Thread by @the_beardedsina

Today is #WorldSickleCellAwarenessDay , A day to celebrate the Sickle Cell Warriors.

These are strong people who have been able to fight challenges

A lot of people don't know the challenges associated with having Sickle cell.
Let me share an in-depth explanation

Please read

Lot of problems of SS cells come because cells are sickled(like Banana), cannot bend like normal cells & end up dying quickly, they also get to block a lot of organs.
They get stuck, body destroys them.

The cells needed to carry Oxygen drops..at the long run the body suffers

PAIN

SS patients have a lot of pain from bone pain to body pain, this coupled with the fact that the sickled cells are blocking many organs.

triggers include stress, dehydration, infection. The cells break down release their contents & make the eyes get yellow called JAUNDICE

SKELETAL

Due to changes ,The skeleton changes a bit in SS.

They can have Teeth changes, Skull becomes protruded, lanky hand and legs. The blood to some bones like the femur of leg can be affected and they have fractures.

Bad Hand and foot pain and swelling can follow

CHEST

The SS cells can come together and form a clot. These clots can go and block the chest vessels (causing Pulmonary embolism), they develop difficulty breathing .

Fat from broken bones can also get to chest. When these happens some can die before getting to a hospital

HEART

SS can have Heart failure. The Heart starts to change to compensate, with time the heart cannot support all these changes.

Also SS cells can block the Heart and cause a Heart attack which can be very dangerous.

LIVER

With time Liver can get big, one of the reasons the Tummy gets protruded. Liver too is destroyed with time.

As blood is dropping, they need to get blood transfused a lot. If the blood is not well screened some can get Blood infections like Hepatitis B and many more

SPLEEN

The spleen is an organ that helps filter blood & fight infections SS cells get stuck in the spleen

The spleen is destroyed and starts to shrink. Because of this infections that the body should fight comes in because the spleen is bad

Reason SS needs special Vaccines

INTESTINES

A lot of iron in the system because the SS cells are all dying. The intestine cannot absorb all. Some of this iron can destroy the Liver, when they destroy the Pancreas, they can have Diabetes.

This iron can also destroy the Brain, Also terrible abdominal pain

URINARY AND PENIS

SS cells as they pass the kidney can destroy the kidney can lead to them needing Dialysis.

In Men, SS cells can go to the Penis and block the blood in Penis leading to erection staying hard and painful for Hours without coming down (This is called Priapism

BRAIN

SS cells can block blood vessels of the Brain. This causes stroke.

This is among the leading cause of stroke in Young people. brain controls the release of sex hormones, this part can be affected leading to SS becoming infertile & having slow development of sex organs

EYES

SS cells can block the eyes. This can cause blindness. New leaky blood vessels develop in the eyes which can burst with time.

SS Patients can bleed into the eyes which is very dangerous.

SKIN

When SS patients have wounds , it can be so difficult to heal. For wounds to heal, blood flow is necessary to wound.

For SS patients blood can be reduced to wounds, they can have Bad ulcers which can get infected.

Now this is just a few of some struggles people with Sickle cell can have, if not well managed.
You see why Sickle Cell warriors are unique.

Next time you have someone with a crisis, show empathy , show love, be supportive.
No one chooses to be born with SS BY THEMSELVES.

Some tips to help if you have SS
-Ensure you always have water with you
- Avoid stress
- Ensure you have your special vaccines
- Don't miss your clinic visits
- Try and use your routine medications
- Join an advocacy group and let your voice be heard