MICROCYTIC ANEMIA AND THALASSEMIA

I HAVE HAD THIS CONSITION SOME HOW ALL MY LIFE. ONE DOCTOR TOLD ME A FEW YEARS BACK HE WAS SURE I HAD THAL BUT HE RULED IT OUT BECAUSE OF ETHNICITY. HE TREATED ME FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS WITH IV IRON TREATMENTS AND IT SEEMED TO WORK.  DUE TO INSURANCE ISSUES I WAS SENT TO ANOTHER HEMOTOLOGIST THAT DIDNT CARE TO DIAGNOSE OR REALLY FOLLOW ANY COURSE OF TREATMENT THAT KEPT ME ABLE TO FUNCTION. MY FERRITIN IS NOW AT 1. HEMOGLOBIN VARYING 9.6 - 8.5 NEVER GOING MUCH FARTHER ANYMORE LATELY. MY NEW HEMOTOLOGIST SAYS TO ME ON MON. YES HE WOULD SAY THAT I HAVE THAL BUT YOU CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THAT W/ IRON DEFIENCY IN THE WAY. HE SAY THAT HE WOULD SAY THAT I AM DUE TO MY MEDICAL HISTORY A COMBO THAL AND MICROCYTIC ANEMIA. NOW IF THAT IS THE CASE WHAT CAN I EXPECT? BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GETTING WORSE AS THE BABIES HAVE COME CLOSE TOGETHER I CAN NOT SEEM TO BOUNCE BACK FOR NOTHING IN THE WORLD. IS THIS A CONDITION THAT GETS WORSE W/AGE. I AM REALLY GETTING CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN AT MY LOWEST EVER I HAVE NO APPETITE, IM THIRSTY ALL THE TIME IN PAIN. WHAT IS GOING ON? CAN SOMEONE FILL ME IN BECAUSE THE DOCTORS HAVE BEEN TELLING ME THAT SAME OLE SAME O' FOR OVER 20 YRS AND IM TIRED OF SAYING " NO I DON'T HAVE SICLE CELL". 

Thalassemia would be readily seen by testing, such as a hemoglobin electrophoresis test and any hematologist should know this. The proper course would be to have tests done and proceed from there. Where are you located? I think you need to find a hematologist more familiar with blood disorders.

I AM IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA. I JUST STARTED SEEING THIS NEW HEMOTOLOGIST. HE HAS ME A BIT WORRIED ABOUT ANY TREATMENT HE MAY SUGGEST IN THE FUTURE SINCE HE TOLD ME MY ACHES AND PAINS ALL THESE YEARS HAVE BEEN TO IRREGULARITY, LOL.

I would suggest contacting the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Don't be misled by the name as they do treat adult thal patients. At the very least they will be able to tell you if thal is involved.

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?topic=276.0

Thomas Coates, MD
http://www.childrenshospitalla.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=52&action=detail&ref=93
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Ph: (323) 669-2352
Fax: (323) 660-9321

WOULD YOU KNOW OF ANY GOOD M.D.'S @ CHOC IN ORANGE IT IS A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AS WELL AND MY INSURANCE IS CONTRACTED THERE . I JUST WANT  TO GET MY LIFE BACK ATLEAST 60% TO WHERE I WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION . I DO REALIZE I NEED TO CHANGE MY DIET BACK TO WHAT IT WAS WHEN I WAS VERY FUNCTIONAL NOW FROM READING OVER THE SITE. MY NEW DOCTOR SAYS I NEED TO GET MY MUSCLES BACK IN TO SHAPE THEY HAVE LOSS TREMENDOUS MASS AND STRENGTH. I HAVE ALSO NOTIISED FROM THE LACK OF OXYGEN MY MEMORY AND CONCENTRATION HAVE DEMINISHED. I AM IN THE COURSE OF STUDING FOR MY BROKER'S EXAM AND IT IS TAKING IT'S TOLL. SO YOU MAY REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY  IM TRYING TO MOVE THE DOCTOR'S  ALONG. I HAVE HAD ABOUT 30 YRS OF THIS AND I REFUSE TO GIVE IT ANOTHER YEAR. IM MISSING OUT ON TOO MUCH!

