DR. BAYO RESPONDS

so I got a question. I'm only asking you guys because the comment section said it before any doctor ever did. This blood work came back and it was the same. No changes even though she's been on supplements. I mean, we've been filling her with beans. She's been eating amazing. Came back the same. So they now wanna do blood work and test for thalassemia, which people were putting in the comments section. I did look it up at the time people were putting it in, and I did have a bad gut feeling. But I don't know why I don't know why because it doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world, like when you look it up. But I guess my question for the people who were saying, thalassemia, thalassemia. I keep saying it wrong. If it is, what do we need to do? What do you guys think we need to do? Do we need to worry? Am I over-worrying? My heart is breaking for you. When your video came across my feed, I immediately wanted to try and help. I'm Dr. Bayo. I'm a board-certified family medicine physician and health advocate. You asked where you should be on a scale of one to ten when it comes to being worried about your child. Well, as a mama to another mama, I'm not gonna tell you that you shouldn't worry, but my hope is by sharing this information, it helps you have at least more information which will help that number on that scale go down just a little bit. When it comes to thalassemia, you're spot on. It does run in families, and often it is missed on standard blood tests. However, it does exist on a spectrum, meaning symptoms can range from mild fatigue to slow growth to frequent infections, and that is why getting the right diagnosis really matters. Here are a few things to consider when you see your doctor. The first thing is ask for a hemoglobin electrophoresis. This is a specific test that can tell you what type of thalassemia your child has if that's the right diagnosis. The second thing, ask for a referral to a pediatric hematologist. They can be very helpful when it comes to certain conditions like this. And lastly, ask your doctor, "I know we're looking into thalassemia, but I would also like to explore what other conditions this could be." I just want to give you so much love and let you know that you are doing all the right things, and my hope is that you get answers for your child as soon as possible.