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2 weeks ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Mary Shaniqua |Sylvia Amuta |Patricia Inacio |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
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 trip to chilly Switzerland, and preparing for the cold was crucial to ensuring my health stayed stable and my experience was enjoyable. With adequate, albeit 11th-hour, planning, I was able to enjoy the trip without suffering any sickle cell symptoms.
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3 weeks ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Dunstan Nicol-Wilson |Steve Bryson |Mary Shaniqua |Sylvia Amuta
I recently had a severe sickle cell pain crisis that forced me to go to the hospital for stronger medication than what I had at home. For the record, it’s been three years since that happened. Up until that point, all of my crises had been manageable at home. After recovering from a crisis of this severity, I often experience amnesia about the events — as if they were so traumatic that I have to forget them to move forward.
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1 month ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Oluwatosin Adesoye |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
As I look back on my two-year journey as a sickle cell disease columnist for Bionews, the parent company of this website, I’m struck by how much I’ve grown and evolved. In fact, I’m extremely proud. It all began in late 2022, when I stumbled upon a job posting on LinkedIn that sought a columnist to write about sickle cell disease.
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1 month ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Margarida Maia |Oluwatosin Adesoye |Mary Shaniqua |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
People with sickle cell disease (SCD) who are hospitalized for opioid overdose have fewer serious complications than those without the condition, but face longer hospital stays, higher costs, and unique healthcare challenges that require specialized care, a study found. “A multidisciplinary approach to pain management, tailored to individual patient needs and aligned with established guidelines, is crucial for improving outcomes and reducing complications in SCD,” they wrote.
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1 month ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Oluwatosin Adesoye |Sylvia Amuta |Mary Shaniqua |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how living with sickle cell disease has affected many of my dreams, goals, and lifestyle choices. Despite the changes, I have continued to dream and pursue my aspirations successfully. The impact of sickle cell disease intensified for me during my early 20s. As a result, my journey through medical school became more stressful than anticipated, transforming it into a story of resilience, determination, and persistence.
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1 month ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Mary Shaniqua |Hawken Miller |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
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 about it.
Sickle cell disease is one of many conditions that can affect physical intimacy.
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2 months ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Mary Shaniqua |Oluwatosin Adesoye |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
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 chronic illness is that things may not always go well, as the condition can be unpredictable. Maintaining a romantic relationship with a sickle cell patient means your love must withstand the not-so-great times. So what should you do upon learning that your partner has sickle cell disease?
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2 months ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Dunstan Nicol-Wilson |Oluwatosin Adesoye |Mary Shaniqua
Living with sickle cell disease comes with challenges, such as pain crises that can set a patient back days, weeks, or even months. The mental and physical toll can be immense. Because February is often associated with love, I’ve been reflecting on how facing setbacks with sickle cell can affect romantic relationships. At the start of a new relationship, those of us with the condition must decide if and when to tell our romantic interest that we have sickle cell.
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2 months ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Mary Shaniqua |Oluwatosin Adesoye |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
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 disease. (Fun fact: Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrate Saint Valentine on July 6 and July 30 — so now you have an excuse for two additional Valentine’s celebrations!)Sickle cell disease can often cause intense pain, sickle cell crises, frequent hospitalizations, and chronic fatigue.
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2 months ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Mary Shaniqua |Andrea Lobo |Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
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. I know I say it often, but honestly, it feels like the disease has its own brain, distinct from the one in my body, and seeks to find ways to morph once it’s had the chance to study me. That must sound absolutely ludicrous to people without the illness or those without a detailed understanding of it.
