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…
Shaniqua’s Sickle Chronicles
— Mary Shaniqua
Mary Shaniqua is a sickle cell patient (HbSS) living in the United Kingdom. She was diagnosed with sickle cell at 18 months old and uses “Shaniqua’s Sickle Chronicles” to narrate her experiences, to educate healthcare professionals, as well as empower and embolden other sickle cell patients. Mary Shaniqua is committed to raising awareness of sickle cell and its impact, with an aim to educate non-haematological specialist healthcare workers and the general public more widely on the life of a sickle cell patient.
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Years ago, I mistook a pulmonary embolism for what I thought was a minor sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive pain crisis, a mistake that could easily have proved fatal. I promised myself afterward that I would never trivialize my symptoms again. As it turns out, that’s easier said than done.
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…
It’s no secret, especially for those who read this website, that one of the main symptoms of sickle cell disease is a vaso-occlusive crisis. When I say I’m experiencing one of those, what thoughts come to mind? I encounter varied types of crisis pain at varying severities. Based…
Why does everything have to be a fight? I ask this because the past few weeks have been frustratingly difficult for me. I recently had to drive to a different county to sort something out. On the way back, I got stuck in traffic. A drive that was supposed to…
In popular culture, self-care often seems to be equated with indulgence or luxury, such as spa visits, retail therapy, or fine dining. But I believe this perception is flawed, and that buying into it does people a disservice. Essentially, self-care involves looking after and prioritizing our physical, spiritual, mental, and…
As most of us know, sickle cell can be a debilitating disease. I’ve been diagnosed with it since I was 18 months old, yet it still causes me much pain, agony, and difficulty. I have trouble making plans, enjoying an active social life, and exercising, and it’s even…
It was a warm morning in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, early this year, and I’d just woken up. I rolled over, picked up my phone, and undertook my usual checks before proceeding with my day. While I was scrolling, my phone rang, and I recognized the number. It was my hospital…
In discussions about sickle cell disease, the term “sickle cell trait” is often bandied about. But what does it mean? Scientists have found that sickle cell trait originated as an evolutionary response to malaria, one of the deadliest illnesses in tropical regions. The trait offers natural protection…
Sickle cell disease is one of the most common serious genetic conditions affecting people in England, where I live. An estimated 15,000 people have the disease here in the U.K. According to the Sickle Cell Society, approximately 300 babies are born with sickle cell each year in…
Continuing the spirit of offering suggestions to make the healthcare experience more efficient for patients and the National Health Service (NHS) here in the U.K., I want to address the restrictions governing which hospitals ambulances can take patients to. My previous two columns have detailed how the need…
Many sickle cell patients spend a lot of time in the hospital. As inpatients, our symptoms are treated, and as outpatients, our lives are monitored to keep our condition as controlled as possible. However, frequent hospital visits can be highly disruptive and hinder our ability to maintain a…
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