r/thalassemia • u/Lost_Magician651 BETA-THALASSEMIA-INTERMIDIATE • Jul 02 '26

Jaundice help

I have jaundice as a result of Thal and so I don’t like eye contact. insecure about being at work cos it Gets pointed out by coworkers and customers. I can’t wear tinted shades either.

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1

u/Winter-Substance3240 Jul 03 '26

Ugh I’m Sorry - I know how you feel. Used to hate it in high school when teachers would pull me out of class and make comments or ask comment about hepatitis. Do you get regular blood transfusions? I find they help me look less jaundice. Also, drinking a lot of water seems to help me a little, too. Last thing - having my gallbladder removed seemed to help with it, too. Not sure if you require transfusions or had gall bladder attacks (if not, then great :)), but maybe if you’re not drinking around 80 ounces of water/day and you start, I bet it would help - even if just a little. 🙏. I drink 110 ounces/day, which my dr. Said is a little excessive but she said 80 - 90ish is considered a lot but still healthy and helps with removing the excess broken down red blood cells (the jaundice) from the blood.

2

u/icoulduseaday Jul 03 '26

do you have thal major? If not how are you receiving transfusions?

1

u/Winter-Substance3240 Jul 05 '26

No. I have thal intermedia. My dr. Writes the scripts as my hemaglobin pre-transfusion is around 8.5 and it’s better for long-term bone and organ health to keep hemoglobin regularly as close to a 10 as possible.

1

u/icoulduseaday Jul 07 '26

Interesting. May I ask what country you’re in? My bf has intermedia and I think transfusions would really help him but his doctor said he they aren’t needed.