little wolf

I just saw something about sickle cell in the news thread... I was wondering if natives can have sickle cell.. The reason I ask this : once I had to go to the hospital ( back in early 80's) blood work was done on me and the lab tech put down sickle cell with a question mark. The doctor asked me if I had any black in me, as far as I know there isn't.. Now that I see this sickle cell awards thing here it makes me wonder.. If anyone knows please inform me.. I am in constant pain and I thought it had to do with the osteoarthritis, but my pain is a weird kind of pain..mean while I will look up sickle cell sites to investigate what I can..

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River Spirit

If you also have Black ancestry you could very well be predisposed to Sickle Cell Anemia.

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"The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name. They don't want to be known as a team that perpetuates racial stereotypes. From now on they're just going to be called the Indians." - Native Comedian Vaughn Eaglebear, Colville/Lakota

alamosaurus

Sickkle cell anemia is caused by a single codominant gene; it
does not follow the usual pattern of dominant / recessive. A
dominant trait is where the trait occurs if only one chromisome
in a chromisome pair carries the allele (gene) for the trait.
A recessive trait is where both chromisomes in a pair have to
carry the gene in order for the trait to appear. (Chromisomes
are strands of DNA in the nucleus of a cell that determine the
properties of the cell. They always occur in pairs; humans
have 23 pairs) If both the chromisomes in the chromisone pair
that carries the gene have the allele for sicke cell, the person
will have the severe--usually fatal (75%) form of the disease.
If only one of the chromisomes in that pair carries the allele,
the person will be mildly anemic--but will be immune to
falciperum malaria ("blackwater fever"), the most serious form
of malaria, which is usually fatal. There are several other
anemia-like conditions that behave the same way, e.g.
mediterranian anemia.

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alamosaurus

Blackbear

sickle cell is not african american exclusive but that's all I really know. I believe Mato or Ace knew more on this subject though... someone had posted more about this subject in another thread where someone had made a not so funny joke about sickle cell.

You said you t hought your pain was osteoarthritis but it's a wierd kinda pain, is this pain in the wrists and arms? If you answer is yes, go have yourself checked for carpal tunnel syndrome. Wierd pain was what had me get my wrists checked. If it's in the knees, just go get checked.

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little wolf

Yes I have pain in my arms but it's like I have did those dumb bell excercises and they are very sore. At times I do have pain in wrist and thumbs. Most of my pain is from lower back all the way down top my feet, mainley like flu aches, even the tops of my feet hurt! For past week it is difficult to even walk. Being in pain 24/7 has made me very frustrated and I find myself snapping at people for no reason. At the moment I have no health insurance but will have in October hopefully I can get extensive testing, if my doctor can write it up as no exsisting condition. Seems like no one understands what I'm going through, I get all depressed because I can't do things that I did a few months ago.. Oh well, thats all I caqn say about it now...

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hillofbeans

sickle cell occurs in peoples of equatorial origins, not just Africans. That means people in Central America, northern South America, and southern North America, too. So it is possible to have it even if you don't have any African heritage.

Have they investigated other possibities as well, like Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus, rheumatoid arthristis, etc.? Particularly the first two, if the pain is more recent? All these things could cause pain like you describe. Also pinched nerves (even if the "pinch" is in your neck it can send pain all over your body), nerve damage, bursitis, degenerative nerve diseases (like MS, MD, etc.).

If your doctor seems to be not believing you or not taking you seriously, I would get a second opinion.

little wolf

Thanks I just might have to find another one.

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