Hi Scotty,
My first question is do you feel that you need to be on antidepressants? Do you feel the anxiety is severe or are you problems related to your overall health and doctors are attributing that to anxiety? This is very important, as antidepressants can have serious side effects and I'm surprised no doctors have taken a look at this. They can't be stopped cold turkey, so consult with your doctor about being weaned off the drug if you choose to do so.
My first impression reading the story of your trip was that it sounded like you were extremely dehydrated at the time, which is quite common when traveling. I try to stress the importance of hydration with thalassemics, for a number of reasons and in your case, being a minor, it is very helpful to stay hydrated because the blood gets thicker when you're dehydrated, which can cause problems in thals because there is more "junk" in your blood. This is the result of a combination of the pale small red blood cells which can be seen in examination of your blood, the breakdown of these ineffective red cells, and the unmatched alpha globin tetramers that form, because there is an underproduction of beta globin. It may be more than just more water that is needed. I do not carry thal, but I deal with dehydration regularly. For me, it's both water and salt that is needed. I choose pink Himalayan salt because it also has so many trace minerals in it. Much of what you said sounds like possible mineral deficiency, especially magnesium, and the absorption of minerals from your diet is greatly affected by your vitamin D level. Low D is very common in the public, but it is found at even a higher rate in thals. I've been through that also. I had taken 2000 IU D daily for two years and had my level checked. It was only 19 after two years. It was only after taking 5000-10,000 IU daily that I got to a safe range in the high 30's. It's still lower than I want it, but I do much better overall now. This also greatly helped me with winter depression, which had become a serious problem for me and now barely affects me. Vitamin D should be tried before antidepressants are tried, as low D does cause depression.
Please review the suggestions on nutrition at
http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php/topic,4890.0.htmlI agree completely with the large dose of vitamin D recommendations. I think once your level gets above 35, you should still take a regular dose of D that is at least 5000 IU daily. You also should be taking magnesium. About 500 mg daily and taken before going to bed at night. Nutrition is key to thal minor and all types of thalassemia. A good diet and the necessary supplements, along with regular exercise can help relieve many of the problems of thal. Low D exacerbates everything, so attend to that and make sure your diet is nutritious. Avoid junk food and processed foods as much as possible. It will take some time because it isn't just low D, which can be corrected fairly quickly with megadoses. It is that D is essential for the absorption and use of so many other nutrients, that you also have to get these back in proper balance and that takes time.