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1 week ago | 
buff.ly | Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
In honor of World Sickle Cell Day, held June 19, I would like to highlight some incredible U.K.-based organizations I’ve had the pleasure of working with recently. These groups are not only changing the narrative of what it means to live with sickle cell disease, but they’re also challenging stigmas and expanding perceptions about what those of us with the condition can achieve.
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1 month ago | 
sicklecellanemianews.com | Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
I’m a big advocate for giving myself time to recover after a sickle cell pain crisis. After my last crisis, however, I severely underestimated how long this process would take. It’s been two months now, and I’m finally able to return to everything I enjoy. I recognize myself again. Three days after the crisis, I recorded an audio journal entry to reflect on at a later date. I tend to forget the pain and feelings associated with a crisis, which makes it easier to move on.
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2 months 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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2 months 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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Mar 26, 2025 | 
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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Mar 20, 2025 | 
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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Mar 20, 2025 | 
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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Feb 28, 2025 | 
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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Feb 21, 2025 | 
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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Feb 17, 2025 | 
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.
