Two of the most commonly known symptoms of sickle cell disease are a vaso-occlusive crisis (perhaps the best-known symptom) and fatigue. But others aren’t so well-known; in fact, I’d say most people aren’t aware…
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Traveling to cold climates with sickle cell disease can be daunting. Low temperatures can trigger a crisis, causing intense pain and discomfort. None of us want that. I recently returned from a…
Sometimes it’s important to dive right in and conquer your fears. In 2018 and 2019, I suffered two major health events: a pulmonary embolism and a severe sickle cell crisis, which happened…
In the wake of the British government announcing recently that it plans to cut its welfare budget by more than £5 billion ($6.5 billion), I’ve noticed a shocking number of comments in mainstream and…
The date was Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. It started like any other day. As I settled down to start working, I noticed I had a lot of messages, and more came in as the…
In a society that’s seemingly obsessed with sex and physical intimacy, you may be surprised to hear that there aren’t many resources available for those with chronic illness and physical limitations. So let’s talk…
Keeping with the theme of February, the month of love, I wanted to offer some practical tips for how to support a partner with sickle cell disease. The reality of living with a…
Because today is recognized as Valentine’s Day or “love day” across much of the globe, I want to explore the difficulties that can arise within romantic relationships when one partner has sickle cell…
Here’s a feeling that I’m certain other sickle cell disease patients relate to, and who knows, perhaps their carers do, too: It’s astounding how much sickle cell can change the body over time.
Sickle cell disease is highly misunderstood, and our patient community is acutely aware of this. One of the key lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey with this illness is the importance of…
I recently had my first blood transfusion of the year. It’s one of the most common treatments for sickle cell disease. Two types of transfusions are used to treat sickle cell patients:…
Sickle cell disease is a constant, annoying “companion” in my life. My list of grievances about the illness is never-ending, but one of the things I find most daunting is the disease’s unpredictable…
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