Sickle Cell Crisis

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? A "sickle (sih-kull) cell crisis" is when you have sickle cell anemia (uh-nee-mee-uh) and get an attack of pain. Everybody reacts to pain in different ways. What you think is painful may not be painful to someone else. But, pain is whatever you say it is! The pain can be sharp, dull or throbbing and an attack can last several hours to several days. A crisis is usually caused by a "trigger", or an event. The more often you have a sickle cell crisis, the more chances you have of long term damage in your body. With time, you and your caregiver may be able to understand what "triggers" cause you to have a sickle cell crisis.

Causes: Your red blood cells are normally round. With sickle cell anemia, a "trigger" like being stressed or getting too cold may cause a sickle cell crisis. During a crisis, your red blood cells let go of the oxygen they were carrying. This causes them to change shape like a sickle or a crescent-shaped moon. The sickled cells may clump together and block small blood vessels. This may slow or stop blood from getting to organs and areas of your body below the blockage. Also, your blood may become thicker causing it to flow slower. you may have pain and other symptoms when all these things happen.

Signs and Symptoms: You may have pain and swelling in your joints, arms, hands, legs, or feet. It may be hard for you to walk. Other signs may be chest, abdominal (belly), or back pain, trouble breathing, coughing, and pale skin color. You may also feel tired or weak, have a fever, nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting (throwing up). You may even have stroke symptoms like paralysis (not able to move), seizures, or trouble talking. This happens because the blood is having trouble getting to your brain.

Care: There is no cure for sickle cell anemia but the symptoms and crisis can be treated. Sometimes, you may be able to treat a sickle cell crisis at home by taking medicines. Other times you may need to stay in the hospital for treatment if you have a bad crisis. Your caregivers will treat you with medicines, oxygen, and IV liquids. Follow your caregiver's advice closely, or try the following to help prevent a new sickle cell crisis.

• Always try to travel in pressurized, commercial flights. Talk to caregivers about ways to help make it safer for you if you cannot avoid smaller aircraft. You may also need to avoid high altitudes, such as in the mountains.
  
  
• Do not take any medicines even ones you can buy in the drugstore, without talking to your caregiver first.
  
  
• Do regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming but not so much that you become really tired. Work with caregivers to plan an exercise program that will work with your own body. Do not do hard or strenuous exercise. Call your caregiver right away if you are injured.
  
  
• Drink 6 to 8 (soda-pop can size) glasses of liquid each day. Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine. These both cause your body to become dehydrated (too dry).
  
  
• Keep your body warm in the winter, and also in the summer when your are in air-conditioning. Try to avoid swimming in cold water.
  
  
• Make sure you or your child has shots (immunizations) to keep from getting the flu, pneumonia (new-moan-yuh), and other diseases. Call your caregiver right away if you get an infection.
  
  
• See your caregiver often if you are pregnant or if you are thinking about having a child.
  
  
• Stop smoking. If you are having trouble, ask caregivers for the CareNotes™ handout on how to stop smoking.
  
  
• Try to get any other illnesses in control such as diabetes.
  
  
• You may need to rest more and try to decrease or avoid stress.

Coping: You may feel scared, confused, and anxious because you have sickle cell anemia. You may blame yourself and think you have done something wrong. These feelings are common. Talk about them with your caregiver or with someone close to you. Ask your caregiver about support groups for people with sickle cell disease. Such a group can give you support and information. For more information about sickle cell anemia, write or call the following organizations.

• Sickle Cell Disease Association Of America
  231 East Baltimore St., Suite 800
  Baltimore, MD 21202
  Phone: 1-410-528-1555
  Phone: 1-800-421-8453
  Web Address: http://www.sicklecelldisease.org
  

• The Sickle Cell Information Center
  PO Box 109
  Atlanta, GA 30303-0109
  Grady Memorial Hospital
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: 1-404-616-3572
  Web Address: www.scinfo.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page