Everybody knows the feeling of being completely exhausted. Feeling tired sometimes is normal - but extreme tiredness could be a sign that something is wrong.
23.09.2023 - 20:43 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
An Oldham teen whose condition means she lives in constant pain relies on a hundred people a year to keep her alive.
Tiffany Salako was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia when she was just a baby – growing up with excruciating pain that affected her breathing and ability to walk.
The genetic disease, seen in about one in 2,000 births in England, sees the body produce red blood cells that are shaped like crescents or sickles.
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Signs and symptoms usually appear at the age of six-months-old and can include episodes of pain, anaemia, swelling of hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth or puberty and vision problems.
Tiffany, 17, remembers being in and out of hospital as a child with her hospital admissions becoming more frequent in her early teens.
During one crisis, her pain was so bad she was admitted to the High Dependency Unit.
At the age of 15, Tiffany was placed on the red cell exchange programme at Manchester Royal Infirmary – describing the treatment as “life-changing”.
Tiffany, who is studying A-Levels at Oldham Sixth Form College, said: “It has been hard to miss a lot of days just hanging out with my friends and missing school when I haven’t felt well. I had to do my GCSEs when I was on strong painkillers which was really tricky.
“The pain of a crisis could be terrible. I get pain in my legs and I struggle to walk. I have to spend a lot of time in bed, and I can’t eat. During the worst ones I couldn’t breathe. It’s frightening.
“But the blood exchanges have made such a difference to my life. Afterwards I feel good and any weakness is gone. I’m so much more active now. I still get pain sometimes, but I haven’t suffered a crisis or been admitted to hospital since. I can lead a normal
Everybody knows the feeling of being completely exhausted. Feeling tired sometimes is normal - but extreme tiredness could be a sign that something is wrong.
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