Following the video below where I noticed my face had dropped - because my right side was moving, it felt like my right side was abnormal, as my left side was paralysed, hence stating in panic that my right side had dropped.

They say it was ?Bells Palsy/?Mini Stroke.

I also still have the associated limb weakness to this day -  1st February 2021, which I had been complaining about since June 2020.  This is a symptom of strokes.

I had an electromyography (E.M.G) test on my right side, as my right side limbs are still not functioning properly today 02.02.21, regardless of what the medics seem to believe at present. 

I know I had a mini stroke!

I am in tune with my body and I had been going mentally blank, forgetting my train of thought when talking to people and forgetting everything I was in the middle of doing, including how to do my job whilst working from my home office. 

Strokes are common in my family, on my Mother's side and silent strokes and strokes are a common complication of sickle cell anaemia and I have presented as if I have the full blown disorder ever since the age of 5 years old.

I am still being ignored and fobbed off by the doctors when I mention I am a symptomatic carrier, even though following surgery and anaesthetic.

I ended up suffering yet another severe crisis in 2019, just a few hours after being exposed to the cold air on the ward, despite my asking for extra blankets.

I took photos of using both mine and my mum's puffer coats to keep warm, because my body felt like ice water was running through my veins. That's another story, for another day!

Strokes, are a 'warning' for us with the trait, but it doesn't mention them being a risk at all in all textbook guidelines, which I have read out there!

You are at a higher risk if it runs in the family though.  My uncle has just passed away following a stroke back home in Zambia (Jan 2021), my maternal grandfather suffered two strokes, but survived them and lived until he was 101 years old, after fully recovering and my mum's big sister has still got a facial droop following stroke, living with a stent and having undergone rehab a number of years ago. 

So if you're a carrier please take note of any symptoms you may have indicating early warning signs and keep pushing for yourself to be seen and heard! 

***Grab your copy of my book here and find out what you NEED to know and how to push for the tests you Require and empower yourself by understanding the specific triggers, warning signs and symptoms going into crisis.***

E-Book COMING SOON!***

So these are some of my videos taken and posted to spread awareness on YouTube last year, when I could actually function. 

The photos are of  when I was admitted to hospital after being taken to A&E by ambulance or just before and after, whilst symptoms began getting much worse than they had been earlier on in the year. 

I share these not for sympathy, I hate showing myself looking like this, it isn't pretty, but sickle cell trait is not pretty at all.

Even if you  are not  a symptomatic carrier, it does not mean there is not a possiblity of you ever experiencing these complications. 

There is every possiblity that one day you might have symptoms,  especially under specific circumstances, because so long as there is a percentage of abnormal haemoglobin in your blood, there is always a risk to your health. 

I share because it might just save someone else's life and make the medical world more vigilant in recognising us who are symptomatic as having a very real condition.

I hope that funding for better treatment and easier accessibility and acknowledgement of this potentially life threatening condition is provided one day soon for those of us who present with symptoms, but are only deemed 'carriers'!