(source : Rige)
MC Raw in hospital
06-02-2002

Last week MC Raw was urgently submitted in the hospital because he was unable to walk after heavy pains in his legs. In the hospital they checked his blood and found out he has a serious rare blooddecease (Sickle Cell). After a full bloodtransfusion he was feeling a bit better but the doctor had to give him heavy painkillers. This sickness is very serious, there is not enough oxygen in the blood for the body to function properly. He has to take a full rest and take it easy and he is under strict supervision of his local hospital. In case you would like to know more about Sickle Cell go to 'news' on http://www.rige.net You can send a mail to Ricky (MC Raw) to wtf@rige.net

What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle Cell is an inherited blood disease that can cause episodes of severe pain, damage to vital organs and can lead to early death.It results from a defective protein inside the red blood cells called hemoglobin.. Hemoglobin in the red blood cells carries oxygen from the lungs and takes it to every part of the body. While a normal red blood cell is highly flexible disk, a sickled red blood cell is rigid and irregularly shaped. These irregular inflexible sickled red blood cells create blockages in the circulatory system that prevent the normal flow of oxygen to tissues.

What causes the severe Pain with Sickle Cell?
Living tissue requires oxygen which is delivered by red blood cells. When red blood cells become sickled, they create obstructions within tiny blood vessels. These blockages cut off oxygen delivery by red blood cells and tissues become oxygen starved and begin to die. The resulting pain is excruciating (similar to a severe heart attack) and can become so great that injectable pain killing drugs are used to manage the painful ''crisis'' (however this does nothing for the damage associated with the oxygen starvation). Sickled cells tend to become trapped and destroyed in the liver and in the spleen. This results in a shortage of red blood cells, or anemia, which, when severe, can cause an affected person to be pale, short of breath and tire easily. Certain conditions, such as enlargement of the spleen and infections, may worsen the anemia by speeding up destruction of red blood cells. Infections also can reduce red blood cell production.

Dealing With Sickle Cell Disease
Individuals with sickle cell disease follow a daily regime of prophylactic penicillin as part of self-care. The disease affects many parts of the body, but does not affect all people in the same way or with the same severity. Nor does it affect a person the same way during different stages of life. The intensity of a pain ''crisis'' ranges from annoying to excruciating that usually last a few days, but may last for weeks. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, it can have a strong emotional and psychological impact on people who have sickle cell disease and their families. At a young age, children sometimes live with severe pain, family separation due to hospital stays. Infants and young children with sickle cell disease are especially vulnerable to severe bacterial infections, such as those that cause meningitis and blood infections (septicemia). Infections are the main cause of death in children with sickle cell disease. However, early diagnosis (newborn testing) and treatment reduces the risk of infections and death. More information : http://sdcda.tripod.com/sickl.htm

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