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Each time I have a blood test done I'm told that my RBC count is low. It is not anemia, as my iron level is normal. My kidney and liver readings are also normal.
Doctors suggest it is some kinda genetic blood disease, Thalassemia in particular, which is common among those of Mediterranean origin. However, neither of my parents have it, and I know for a fact that you can't have it unless parents are affected or carrying the gene.
My mom says that when I was born, doctors told her that I have G6PD, which is also a genetic blood disease. Affected individuals are often intolerant to fava-beans. I don't have such a thing.
I know there are specific tests for thalassemia and such, but I'm just wondering if anyone have knowledge about what can be the cause of the low reading given the info I provided for my case?
Please note that I have no specific symptoms, other than depression and low energy levels.
Each time I have a blood test done I'm told that my RBC count is low. It is not anemia, as my iron level is normal. My kidney and liver readings are also normal.
Doctors suggest it is some kinda genetic blood disease, Thalassemia in particular, which is common among those of Mediterranean origin. However, neither of my parents have it, and I know for a fact that you can't have it unless parents are affected or carrying the gene.
My mom says that when I was born, doctors told her that I have G6PD, which is also a genetic blood disease. Affected individuals are often intolerant to fava-beans. I don't have such a thing.
I know there are specific tests for thalassemia and such, but I'm just wondering if anyone have knowledge about what can be the cause of the low reading given the info I provided for my case?
Please note that I have no specific symptoms, other than depression and low energy levels.
RBC being low is fairly common especially in women. There are a number of reasons that this can happen so no one here can say for sure that your cause is thalassemia. Is it a little low or very low?
It's fairly easy to find out if you have thalassemia or not. I'm not sure why the doctor would just "suggest" it rather than send a sample out to have it tested. The first indication of a problem (or a suggestion of thalassemia) would be the examination of a blood smear after your CBC seems off. There are characteristics that many people with thalassemia have that are visible in blood smears.
I'm guessing you mean you have a G6PD deficiency. G6PD is not a disease. G6PD is an enzyme. The deficiency and the severity of it is very easy to test for---again, all your doctor needs to do is send a lavender tube.
Since we cannot diagnose you, I would suggest you return to your doctor and to actually ask him/her to confirm your suspicions. Good luck.
Each time I have a blood test done I'm told that my RBC count is low. It is not anemia, as my iron level is normal. My kidney and liver readings are also normal.
Doctors suggest it is some kinda genetic blood disease, Thalassemia in particular, which is common among those of Mediterranean origin. However, neither of my parents have it, and I know for a fact that you can't have it unless parents are affected or carrying the gene.
My mom says that when I was born, doctors told her that I have G6PD, which is also a genetic blood disease. Affected individuals are often intolerant to fava-beans. I don't have such a thing.
I know there are specific tests for thalassemia and such, but I'm just wondering if anyone have knowledge about what can be the cause of the low reading given the info I provided for my case?
Please note that I have no specific symptoms, other than depression and low energy levels.
Anemia...by definition is a low number of blood cells. If your rbc count is low you are anemic.
Iron deficiency is one cause of anemia, not the only cause. Having normal iron levels does not mean you aren't anemic.
Thalassemia is autosomal recessive so unless your parents have been tested for thalassemia and found to be negative they could very well carry the trait and you could manifest the disease state.
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