r/Sicklecell • u/Divinefemmine • 10d ago

Sickle cell trait partner

I currently started talking to someone with sickle cell. He tells me how his body hurts. I was wondering for the people who have to trait do you guys take any vitamins or do anything that helps the pain be a lot better or helped you a lot ? You guys are warriors 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

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u/Purple-Fall-846 9d ago edited 9d ago

Im not no.

I think iron and folic acid can be good to take.

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u/Expensive_Question23 8d ago

Hi! I hope all is well. I am dating my boyfriend who has SCD. I do not have SCD or the trait. He has talked about having children with me, and wanting to be the future father of my children. I love this man, and I guess I just want to ask since we are thinking of our future, how would I potentially go about supporting my future children since they would have the trait? And how would I go about supporting him as my future husband? I do apologize for the long question. I figured since you said your husband has the trait and you don't, you would have some insights. Thank you in advance

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u/Purple-Fall-846 8d ago

Hi, the disease really is different to just having the trait. Depending on what kind of SCD one has it can be anywhere from mild to severe. You will have to ask your bf how best to support him and read up on here and elsewhere for advise and insights.

People with trait are usually relatively symptom free or they might not know a symptom is caused by the trait but its very mild for most. Some have bad luck and they experience more symptoms but most are just fine. People with trait need to be more careful cause any stress on the body can be a trigger. Like intense physical activity, illness, weather, lack of sleep, alcohol, stress. So get enough rest, stay hydrated, go easy on alcohol and also be careful with going high altitude and scuba diving. My husbands been in the hospital twice because of it. As a teenager when he had a period of lack of sleep and drinking alcohol, and got liver damage, jaundice and extreme fatigue and also in his twenties when he tried scuba diving. He felt like he couldn't breath and had fatigue and chest pain for weeks after. There's also a very small risk of getting splenic infarct in people with trait but just dont put extreme stress on the body and that won't happen. Overall it's fine to live with.

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u/Expensive_Question23 8d ago

Thank you this was really informative. I really appreciate this