Few numbers on my blood tests and few questions

Hello,

I am very excited to be part of this forum, I am into supplements for several years, but I just discovered I am beta thal minor, so now I understand what was happening to me for all these years, I am an old guy, just turned 37 yo... 

If you don't mind I post my blood results first:

RBC 6.41
MCV 65.5
MCH 20.7
MCHC 31.7
Morphology abnormal: microcyte 2+, hypochromia 2+, ovalocytes 2+
Hemoglobin 13.3
Hematocrit 42%
Bilirubin total: 2.3
Bilirubin direct 0.6
SGOT 36
SGPT 59
GGT 37

Calcium 9.2
Phosphorus 3.8
Potassium 3.7
Magnesium 2.0
Sodium 138
Chloride 100

Vitamin D total 31.34
Vitamin B12 626

Serum iron 85 ug/dL
TIBC 330 ug/dL
Transferrin 25.7%
Ferritin 330 mg/mL

Hb A 92.7%
Hb A2 6%
Hb F 1.3%

Sorry to be long. Thyroid is ok.

Now the questions, basically I have been feel tired and sleepy since the end of puberty, I am a little bit over weight (5 kg) but i exercise every other day. I have also brain fog and experienced for the first time since October of panic attacks. I had also palpitations a lot when my potassium fell 3.5, now my cardiologist put me on potassium supplement to raise it, but in two months my max was 3.8. Anyway, I don't want to be too long, I will add more details if asked.

Questions: I read on this forum how some people try to rise Hb F, I don't get it. I saw mine already over the normal limit. I thought I should focus to increase only Hb A, no?

Ferritin, I know 330 for a thal intermedia or major is a miracle, but if suspect that for me it is a bit too much, unfortunately they told me I was a little anemic, so first thing I thought to supplement a little of iron one month ago, no doctor checked my ferritin, I did it on my own with a private lab, also the electrophoresis. The only thing they found in hospital is that I have a mild fatty liver and a little low bone density in my spine, but my calcium lvl looks good, but my vitamin D no, so I think that was the problem. Anyway, should I try to low my ferritin levels? If so how?

Bilirubin, I have always had higher levels, before my beta thal minor diagnosis I thought I might be one with gilbert, but now I am not sure if the bilirubin is from gilbert or hemolysis??

When the lab did the electrophoresis, they wrote: beta thalassemia trait possible with or without alpha thalassemia, what does it mean? How can I know if I am also alpha?

Last question for now, does anybody else have problems with electrolytes? I found hard to raise their levels? I sweat a lot unfortunately.

Thank you so much  don't need to answer to all my questions.

No one? Please answer me

Hi Sciack,
I'm no expert but compared to the three thal minors in my family your reports look good. Our families Hb stays between 9 and 11 so your 13.3 looks really good.
Your Hb F isn't very high. Your B 12 seems good. Mine is quite low. Ferritin is expected to be a little high if you've supplemented. Maybe you could try IP6 which is a mild chelator and lay off the red meat for awhile as well as other iron rich foods.
Hmm.....other symptoms
Brain fog     
Tired
Sleepy
Palpitations
Low Vit D
Got them all
Also have thyroid issues though. Make sure your lab uses the new scale. Earlier a TSH under 5 was considered hypo now its under 2.5. I think the best would be if you have a previous report to compare with. Your own normal values.
How are you addressing the low Vit D. For me oral doesn't seem to work but injections do. Recently had 300000 IU IM plus 50000 weekly
My electrolytes are probably messed up but right now I'm on steroids for other issues so that is expected.
I also have a slightly enlarged fatty liver.Trying to figure out if milk thistle would help.

Not sure how any if this would help except to let you know you aren't alone.
Wishing you the best.
Zahra

Hi Sciack,

Your Hb is fairly normal, so there wouldn't be any point to trying to raise your HbF. That applies when the Hb is below normal.
Your ferritin isn't high enough to address, but is a sign that you should not take iron supplements.
Thal minors have high bilirubin levels. B complex, folic acid, vitamin E and magnesium might have some effect on slowing down the turnover of blood, but nothing will eliminate it.
It is unlikely that you also carry alpha thal, as your HbA2 would not be as high as it is.
Regarding fatty liver, iron supplements can contribute to this, so again, no iron. Vitamin E may have some therapeutic value for a fatty liver. I am curious how the diagnosis was made. Zahra and Sciack, how was this diagnosed?

