As an adult, I’ve been privileged to have a small community of sickle cell patients that I can connect and share experiences with. As winter approaches here in the U.K., I’ve noticed on social media that many sickle cell patients are in the hospital. I empathize with them, because it…
Sickle Sagas — Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
Dunstan Nicol-Wilson is a clinical project manager from South East London, United Kingdom. Dunstan has his master’s in public health with a global health focus. Dunstan was diagnosed with the “invisible disorder” sickle cell disease from birth in 1993. He hopes that his column will raise awareness for this disease, encourage others to share their stories, and showcase all the ups and downs of living with a rare condition. Dunstan loves anime, cooking, and Manchester United.
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Communication is necessary for any relationship to form, whether it’s platonic or romantic. The more I experience different types of relationships, the more I realize how pivotal communication is in maintaining their health. One of the most challenging times for me to communicate is during a sickle cell disease…
In the animated TV series, “One Piece,” a skill called Kenbunshoku Haki lets its users glimpse into the future, allowing them to dodge bullets and punches, and in some instances, even evade death. I think that would be a great power to have…
I was recently on a panel with fellow Sickle Cell Disease News columnist Tito Oye and other sickle cell patients, as part of a sickle cell-focused episode for the YouTube channel Make It Common. It was an amazing experience to participate in this panel and discuss our health…
My therapist asked me, “What does it mean to you to be a ‘masculine man,’ and how does having sickle cell disease impact that meaning?” It’s a question I hadn’t fully considered before, but about the same time I came across a podcast titled, “Unlearn Everything,”…
I didn’t reveal that I had sickle cell disease when I started my first job here in the U.K. As a new college graduate, and with the odds stacked against me because I had no previous work experience, I didn’t want my health condition to also affect my employment…
The treatment Adakveo (crizanlizumab) has been made available in the U.K. as the first new therapy for sickle cell disease in over two decades. The aim of Adakveo, which will be available to patients 16 and older in England and Wales, is to reduce the number of sickle…
The pain from a sickle cell crisis is one of the most devastating things I have felt. It is unpredictable and can eat away at you physically, spiritually, and mentally. The normal response to severe pain is to cure it or ease it, which usually involves taking some type…
I was recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) in my knees. When the doctor called to tell me, I expected to be OK with it. I had read fellow Sickle Cell Disease News columnist Tito Oye’s column about AVN, felt similar symptoms, and conducted further research. I tend…
I often underestimate how much I have learned about sickle cell over the years. To live with a chronic condition, one must understand all the symptoms and side effects that come with it. However, these lessons aren’t freely given — there isn’t a handbook for living with sickle cell. I…
September always reminds me of preparing for a new school year. It’s been a while since I’ve had to do that, so I have long since fallen out of the habit. However, I have not forgotten the feeling of new stationary or shopping for things to take to college. One…
As August draws to a close, so does the end of summer. September brings a new season and a fresh start. It is also Sickle Cell Awareness Month — a time to get involved and spread knowledge about sickle cell disease. But as someone with the condition, I’m exposed…
The word “crisis” is probably the most accurate term for what happens when pain kicks in from sickle cell disease. The dictionary definition of a crisis is “a time of intense difficulty or danger,” and that’s exactly what happens during a sickle cell crisis. When I have one, it…
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