My Blood Cells are Shaped like a Cresent Moon

Yes, I have Sickle Cell Anemia. That means my red blood cells are abnormally shaped, which can cause some issues. 

What is Sickle Cell Anemia? 

Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic disease that effects the red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to your organs and are circular in shape. But when you have sickle cell anemia, your red blood cells are a crescent shape like a sickle. This makes the cells sticky and rigid. They can sometimes interlock. 

When the cells get stuck in your blood vessel it prevents blood and oxygen from getting to other parts of your body. This can cause a lot of pain and sometimes cause damage. 

These abnormal cells deteriorate quickly meaning your bone marrow, that produces cells, is working overtime to try to keep your body healthy. 

Also due to deformed red blood cells, there is a severe lack of iron. This means someone with sickle cell anemia has a low energy level. 

What are the symptoms of the disease?

Fatigue and pain aren’t the only symptoms of the disease. “Sicklers”, as sickle cell patients are known as, have what is called a crisis. Crisis pain, or a crisis episode, is severe pain that can be managed with prescribed pain medication.

A crisis pain can happen on any part of the body, but more frequently the joints. Jaundice and swelling of the hands and feet are also symptoms of sickle cell disease. Frequent infections are another big symptom because our immune systems are weak. 

How does someone get diagnosed with sickle cell anemia?

Someone is typically diagnosed in infancy, usually between the ages of four to six months. Although, today, all newborns are screened for the disease. A blood test will show the deformity of the red blood cells. Both mother and father must have the sickle cell trait in their DNA and pass it along to their child. 

A child must have received both traits from each parent to have the disease. If a person simply has the trait (received from only one parent), they are considered “normal” and healthy and won’t experience any complications related to the sickle cell disease. A person who received both traits from each parent will be diagnosed with a particular version of the disease. 

What are the different types of the disease?

The two most common versions of the disease are SS and SC.

SS is considered the “full-blown” disease. This means you have the most serious type of the disease and will experience all symptoms in a severe form. 

SC is considered the “lesser-form” of the disease. That means someone is diagnosed with the disease but they are lucky enough experience little to no symptoms. If they do experience some symptoms it is less severe. They can go about their lives not having a crisis or experience very few boughts of fatigue.

What causes a crisis?

There are many causes for a sickle cell crisis. The most common causes are stress, illness, poor hydration, changes in temperature, and altitude. 

What complications can arise from sickle cell anemia?

Severe anemia due to deterioration of red blood cells. The average red blood cell can live 120 days. However the red blood cell of a “sickler” lives about 10 to 20 days. Spleen complications, neurological complications, eye problems, blood circulation problems, heart and lung disease or other heart and lung issues. 

What is the treatment protocol?

Hydration is key to improve circulation and prevent stickiness from deformed cells. Treating infections promptly with proper antibiotics because illness can lead to a crisis. Pain medication, either over the counter or prescribed by a doctor. Immunizations helps to prevent future illness. Oxygen treatment and blood transfusions. Blood transfusions and hydration are probably the most common. 

What are the at-home treatments?

Folic acid supplements, healthy diet (it’s difficult for “sicklers” to absorb nutrients so nutrition is important), drink your daily water intake (half your body weight), exercise, heating pad, medication (as suggested by your doctor), finding methods to de-stress, and getting lots of rest. 

I hope you found this informative. I know it’s a lot to take in. Similar to other diseases it can be very stressful to experience or to witness someone else go through it. But it’s important to remember to take it one day at a time.

As always, take care of yourself. 💗