SCW: Dr. MD, it's a pleasure to meet you. Let's start from the beginning, how old were you when you found out you had sickle cell?
I was 4 yrs old. The doctors initially thought I had appendicitis.
SCW: I guess we all find this out at a young age. Your parents instilled in you that you can do anything you set your heart and mind to. Has this always been true?
Dr. MD: Pretty much. My parents raised me just like my siblings without sickle cell disease. Growing up in Nigeria, I used to be out of school for ~ 6 months out of the year. Yes, I has SSD but no excuses allowed. School was important and I was expected to catch up with my classmates. When I wasn't sick I had to do everything everyone else did: cleaned the house, washed clothes, cooked, fetched water. Sounds easy right, but it actually wasn't. Cleaning the house involved scrubbing the walls and floors, washing clothes was done by hand, no washer and dryer. Cooking involved grinding red hot peppers by hand, using grinding stones, my hands would sting for hours, because I was pretty bad at it. Fetching water, sometimes involved waking up at 'ole dark thirty', as in the crack before the crack of dawn, walking for ~ an hour or more each way, sometimes waiting for ~ two or three hours in long lines. Walking back home with a bucket full of water on my head, all before breakfast. All these things were my parents teaching me discipline.
SCW: Wow, that's really hardcore. My parents pretty much spoiled me rotten ;p. I had to do chores, but it was usually significantly less laborious than what my non-SSD siblings did. Moving along, what made you decide to become a doctor?
Dr. MD: I have always liked science, and was the geeky kid who would rather read the encyclopedia, than socialize. Don't get me wrong, I'm not antisocial! The human body intrigued me, plus I was always fascinated by people who were different; It was always easy for me to make friends with the 'outsiders' 'cos I felt like one.
SCW: What area of medicine do you practice in?
Dr. MD: I am an Obstetrician/Gynecologist
SCW: The life of a medical practitioner can be quite taxing, for our readers, could you describe a typical day?
Dr. MD: My typical work day starts at 8 am. I work 24 hour shifts covering several different areas. Clinic-seeing patients in the office. Labor and delivery- laboring patients, including performing cesarean sections. I also cover Triage (the emergency room), which may include anything from treating pregnant women with colds, to performing emergency surgery on a patient with an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the tube). Consults from inpatients and patient transfers from other hospitals also keep me pretty busy. My job involves being a compassionate, caring physician, being diplomatic, multitasking and fielding problems. It is highly stressful and requires a great deal of concentration. Honestly, I am not always the aforementioned descriptive, especially when achy, or exhausted. Patience, is not my strongest suit, I'm working on it!
I try to stay hydrated when working, eat healthy and take a ten or twenty minute power nap when I can. Sometimes I'm running for 24hrs straight 'cos so much is going on.
SCW: Amazing! You work for 24 hours non-stop? Unreal! Medical school presents a challenge to a sickle cell warrior. I know many of our compatriots have punked out of applying or going to medical school because of this challenge. How were you able to cope with medical school and sickle cell disease?
Dr. MD: Medical school classes started at 7.30am till about 6pm Monday through Friday. I was in the ER several times and had a few hospitalizations. I figured out I wasn't cut out to be a Pediatrician 'cos I would always catch whatever they had. My friends were pretty cool with my SSD, and would help me catch up with school work. The Residents and Attending physicians were also pretty nice and would make sure I was well taken care of.
Residency was different, I was now a real physician working 24-40 hr days. Not all colleagues were sympathetic to working extra hours to cover a sick doc. My friends came through by starting IVs in the call room or in my apartment when it wasn't too busy, or I was off. The nurses and anesthesiologists would give me pain meds sometimes, because I did not have a regular physician. Probably all illegal but hey they got me through.
SCW: It's fortunate that your classmates and colleagues were so supportive. I got the same support during nursing school. I think once you explain to people what you are dealing with, they 'get' it and help you work around sickle cell. Next question, how do you manage SCD and still maintain a thriving career?
Dr. MD: I'll say it's very challenging! Between work, port flushes and doctors appointments I feel like I have 2 full time jobs! When I come home from work in the morning, everything hurts. I usually would take Oxycodone + a muscle relaxant+ a heating pad for my legs and rest during the day if I can. I have a Gastroenterologist and a Hematologist/Oncologist that I see every few months- I keep my appointments, drink plenty of water, try to eat as much unprocessed food as I can, take my medicine, well most of the time, and try to get as much rest as I can. The last one is actually very hard, I'm an insomniac and sleep whenever I can, which is during the day when I'm not working. I work two or three 24 hour shifts a week.
SCW: Holy moly! 3-24 hour shifts! Now I can't complain after a 12-hour shift! You are really committed to your career. Thank you for sharing your regimen; I think we all have some level of insomnia. I wonder, has sickle cell limited any area of your life?
Dr. MD: Not really. I'm tired a lot of times because of my work schedule and taking narcotics, so I don't have a lot of time to socialize. I would like to be in a relationship with someone nice, who understands me and is considerate of my lifestyle. I'm hoping he's out there!
