Thalassemia Patients and Friends

Discussion Forums => Thalassemia Minor => Topic started by: Lunar on June 09, 2009, 04:50:46 PM

Title: Am I minor ? How should I deal with vitamin C
Post by: Lunar on June 09, 2009, 04:50:46 PM

Hi,
I live in france and I was diagnosed with "minor thalassemia" very early (i'm 32). This is something that my father has.

Anyway, here are my blood sample analysis. (it's originally in french, I will try to translate. I present my value, and the norm extremes):

Hematies:  6 571 000 / mm3 (4 500 000 - 5 500 000) PROBLEM
Hemoglobine: 13.2 g/100 ml (13.0 - 17.0)
Hematocrite: 42.6 % (40 - 54 )
VGM  65 u3  (80 - 100) PROBLEM
TCMH 20.1 pg (27 - 32) PROBLEM
CCMH 31% (31.5 - 36 ) PROBLEM

Leucocytes (lots of stuff all within the norm)

Plaquettes: 236 000 / mm3 (150 000 - 450 000)
Aspect: normal

Iron: 119 ug / 100 ml  (61 - 167)
Ferritine: 50 ug/l (30 - 380)
Proteine c reactive 1 mg/l  ( < 5)

1) Can you comment my result please ? Is it thalassemia minor ?

2) I started mega vitamin C supplementation to treat some health issues I have... is there any risk of Iron overload in my case ? Is there any particular danger for me ?

Thanks,
Lunar

Title: Re: Am I minor ? How should I deal with vitamin C
Post by: Andy Battaglia on June 09, 2009, 07:26:32 PM

Hi Lunar,

If I understand the readings correctly, your MCV (VGM) does indicate that you may be thal minor. Combined with normal iron levels, it does look like thal minor is probable. However, your hemoglobin and hematocrit are good, so it doesn't look like thal minor is causing any anemia. If these were much lower, you might have to be concerned about absorbing too much iron with the vitamin C use, but when the hemoglobin level is normal, excess iron absorption will not normally take place. I see no reason to be concerned at all about taking vitamin C or any danger of absorbing too much iron.

A hemoglobin electrophoresis test should be able to confirm the thal minor diagnosis. I think the main thing you should think about is if you have any children, they should be aware of the possibility that they are also thalassemia carriers. If they are, they need to be aware their partners should be checked for thal carrier state before having children.

Title: Re: Am I minor ? How should I deal with vitamin C
Post by: nice friend on June 10, 2009, 01:33:52 AM

Hi Lunar ,
 :welcome2 , i hope you're getting the answers of your concerns and questions , i hope that you'll keep posting & will stay in-touch with us .. dont hesitate toask anymore questions if you have in your mind , feel free to share your experience and anything you wana share ... Thanx alot for joining us ...

Best Regards
Umair

Title: Re: Am I minor ? How should I deal with vitamin C
Post by: Lunar on June 10, 2009, 08:22:11 AM

Thanks for your support, I appreciate.
I won't hesitate to ask more questions.

I will certainly ask my woman to test her blood before we have a child.

Cordially,
Lunar

Title: Re: Am I minor ? How should I deal with vitamin C
Post by: KHALIFA on June 13, 2009, 11:12:14 PM

Hi if you are smokers your Hb will be high also ,,, cause am as smokers  :biggrin my hb is also high
                        khalifa
                  state of kuwait