The good and bad of being a medical doctor and a sickle cell disease patient
My experience has strengthened my empathy for others with chronic illness
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Being a medical doctor who also lives with sickle cell disease remains one of my greatest achievements.
Becoming a physician, despite the odds, was not an easy journey. It demanded resilience, relentlessness, dedication, and hard work. Nearly a decade into my medical career, I’ve realized that being a doctor with sickle cell disease is both a blessing and a curse.
Being a doctor has helped me live better with sickle cell. My medical knowledge allows me to understand my body deeply when it comes to my symptoms, signs of a problem, and treatment options. I can often recognize the early signs of a crisis and intervene before complications arise. This knowledge gives me a sense of control over my health and makes discussions with my hematologist much easier, as I understand medical concepts and management plans without needing lengthy explanations.
A healer needing healing
Living with sickle cell disease has also made me a better doctor. Being a patient has strengthened my empathy and understanding of others living with chronic illness. This often improves how I connect with my patients and influences how I manage them.
As part of my work in the outpatient department, I was early on placed in charge of sickle cell patients and others because it was recognized that my extensive knowledge and skills, and my lived and professional experiences, have enhanced the quality of the care I provide. Many patients open up to me easily because they know I understand their pain, not just clinically, but emotionally.
Being both a doctor and a patient has also fueled my passion for research and advocacy in sickle cell disease, deepening my expertise.
Yet, this dual life has its challenges. Being a doctor with sickle cell carries the weight of “too much knowledge.” While expertise helps with management, it can also breed unnecessary fear.
Knowing too much about a disease isn’t always a blessing. That knowledge sometimes triggers fear and anxiety. For a time, I battled a fear of potential complications. When I treated other patients for complications like organ failure, I would project those outcomes onto myself. I had to learn to be positive and consciously control this fear in order to maintain my mental well-being.
I am also fearful of treatment, and I dread frequent hospitalizations. A few years ago, I developed a new symptom. My hematologist and I both suspected a diagnosis that would require blood transfusions every few weeks. I got scared of the possibility of having to be transfused almost monthly with my almost invisible veins, which would make me need a central line in situ. That is an invasive form of intravenous catheter for when a person’s veins cannot be accessed.
I couldn’t wrap my head around that, so I delayed doing the recommended investigation. When I finally gathered the courage to go through with it, I was relieved that the results ruled out the serious condition we had feared. The experience taught me that sometimes, too much knowledge can be detrimental.
Balancing the demands of medicine with the limitations of living with sickle cell is another great challenge. Medicine is a high-stress profession, and the physical strain can be overwhelming for someone with sickle cell disease. I’ve had to modify my career goals a few times, choosing paths that align better with my health needs. While these adjustments were difficult and sometimes heartbreaking, each change led me to another meaningful and fulfilling career path.
Despite these struggles, practicing medicine as a warrior living with sickle cell disease remains one of my proudest achievements. My journey has shaped me into a compassionate physician, an advocate, and a survivor. Living with sickle cell has taught me strength, patience, and purpose — lessons that continue to guide me every day, both in the clinic and beyond.
Note: Sickle Cell Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sickle Cell Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sickle cell disease.
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