SCW: I know he's out there...we just have to find him! When you reach obstacles in your life, what helps you overcome it?
Dr. MD: Nine years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. Prayer, my friends, and family helped me through. My favorite sayings 'God never gives you more than you can handle' and 'When you are going through hell, keep on going' also give me the extra strength to keep on pushing.
SCW: Amen to that! The first quote is one of my favorite as well! I think it's so apt to our situation. I am just going to throw this next question in here, to prove to the skeptics that you are a sickle cell warrior just like they are. Do you have regular pain (more than 2x/wk)? How do you cope with this when you are working?
Dr. MD: YES. I am in pain EVERYDAY!!! My pain usually runs from a 3 to a 5 on a 10 pain scale. I do not and will not take narcotics when working, it's like driving drunk, so I just deal with it, or take Tramadol close to when I'm about to finish my shift, if it is really bad. Rarely if it is really, super bad; I'll take Toradol and have an IV started.
SCW: I completely understand what you mean. I take Motrin on the job when I'm in pain, and sometimes I am in more pain than my patients! What medications do you take when you are in pain?
Dr. MD: Oxycodone, Toradol, Tramadol
SCW: What is your daily medication regimen?
Dr. MD: Folic acid/2 GI meds for ulcers/Hydroxyurea/Cymbalta/Multivitamins
SCW: I see you are taking Hydroyurea. Personally I am not a fan, but I would like to understand your experience with Hydroxyurea; would you recommend it to someone else? Why or why not?
Dr. MD: In 2001, I developed Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, 6 months after starting Hydroxyurea (Now, I'm in compete remission). I do not know if the Hydroxyurea precipitated it, however my last hospital admission was in 2007. So I take it, because it works for me.
SCW: Thank you for sharing that. Looking at the 14 year old version of yourself what would you tell her if you could...
Dr. MD: I would tell my 14 year old self: life gets better ;-)
SCW: Hahaha, so true! I would tell my 14 year old self probably the same thing, and to avoid boys XYZ since they are heartbreakers...lol. Is there anything else you would like to tell sickle cell warriors?
Dr. MD: To my fellow sickle cell warriors-stay strong and remember God never gives us more than we can handle!
SCW: Thank you Dr. MD for doing this interview. It was an honor and pleasure to meet you. Wow...isn't she amazing! I told you she was inspiring! This spotlight series is brought to remind you that you can do anything you set your heart and mind to!
17 comments:
Lovely...
It gives us hope for the future.
i love your blog it is so uplifting. thanks :)
This is terrific. Thanks for doing the spotlight series.
I know this woman. She is amazing! She helped me have a different view of pain meeds.
Thanks for sharing your experience with me. I am 17 my dream is to become a doctor one day, and i always had doubts but you have inspired me and now i know nothing is beyond my reach its not goin to be easy but i'll make it through just lik you did. Thanks alot!!!
God is good. I needed to read that to give me that push!! I am a mother with scd and its a job in tself to take care of her but I'm sure God will work out me getting back in school being a great mother and wife one day a career woman too! I praise God everyday because in june it'll make a year I've been hospitalization free because of my faith in the lord!
I'm a nurse. I work in the ER. Just wanted let you know that your blog is amazing. I've learned so much just from reading the home page.
I am a sickle cell warrior too and ur blog is simply fantastic its like a narcotic not for pain relief but a hope supplement
I really like the information you provide, the information you provide is very helpful for others is no explanation of Understanding the symptoms and disease prevention Sickle Cell Anemia read here http://www.alternativemedicine1.com/2016/05/understanding-symptoms-and-disease.html
I really like the information you provide, the information you provide is very helpful for others is no explanation of Understanding the symptoms and disease prevention Sickle Cell Anemia read here http://www.alternativemedicine1.com/2016/05/understanding-symptoms-and-disease.html
Great blog all the best
Am Alex from USA,
There is a cure for Sickle Cell Disease,
My Son once had sickle cell Disease he was always sick every month, and his growth was also very slow. he his very intelligent in school and all his teachers loves him for that. when ever he is sick, I feel the whole world is falling on me.
I got the permanent cure from Dr Alegbe, for my son. He took the medication for good one month, and from then still now he does not get any fever again. and his body system is strong. he does not get sick easily. Dr Steve has really made me happy in life again. and I promise to tell the whole world about him. I never believed my Son can live long to this extent, but now his is living fine and healthy like the other kids. Now I believed Sickle cell Disease can be cured. any one with such issues can contact the Doctor on dralegbe@gmail.com
THERE IS A CURE TO SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, AM A LIVING TESTIMONY.
I write to you with great joy in my heart how Dr Alegbe John turned my life around. I was born a sickle cell patient through the gene- type of my parents and became a carrier which led to immense crises all through my growing up years. This particular ailment was called rheumatism, the pain of the bone which I was told was caused by difficult circulation of blood in the vein axis.
