Is my sickle cell acting up again?

[NisaInnit]

I am 16 and have been diagnosed with sickle cell traits at child birth already, I was born three months early and have had trouble with breathing. I had my first crisis at the age of 1 and another at 7 I haven't been experiencing that many problems but I am an athlete and recovering hurts a lot but lately my legs have been hurting quite a lot so much that it brings me tears and I have to take a strong pills. At first we all thought I broke my leg with the way it swelled up, but we went to A&E and they said it wasn't broken, They think I don't take in that much vitamin D with the way I described my problem. I am terrified of needles having bad experiences with them as a child currently I have been dodging the doctors needles but this pain is affecting my sports so I just want to get an opinion before I go take the needle.

[bluebug]

Unfortunately you are going to need blood tests to see what is wrong whether the problem is caused by sickle cell, vitamin D deficiency or something else.

The first step is to go your primary health care doctor and tell them your symptoms. Point out you were told you have a vitamin D issue but due to the fact you have sickle cell trait you may have problems with your blood cells. (If you are female you need your iron level checked for anaemia.) Ask the doctor to do all the tests at one time because you are scared of needles. As doctors do not take blood you will have to make another appointment.

Tell the person you make the appointment with you are taking someone with you. Then bring someone else to that appointment and clearly tell the nurse/phlebotomist you are scared of needles before you start. They are trained in taking blood including from people who are scared of needles.

Also if you do lots of sports you should have good veins so will be easy to take blood from as long as you are not dehydrated and/or having an actual crisis. So make sure you drink sufficient fluid the 24 hours before the test. Children especially babies have small veins and so are difficult to take blood from which is why it hurt when you were younger.

[NisaInnit in reply to bluebug]

Thank you

[gyamfi_girls]

Wow to have a crisis you would usually have full blown sickle cell. Were you tested for trait in the UK? Have you been tested for Sickle cell more recently? Because if you were originally diagnosed incorrectly you would have to be on daily medication and the hospital would have to see you more routinely as well as stronger pain medication when going to hospital. In the meantime please ensure you drink plenty of fluids.

[NisaInnit in reply to gyamfi_girls]

Yes, I was born in the UK and tested I haven't been tested recently but I'm planning to be