Lessons learned from my most recent sickle cell pain crisis

One Saturday evening, I was sitting on the sofa with my husband watching a film. Suddenly, I felt a sharp, stabbing pain pierce through my chest. “Babe, call an ambulance,” I uttered just in time before falling to the ground and screaming in agony. A standard weekend had become something else entirely in the blink of an eye.

My mind started racing with all my plans and commitments for the following week — reasons why I couldn’t be in the hospital. But sickle cell disease doesn’t care. In situations like this, it dictates and I follow, albeit begrudgingly.

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The crisis

I was curled up like an embryo on the floor of my flat for what felt like forever. My husband tried many times to get me to move somewhere more comfortable, but I just couldn’t. So I remained on the cold, hard floor.

Two hours and five follow-up phone calls later, the ambulance arrived. By this point, the pain had spread from my chest to my lower back, arms, legs, and left hip. Once the paramedics arrived, they were extremely helpful and administered entonox (a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen), which made me comfortable enough for them to carry me to the ambulance.

After that, I don’t remember much. I woke up in the emergency room, where the doctor treating me was also very helpful.

In the days that followed, I was moved to a makeshift emergency room in a corridor and then into other medical wards before a bed became available in the specialist hematology ward. I was there for about a week. My recovery was aided by intravenous fluids and antibiotics, subcutaneously administered oxycodone, and regular exercises with my incentive spirometer.

The cause

What on earth could have caused this?

I’ve been living a relaxed life the past few weeks. Besides work, I haven’t had much going on. This is because winter has hit here in the U.K., and cold weather is a major crisis trigger for me. So I’ve tried my best to take it easy in hopes that I can remain healthy. But despite my best efforts, there I was, suffering a sickle cell pain crisis.

After giving the medical team at the hospital a quick run-through of my past few days, we identified the cause fairly easily.

The previous day, I’d done my monthly errand of picking up my prescription medications. While there, the pharmacist noted that I hadn’t gotten my flu jab. I suggested that I book an appointment for the next time I came for my prescriptions, but the pharmacist had time available, so I got my flu shot then.

She pulled up my medical history and saw that I’d gotten a flu shot last year. Then she asked why I hadn’t gotten a COVID-19 vaccine in two years. I answered honestly: I had no idea I should’ve continued getting that vaccine. We decided she’d give me both jabs then.

Fast forward about 24 hours, and I was lying on my floor in agony.

My medical team was very angry that I’d gotten both vaccines at once. Admittedly, I hadn’t realized that it would be an issue. I wouldn’t expect a pharmacist who doesn’t specialize in hematology to be aware of this issue, either. If this kind of information were shared more readily with pharmacists, they could provide greater support for patients.

The lesson

Thankfully, I’ve since been discharged back home. I’m now fully recovered and have returned to work and normal life.

Moving forward, I will never again get two vaccines at once. I advise other sickle cell patients to learn from my mistake and always consult your medical team before getting any vaccinations.

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.