Growing up was like hell because apart from the pain and the fear of it, I also lived in bondage for years before Dr Alegbe intervention.
I was restricted from doing what my mates could do, there was a lot of don’t touch, don’t eat, don’t go, don’t wear by the doctor and I lived all through this period on drugs. I was made to know that without this pill, my life will would finally come to an end. It was total bondage.
During this period of pain, I would cry, shout, throw myself to the ground, destroy things I could find around me just because of restlessness the pain caused. My Dad got the contact of Dr Alegbe from the internet and he emailed him told him about me and made purchase from his product. I too the medication for one month and he always call to know how am feeling, that was how i was cured completely. any one can reach him On his gmail address at dralegbe@gmail.com
I stopped taking my drugs because Dr Alegbe John has made me completely cured, I no longer feel pain neither do I remember how it feels.
THERE IS A CURE TO SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, AM A LIVING TESTIMONY.
I write to you with great joy in my heart how Dr Alegbe John turned my life around. I was born a sickle cell patient through the gene- type of my parents and became a carrier which led to immense crises all through my growing up years. This particular ailment was called rheumatism, the pain of the bone which I was told was caused by difficult circulation of blood in the vein axis.
Growing up was like hell because apart from the pain and the fear of it, I also lived in bondage for years before Dr Alegbe intervention.
I was restricted from doing what my mates could do, there was a lot of don’t touch, don’t eat, don’t go, don’t wear by the doctor and I lived all through this period on drugs. I was made to know that without this pill, my life will would finally come to an end. It was total bondage.
During this period of pain, I would cry, shout, throw myself to the ground, destroy things I could find around me just because of restlessness the pain caused. My Dad got the contact of Dr Alegbe from the internet and he emailed him told him about me and made purchase from his product. I too the medication for one month and he always call to know how am feeling, that was how i was cured completely. any one can reach him On his gmail address at dralegbe@gmail.com
I stopped taking my drugs because Dr Alegbe John has made me completely cured, I no longer feel pain neither do I remember how it feels.
I am bold enough among many others to state that there is now a potent cure to this sickness but many are unaware of it. I discovered that I was infected with the virus 3 months ago, after a medical check-up. My doctor told me and I was shocked, confused and felt like my world has crumbled. I was dying slowly due to the announcement of my medical practitioner but he assured me that I could leave a normal life if I took my medications (as there was no medically known cure to Herpes). I went from churches to churches but soon found that my case needed urgent attention as I was growing lean due to fear of dying anytime soon. In a bid to look for a lasting solution to my predicament, I sought for solutions from the herbal world. I went online and searched for every powerful trado-medical practitioner that I could severe, cos I heard that the African Herbs had a cure to the Herpes syndrome. It was after a little time searching the web that I came across one Dr Itua(A powerful African Herbal Doctor), who offered to help me at a monetary fee. I had to comply as this was my final bus-stop to receiving a perfect healing. My last resolve was to take my life by myself, should this plan fail. At last it worked out well. He gave me some steps to follow and I meticulously carried out all his instructions. Last month, to be precise, I went back to the hospital to conduct another test and to my amazement, the results showed that negative,Dr Itua Can As Well Cure The Following Desease…Cancer,Hiv,Herpes, Hepatitis B,Liver Inflammatory,Diabetis,Fribroid,,Non Hodgkin Lymphoma,Skin Cancer,Uterine Cancer,Prostate Cancer Dercum,Infertility,fibromyalgia,Get Your Ex Back,Als,SYPHILLIS,Genetic disease,Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease..You can free yourself of this Herpes virus by consulting this great African Herbal Doctor via this e-mail: drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com or call and whatsapp him on +2348149277967 He will help you and his herb medication is sure. he has the cure on all disease .You can talk to me on INSTAGRAM..tashamoore219....
Hey Gina, I saw your comment about Dr. Onokun medication concerning Fibroid sometime ago and you were right, I tried it and it worked like magic for me. It was like hell living with FIBROID all this years until now, no more pains, bleeding and no miscarriage and I would've come with my testimony before now but I have to wait for a couple of months to see if it will regrow again but there's still no sign of fibroid, I also went to the hospital for test and still i was tested negative. All thanks to Dr. onokun and to you too Gina. And for anyone out there who wish to try can reach the doctor through Email: Dronokunherbalcure@gmail.com or WhatsApp +2349064844957
I was diagnosed as HEPATITIS B carrier in 2013 with fibrosis of the
liver already present. I started on antiviral medications which
reduced the viral load initially. After a couple of years the virus
became resistant. I started on HEPATITIS B Herbal treatment from
ULTIMATE LIFE CLINIC (www.ultimatelifeclinic.com) in March, 2020. Their
treatment totally reversed the virus. I did another blood test after
the 6 months long treatment and tested negative to the virus. Amazing
treatment! This treatment is a breakthrough for all HBV carriers.
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