Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

January 17, 2022January 17, 2022

I Don’t Need a Reminder of My Life Expectancy With Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

As a sickle cell advocate, a key skill I’ve had to learn is patience. I need patience to listen, to understand, and to let go of negativity. Early in my ... Read more

January 10, 2022January 10, 2022

My Goals for This Year’s Sickle Cell Journey

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

A new year often means a fresh start, with new goals, habits, and challenges. For the past few years, to help me better focus, I’ve been writing a list of ... Read more

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022

How I’m Prioritizing My Health in the New Year

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Happy New Year! It’s 2022, and my New Year’s resolution is the same as always: to experience and maintain good health. I’m not completely naive. I’m acutely aware of how ... Read more

January 3, 2022January 3, 2022

Taking Charge of My Healthcare During Routine Checkups

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

As part of the U.K.’s National Health Service, it is common practice for sickle cell disease patients to have routine checkups with their hematologist. These routine checkups include collecting blood ... Read more

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021

The Challenges of Using Opioids to Manage Crisis Pain

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

I have been experiencing a lot of pain lately due to sickle cell crises. I previously wrote that my crises have started to correlate with my menstrual cycle, but I’m ... Read more

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021

Learning How to Say No With Sickle Cell

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

At this stage in life, I know my body pretty well. I’ve gotten better at avoiding my triggers, which means I have fewer sickle cell crises than I used to. ... Read more

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021

The Tough Spanish Sickle Cell Lesson

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Once a sickle cell crisis surpasses my manageable pain threshold, it sadly becomes time for me to go to the hospital. Hospitalizations always fill me with despair and anxiety due ... Read more

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

How I Try to Avoid a Cold Weather Pain Crisis

COVID-19 Columns, Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Winter has finally arrived here in the U.K.  I really dislike the winter, in case you didn’t know. One of my biggest sickle cell disease crisis triggers is cold weather. Although ... Read more

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

Tips for Preventing a Sickle Cell Crisis While Traveling

COVID-19 Columns, Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Traveling is one of my greatest passions. I enjoy seeing new things and immersing myself in different cultures, especially through local cuisines. Living with sickle cell disease means I have ... Read more

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021

‘No One’s Listening’ to Sickle Cell Patients, and That Must Change

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

The results of a government inquiry tasked with investigating the failures of sickle cell care in the U.K., published in a report titled “No One’s Listening,” reveal evidence of substandard ... Read more

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021

Will Sickle Cell Inquiry in UK Improve Patient Care?

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Last Monday, I awoke to a flurry of comments about the results of a landmark sickle cell inquiry here in the U.K. that uncovered evidence of racism in sickle cell ... Read more

November 15, 2021November 15, 2021

Finding a Balance Between Supporting Others and Protecting My Health

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

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., ... Read more

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021

I Want to Get Better at Predicting a Sickle Cell Crisis

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

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, ... Read more

November 5, 2021November 5, 2021

The Relationship Between My Menstrual Cycle and Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

I wrote about feeling unwell without any apparent cause in September, and then again last month. So, guess what? I was recently sick again. But in my quest for silver ... Read more

November 3, 2021November 3, 2021

Advice From Older Generations of Sickle Cell Patients Gives Me Hope

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Previously, I’d never been in a room with more than five sickle cell warriors at a time, and those I’ve met have always been about the same age as me. ... Read more