In my case ultrasound b/c of abdominal pain. Doc says its not the cause of the pain. Maybe acidity b/c of steroids is the cause. She said not to worry about it . Treatment would be to lose weight.That I think will have to wait till off steroids. I will try Vit E. Do you think milk thistle could help? I have had hepatitis A twice 24 and 11 years ago. Don't know if that could be related.
Zahra

Milk thistle is an excellent herb for purifying the liver. I do recommend it.

Hi Sciack,
I'm no expert but compared to the three thal minors in my family your reports look good. Our families Hb stays between 9 and 11 so your 13.3 looks really good.
Your Hb F isn't very high. Your B 12 seems good. Mine is quite low. Ferritin is expected to be a little high if you've supplemented. Maybe you could try IP6 which is a mild chelator and lay off the red meat for awhile as well as other iron rich foods.
Hmm.....other symptoms
Brain fog     
Tired
Sleepy
Palpitations
Low Vit D
Got them all
Also have thyroid issues though. Make sure your lab uses the new scale. Earlier a TSH under 5 was considered hypo now its under 2.5. I think the best would be if you have a previous report to compare with. Your own normal values.
How are you addressing the low Vit D. For me oral doesn't seem to work but injections do. Recently had 300000 IU IM plus 50000 weekly
My electrolytes are probably messed up but right now I'm on steroids for other issues so that is expected.
I also have a slightly enlarged fatty liver.Trying to figure out if milk thistle would help.

Not sure how any if this would help except to let you know you aren't alone.
Wishing you the best.
Zahra

Thank you Zahra, I appreciated your reply. I have ordered 10,000 UI vitamin D capsules, not yet arrived, I will start soon. Now my main concern is the potassium which is always on the low side at 3.5/3.6 maybe I have too much aldosterone, I am going to check that too.

Hi Sciack,

Your Hb is fairly normal, so there wouldn't be any point to trying to raise your HbF. That applies when the Hb is below normal.
Your ferritin isn't high enough to address, but is a sign that you should not take iron supplements.
Thal minors have high bilirubin levels. B complex, folic acid, vitamin E and magnesium might have some effect on slowing down the turnover of blood, but nothing will eliminate it.
It is unlikely that you also carry alpha thal, as your HbA2 would not be as high as it is.
Regarding fatty liver, iron supplements can contribute to this, so again, no iron. Vitamin E may have some therapeutic value for a fatty liver. I am curious how the diagnosis was made. Zahra and Sciack, how was this diagnosed?

Thanks Andy, I couldn't wait for your answer, honestly! I did a genetic test and I don't have alpha thal as you anticipated. Now my main focus is to improve my liver functions and electrolytes, btw I was diagnosed with a mild fatty liver from a ultrasound of whole abdomen. I ordered also Vitamin E and can't wait to start using it. I have started supplementing TUDCA which sounds very interesting and also some PSP, let's see what happen.

Thanks again

Milk thistle is an excellent herb for purifying the liver. I do recommend it.

Every time I used milk thistle (high doses) I had liver pain, but ultrasound showed no gallstones, so I can't understand why I feel that pain. I am talking of 1000 mg / once a day....

There is a good article about milk thistle at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/138.html
I don't see anything about it causing liver pain, but some of the other issues might feel like pain from that area. These are listed in the less common side effects. You could consider taking a half dose to see if there is less reaction.

Milk thistle is LIKELY SAFE for most adults. Milk thistle sometimes causes a laxative effect. Other less common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, intestinal gas, bloating, fullness or pain, and loss of appetite.

Hi,

Thanks for the article I am going to read it now. Anyway, I read on other forums that other people has the same effect from milk thistle. Maybe it just increases the bile production. Anyway, I will try a lower dose.

What do you think about TUDCA?

There is a good article about milk thistle at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/138.html
I don't see anything about it causing liver pain, but some of the other issues might feel like pain from that area. These are listed in the less common side effects. You could consider taking a half dose to see if there is less reaction.

Here this guy describes exactly the same reaction I had from Milk Thistle

http://ehealthforum.com/health/milk-thistle-causing-liver-pain-t213200.html

It could very well be gas pain. That patient admits to crohn's disease and is also taking other supplements that may react. I really have to go by the known science and not patients self diagnosing here. There is no known danger to the liver from using milk thistle.

It could very well be gas pain. That patient admits to crohn's disease and is also taking other supplements that may react. I really have to go by the known science and not patients self diagnosing here. There is no known danger to the liver from using milk thistle.

Yes it could be the gas but only on one side, anyway there are other people complaining about that reaction. I am not saying it is something dangerous per se. But it is definitely triggered by high doses milk thistle. I will try a lower dose. Let me know what you think about TUDCA. I am taking it now, and am going to recheck my blood soon to see if it lowers my bilirubin (it was more than 4 10 days ago).