Shaniqua’s Sickle Chronicles
— Mary Shaniqua

I was recently invited to attend a pharmaceutical networking event that focused on sickle cell disease. The event was hosted by Black Pharma, a nonprofit organization that promotes greater representation of Black professionals across the pharmaceutical industry. It was co-organized by the Sickle Cell Society, a U.K.-based…

Sometimes when we patients talk about the stigmas associated with sickle cell disease, I don’t think people fully grasp what we mean. I’ve written about some of the negative connotations about sickle cell patients expressed by people in the healthcare sector and society in general. An overarching…

There is something that some people do that bothers me when I tell them for the first time that I have sickle cell disease. I’ll introduce sickle cell disease into the conversation, and they’ll respond by telling me that they knew someone who died from the disease. They usually…

For those who are unfamiliar with my previous columns, I often write about a recurring theme: the importance of preventive action in the management of sickle cell disease. I am a staunch advocate of identifying health risks and doing what I can to prevent them. I take my…

Last Friday was notable for two reasons: my most recent column was published, and I canceled a planned meeting with two friends at the last minute because of pain. That had me feeling quite deflated and annoyed because I’d made plans I couldn’t realize because of my…

I’m extremely passionate about raising awareness of sickle cell disease. That probably comes as no surprise, considering I have the condition and write a patient column focused on precisely that! Still, I like to imagine how greater awareness could improve our patient care and quality of life. It’s…

I recently suffered a sickle cell crisis while on a trip to Jamaica, which was particularly difficult because my partner was also ill. I was in an unfamiliar location, and the pain was far worse than usual. But I was prepared, I thought. A few years ago, I…

Is there a worse feeling than when someone you love is unwell and you can’t help them? Because I have sickle cell disease, my immune system is compromised. This means I can catch illnesses easily. When I do get sick, it can be disastrous. A typical cold or flu…

At the end of each year, it seems like everyone and their dog publishes a round-up on social media of all the wonderful things they experienced in the previous 12 months. It’s great, as I love hearing about the good that happens in people’s lives. Too often, we seem to…

It was the evening of Nov. 17. I’d finished work and was going about my usual evening activities when my mum called to catch up. She asked if I’d heard the news of an apparent cure for sickle cell. I hadn’t, so I asked her further questions — but…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with opioids and alternative forms of pain relief. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Unfortunately, as winter descends upon us here in the U.K., my chances of experiencing…

On Sunday, Oct. 29, daylight saving time ended here in the U.K., meaning we set our clocks back one hour. In the week leading up to this, we experienced a sudden drop in temperature. It’s still dark in the morning when I leave home, and now it’s dark again by…