Sickle Sagas – a Column by Dunstan Nicol-Wilson

My main focus in managing sickle cell disease is preventing vaso-occlusive crises, the symptom I struggle with most. However, due to the seasonal change in weather, fatigue is another common sickle cell symptom that has been difficult for me in recent weeks. On a typical day, I…

Recently, I’ve been trying to recall what the pain from a sickle cell crisis is like. Not remembering must sound a little weird, since a crisis is my most prominent symptom of sickle cell disease. Even on good days, I should have a solid grasp of what…

The mind is a powerful tool. One phenomenon I’ve become aware of in the last year is speech impairment after a sickle cell crisis. It’s as though the volume of my voice has been turned down and no one can hear me. I’m usually soft-spoken, but during this phenomenon,…

I would love to go on one of the Bali swings I always see on social media and then capture the moment. However, my friend informed me that the reality is that there are long queues and it’s not as good as it looks in photos. The reveal…

The cooler and sometimes gloomier weather of autumn has begun to kick in here in London. However, I’m still daydreaming about the amazing summer I had. A few weeks ago, I was in a villa in Cyprus with most of my friends, where I had such a great time. This…

Recently, while on a long journey, I rewatched one of my favorite movies, “Inception.” I find the concept of the film unique; in short, it’s about manipulating someone’s subconscious or dreams to create a strong idea or obtain information. Our dreams and desires are powerful forces that can…

Building relationships while having a chronic condition can be a daunting challenge. On the one hand, you want to be yourself and let people accept you for who you are. On the other, you might worry about how people will treat you and how they will respond to…

Having a condition like sickle cell disease can bring a lot of bad days. Crisis pain and extreme fatigue can be unbearable. Sometimes it feels like there are more bad days than good ones, as my collection of past traumas tends to resurface in my mind. However, I’ve recently…

In my last column, I provided some caregiving tips to help people support loved ones with sickle cell disease. One thing I suggested is having a crisis care plan in place, though I haven’t yet prepared one myself. The goal is to help those who are unfamiliar with…

I have written about learning to appreciate those who support me on my journey with sickle cell disease. My support network plays a pivotal role in advocating for me when I’m in pain and unable to communicate. Additionally, they care for me during my recovery. Without my support…