C TRAIT

[JESA200]

My son has Ctrait and was diagnosed when he was a baby, he's 17 now and I'm just wondering if there is anything I should now ? I was just told he would need extra oxygen if he ever needs an operation ?

[pari5]

Hello love, does he have asthma or breathing problems? I've had past small surgeries and did extremely well. I pray he will the same if he has too.

[JESA200 in reply to pari5]

thankfully no asthma !! generally well which is good.

[321Peace21]

Hey Jessica20, well yes true he will need extra oxygen during surgery because people with sickle cell trait don't have a enough normal red blood cells. I would say the things to know about Sickle cell Trait can have symptoms and some people are more symptomatic than,others with trait. If you see your son having any pain make sure to inform the doctors etc. Here are some things I experienced with Sickle Trait bad chest pain and low hemoglobin, inflammation in different puts of my body, legs and chest. Here are some other things to beware of with sickle trait are more come to experience hematuria than those with disease. Hematuria is when red blood cells appear in urine. Here are to good websites that inform you about hematuria,

cdc.gov.org. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.org talks about hematuria in 24 year-old black woman. Last but not least beware of flying on planes with sickle cell trait did could cause and trigger sickle cell crisis because it is high up in sky and the altitude is high also. This one reason I don't fly but drive to close surrounding states. If your son travels to an state where altitude is high makes sure he drinks a lot of water and eat foods/drinks like strawberries are really good for sickle cell and beets, carrot juice helped me a lot when I was traveling to an high altitude and I didn't have crisis because I ate these foods. Oh and not to much sodas and energy drinks because theses drinks slow down body and not good for sickle cell trait. I hope this info helps your son. Take care💯

[JESA200 in reply to 321Peace21]

Thank you so much for this information x

[321Peace21 in reply to JESA200]

You are very welcome Jesa20! God be with you.

[Kel2008]

I would say dont listen to those "health professionals" that say Sickle Cell Trait is nothing to worry you dont get any symptoms etc etc.

One thing that I know for certain Sickle Cell Trait contributes to joint pain, when I was a child I would always get pain in my knees and my hands & fingers sometimes It would feel like I was experiencing a electric shock in my hands. My mom would take me to the G.P but couldnt find what was wrong.

The pain and swelling in my knees are not as regular now, maybe once or twice a year.

My son, was diagnosed with the trait as he grew older loved sports, but also found he grew tired quickly and also suffered alot with joint pain. And couldnt move for days.

So what I would say, to be on alert for any tiredness and joint pain. As those are really the two main indicators that I have experienced.

[JESA200 in reply to Kel2008]

Thank you that's really helpful kel2008