3 tips to reduce and manage sickle-ce... - Living with Sickl...

Living with Sickle Cell Disease

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3 tips to reduce and manage sickle-cell anaemia

Anzy profile image
Anzy
14 Replies

1. Meditation - It has saved my life many times over. Being able to reduce stress in my daily life and handle the pain when I am actually going through a crisis is only possible with meditation. I encourage everyone to at least try meditating, being able to be calm in stressful situations is a skill everyone should have.

2. Know your body - knowing what triggers a crisis, how to tell if you are about to get a crisis, or if you are coming down with an infection or virus is crucial sometimes it is all about timing and when you are planning something like a night out or a weekend away and your body hasn't been feeling too great you have to watch out for those signs so you can do preemptive measures as opposed to damage control.

3. Ask for help - sickle-cell is usually a solitary battle but having friends and family to lean on and ask for help can do wonders. Mentally and physically the disease is exceptionally draining and despite how much we want to be autonomous we can't do everything by ourselves we need to know when to ask for help, it doesn't mean we can't do it, it just means that sometimes two heads are better than one.

I hope that helped there are loads of tips I wish I could give like drinking plenty of alkaline water, dressing warmly, eating well but those are my top 3.

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Anzy profile image
Anzy
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14 Replies

Thanks for sharing!

UniquePassion24 profile image
UniquePassion24

I do this too but this does not away work sometime the SC just takes over and keeps getting worst. I have even passed out trying to get to my phone to call for help. idk what else I can do to try to keep it under control but I have just came to a conclusion that we can't control it we were made like this and it was meant to be like this in and out the hospital yearly always in crazy amounts of pain.

321Peace21 profile image
321Peace21

Great tips thank you. I have a few questions. What type of foods have gotten you through a crisis? Could someone with sickle cell problems use Icy Hot? Do heating pads really work for Sickle Cell crisis? Because sometimes they work for me and other Times my pain is worst.

Anzy profile image
Anzy in reply to 321Peace21

Good afternoon.

When I am having a crisis and right after, I have zero appetite which always makes it difficult to eat and I know I have to especially since I will be on strong medication. So I eat plain food to line my stomach, plain crackers, white rice sometimes I try light soup (pepper soup). I avoid oily and fatty food. I haven't had any luck with heating pads personally but maybe it is the brand. I prefer hot water bottles and I use an infra-red lamp, it's very good food deep bone pain. I also strongly recommend drinking alkaline water. I hope you get better. Stay strong.

321Peace21 profile image
321Peace21 in reply to Anzy

Thank you so much for your tips Anzy. I will definitely try these things. Where can you purchase a Alkaine water? Where can I find a infra-red lamp? Thanks. I hope you the best. God bless shalom.

Anzy profile image
Anzy

You are welcome. You can buy a jug (alkaline aire) that will filter tap water and it becomes ionised, from Amazon. You can also buy an infra-red lamp from your local pharmacy or Amazon as well.

321Peace21 profile image
321Peace21 in reply to Anzy

Thank you for all your help and information. Do you know if there are any reasonable oxygen tanks and where to find an oxygen tank?

Anzy profile image
Anzy in reply to 321Peace21

You are very welcome. Unfortunately when it comes to oxygen tanks I have no idea. My best guest would be to ask your GP or Doctor and they might be able to help you. I hope you find what you are looking for.

321Peace21 profile image
321Peace21 in reply to Anzy

Thank you

UniquePassion24 profile image
UniquePassion24

your 1 and 2 are my every thing because I don't have a supporting family or friends its just me and my son

321Peace21 profile image
321Peace21 in reply to UniquePassion24

Hang in there, UniquePassion keep strong. You have my support. God bless

Don't give up, you aren't alone.

Werise profile image
Werise

IRON and Minerals. The body and man made foods depleted of these natural earthly resources. This causes severe malfunctions within the hue mans body. Please anyone who uses these remedies please keep a Journal to share with the world. The same people are suffering this is not by coincidence.

Living-Life profile image
Living-Life

Anzy,

Hi hopefully you're doing well during this time. Just saw your post it said you wrote 1 yr., ago in regard to meditation. Would be very interested if you're willing to share with me how to go about learning how to meditate. Great to have something new and different to use to help calm and still ones body in such a different way other than using a pill to throw at our issue we can't get away from. Having something to utilize to help minimize this illness that can be extremely stressful for me especially while I'm providing full time care to our Mother(I have 3 living siblings) Mom is age 97 and has dementia, glaucoma and very poor hearing even(with aids). Needing a stress buster in the worst way. Blessings to you,

Living Life

Anzy profile image
Anzy in reply to Living-Life

Good afternoon,

I am so sorry that you are dealing with so much in your life, sending positive energy your way. But I'm glad that you are seeking ways to combat your stress levels. Meditation is especially important when it comes to minimising stress. It works like a charm for me. I was lucky enough to be taught by a Buddhist monk when I first learnt to meditate so now I'm proficient. In regards to learning there are so many different forms of meditation. As a beginner I would recommend guided meditation or maybe if you can go to a class. But if you can't find time to leave the house then apps and YouTube are great for this. I will put up a blog post on the different guided meditation sessions on YouTube that I have tried. Wishing you a good day.

Annabel.

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