There happens to be a very good doctor at CHOC who is thal familiar.
Please contact

Diane J Nugent, MD
Office Information:
PSF Hematology
455 South Main Street
Orange, CA 92868
phone: (714) 532-8459 fax: (714) 532-8771
web site: http://www.chocpsf.com

If she does not see adults, please ask for a referral. Proper testing is the first direction you should be taking.

Welcome to the forum, :wave
I was diagnosed with microcytic  aneamia when i was 6/7yrs and nearly die.(that was in the 60s')

later on in life was found to have sickle cells and thal intermedia,I'm 53 yrs and went to hell for the better part of my live just because i  met with incompetent doctors and wasnt diagnosed earlier

It is very disturbing to here that your heamoglobin is so low and it seems that doctors are playing russian roulet with your life,
Dont give up take Andys advice seek help from other source ,there are alternatives ,you need to be resourcefull and persistance,
goodluck and I hope you do get the help you need inorder to live a satisfying life.
Kathy

THANKS GUYS I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE ADVICE AND HELP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOU KNOW WHEN I THINK BACK TO AS MUCH AS I KNOW AFTER RESEARCHING THE SITE AND THE INTERNET THIS WEEKEND ABOUT THIS CONDITION YOU ARE SO RIGHT THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH MY LIFE. ALL OF THE FERROUS SULFATE LIQUID THAT I WAS ORDERED TO TAKE MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY WITH MILK (WHICH I HATED BY THE WAY) WAS WAY WRONG! THE SICKEST PART OF MY DAYS ALWAYS STARTED AS BREAKFAST AS A KID GROWING UP. FOOD WAS PAINFUL TO ME SO I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN WHAT MAKES ME SICK AND JUST AVOID IT ALL TOGETHER. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS JUST FINIKY UNTIL I WAS OLD ENOUGHT TO GET HER TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BREAKFAST FOODS SHE THOUGHT WERE GOOD FOR ME WERE MAKING ME TRULY ILL. SHE SAID THE DOCTORS SAID I SHOULD DRINK LOTS OF MILK, FOODS HIGH IN IRON, VITAMIN C AND LOTS OF FRUITS. SO WHAT I GENERALLY GOT WAS 3X'S A DAY IMMULSIONS COD LIVER OIL TO INCREASE MY APPETTITE AND HELP WITH WEIGHT GAIN. MILK ALWAYS WITH MY MEDS AND BREAKFAST. FRUIT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE UNTIL IT CAME DOWN TO ORANGES AND PEACHES. THESE THINGS HAVE SHOWN ME ALOT OVER THE YEARS. ALL OF THE SICKNESS DURING BREAKFAST WAS DUE TO A LACTOSE INTOLERANCE PROBLEM PERTAINING TO MILK AND CERTAIN FRUITS. IRON I HAVE LEARNED SHOULD NEVER BE MIXED WITH MILK OR TAKEN WITH MILK. ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE UNDER DOCTORS ORDERS AND THE PROBLEM DIDNT GET ANY BETTER UNTIL AS NOW I GOT TIRED OF IT IN HIGH SCHOOL. I STARTED WORKING OUT AND ATE THE THINGS OUR COACH TOLD US WOULD HELP INCREASE NATURAL MUSCLE MASS AND STRENGTH. THIS CONDITION DIDNT REALLY POSE A PROBLEM FOR ME UNTIL AFTER MY FIRST CHILD WAS BORN IT WENT REAL BAD ON ME REAL FAST. SO THE DOCTORS HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE ATTENTION SINCE THEN. I NOW HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND I WILL BE TALKING TO MY DOCTOR ABOUT HAVING STUDIES DONE ON THEM AS WELL. MY YOUNGEST TWO ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT SO FAR SEEM TO BE HEADED DOWN THE ROAD THAT I STARTED ON SO I HAVE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT WITH MY PCP. SHE MENTIONEDS DOING THE STUDIES BECAUSE WE DONT WANT TO HAVE THEM GO THRU THE CRAZYNESS WE HAVE BEEN THRU I WONT STAND FOR IT. BUT AS FAR AS MY SELF MY GOAL THIS MONTH IS TO COMPLETE MY ORDER FOR FURTHER IRON STUDIES AND A BUNCH OF OTHER TEST MY NEW HEMO MD HAS ORDERED AND CHANGE MY DIET UP TREMENDOUSLY. THANKS GUYS FOR BEING HERE I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT! IT HELP HEAL UP THE HEART