostly due to Iron overload due to lack of chelation.

Our Liver and Spleen store the excess Iron that comes with the transfusions. Eventually they get enlarged if not properly chelated and this gives the enlarged bellies of Thals who don't chelate properly.

Once the liver maxes out it's iron storing capacity; the excess iron starts to get stored in other organs such as heart and the endocrine glands and eventually damages them; leading to organ failure.

Zaini:
Hi eesha,

Heart failure in thals occur due to iron overload in heart,as Sajid explained that once the liver maxes out it's iron storing capacity,the iron starts to get stored in other organs including heart, so the only precaution we can take against heart failure is chelation ,or may i say strict schedule of chelation,according to what your ferritin levels are,that way iron would not be stored in heart,And i believe supplementation of megnesium and calcium is also necessary for keeping your heart well functioning,do share with us what exactly your ferritin level is,which chelators are you using?

ZAINI.

eesha:
The thing is my chelation has always been very good, doctors have always been pleased with me. but i cant understand then why i seem to get all the problems that bad chelators should have such as growth problems, and enlarged liver.
my ferritin used to be constant around 1200, although i did get it to around 800 when on desferal, but now i am on exjade so it has creeped up over a year to 1500. Now i am on an increased dose so hopefully that should reduce my ferretin.
when i told my doctor about about the large sotmach he said its noting to do with my thalassaemia its do do with eating! so i dont knw! but it is good to talk to all u ppl coz then i get different viuews.
thanks guys!

Canadian_Family:
My daughter has slight tummy, doctors are not concerned as they can't physically feel her Spleen and its definately not iron overload. On the other hand as a parent we do worry sometimes though.

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