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Sickle cell is a pain
That hurts a lot
Once it made me wonder
If it will ever go away.
My mum is my caretaker
As you should know
She provides food and water
So we can be healthy.
When I feel pain
And we need to go out
She makes us stay
So that I can rest.
When it comes to me and her
We have each others back
When she is ill
I try my best to repay her.
(A poem by Daniel Adeniran, aged 10)
As I have stated ad infinitum, even twins with the same sickle cell genealogy present differently. In the past, patients with Sickle Cell Disorder would often have worsening health problems as they got older, and would frequently die early, but there were still exceptions to this rule. In the past also, some people with SCD will experience little or no morbidity and live till a relatively old age.
Now – currently there is a lot of amazing research taking place across the globe especially in USA to understand SCD better, and prolong longevity. Again, even in Africa and Nigeria in particular, some drugs are being developed(medical ethics does not permit me to name them), that are helping Nigerians with SCD.
The success of hydroxyurea therapy has ensured that Sickle Cell does not worsen with age, by ensuring improvement in quality of life.
Does living with Sickle Cell beyond 60/70 years of age, exacerbate the documented physical and mental health challenges associated with the twilight years.
In early published works of Science in Sickle Cell Disorder, it was stated that, outside childhood episodes, most national median life expectancy of 42 to 47 years, were the peaks in which a person with SCD will reach before facing, challenges, including, severe pain episodes, stroke and organ damage.
However, nowadays with improved medical research and care giving, a new report published online in “Blood “- The Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), shows that some SCDs may live as long as 60, 70, 80 years with minimal symptoms. So those ages attained, according to the report were not the twilight of their years.
For those with SCD, that have lived beyond 60, 70 & 80, there were certain factors that contributed to their longevity as published by ASH, which include :
1. Proper management of SCD, including strong family support and strict adherence to medication and appointments.
2. Lifestyle modifications after 40, also helped improve their morbidity.
3. Being a non-smoker, consuming little to no alcohol and maintaining normal Body Mass Index (BMI).
4. SCD warriors who live beyond 70, hardly experience stroke, recurrent acute chest syndrome, and very infrequent painful crisis At the end of the publication it was stated that those SCD warriors who have lived beyond 60, should serve as positive examples for SCD warriors of all ages. That, if they take care of themselves by following some of the examples enumerated above, that, there is hope for all young SCD warriors to attain their God allotted ages and full lives.
How does a Sickle Cell warrior advancing in years avoid the turmoil of old age coupled with SCD?
The theory of self care is advocated for SCD warriors advancing in years to avoid turmoil. Self care is advocated as follows
• Assertiveness – always stating any morbidity for immediate remedy.
• Self afficacy – always taking your medication and consulting your doctors at the slightest inconvenience.
• Self care ability, self care actions and communication skills to avoid being misunderstood by health care givers.
• Coping behavior, social support, for physical and mental stability. All these will the SCD warriors advancing in years do, to avoid the turmoil and morbidity of old age.
Always be medically guided
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