Daily Living With Sickle Cell Sickle Cell Blog

Blood Exchange & I Some years ago, I was going for surgery and had to have blood exchange before surgery.  Blood exchange was something that I had never had at that time, and I was intrigued about the whole process, and wanted to write about my experience.  I realise that …

Drink Water The reason why it is important to get enough water every day is because of your health.  Drinking water can prevent dehydration, it can also prevent your body to overheat, or lead to constipation and kidney stones. Water has no calories so it can help with managing your …

Sickle cell disease (SCD), is a genetic disorder, where the red blood cells become rigid and stick together and change from being disc-shape to crescent-shaped (like a sickle). The change in shape is cause by the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin, this is the protein in the blood …

A lot of people living with Sickle cell deal with discrimination in these essential areas of their lives.  Housing, employment, education, and healthcare.  Let’s have a look at what discrimination is. Discrimination is the act of being treated unfairly due to specific personal characteristics.  These characteristics, are protected under various …

Sickle cell disease (SCD) changes the shape of red blood cells. It causes pain episodes, renal complications, asthma, stroke and other conditions. Promising new treatments, called genetic therapies, are being studied to make sure that they are safe and effective. Genetic therapies could offer a potential cure for SCD. The …

I get asked a lot of questions about what and what not of Sickle cell and today, I have decided to enlighten us more. Did you know:- The sickle shaped red blood cell is named after a farmer’s tool called a sickle that is used to cut grass and hay.  …

Not too long ago, I attended a clinician and patients’ event for people living with Sickle cell.  I came away realising that deep down, a lot of people living with Sickle cell are not happy.  I could relate to everything being said by other patients. I believe what depresses one …

People with blood disorders face challenges in maintaining their physical health as they age. Sickle cell disease has well-documented complications in various organ systems. Increasingly, professionals, consumers, and advocates involved in blood disorders are concerned about the cumulative and ongoing effect of organ-specifıc complications on function and participation. Mobility impairment …

Sickle cell anaemia is a serious inherited blood disorder where the red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, develop abnormally. The disorder mainly affects people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Eastern Mediterranean and Asian origin.  Normal red blood cells are flexible and disc-shaped, but in sickle cell anaemia they can can become …

Sickle cell retinopathy is a complication of sickle cell disease. It occurs when sickle cell disease causes blockage of the blood vessels in the retina a layer of tissue that senses light and sends images to your brain, and choroid, a thin layer of tissue that is part of the middle …