Ben Ephson: I’ve been a “sickler” for 45 years

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kakadika 12 years ago

Ben, u dont look like one of d sss patients. kudos 4 taking your medication religiously, this is a timely advice 2 all sss carriers.

Ben, u dont look like one of d sss patients. kudos 4 taking your medication religiously, this is a timely advice 2 all sss carriers.
NANA IS USING BAWUMIA 12 years ago

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS. I AM SURE THOSE IN SIMILAR CONDITION WOULD TAKE THESE CUES SERIOUSLY TO HELP THEM LIVE COMFORTABLE LIVES.

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS. I AM SURE THOSE IN SIMILAR CONDITION WOULD TAKE THESE CUES SERIOUSLY TO HELP THEM LIVE COMFORTABLE LIVES.
YUPYUP 12 years ago

the Heading of the article wrongly suggests that Ben Ephson is 45 yrs......such poor communications tend pop up too often in PEACE FM's reportages........why?.....

the Heading of the article wrongly suggests that Ben Ephson is 45 yrs......such poor communications tend pop up too often in PEACE FM's reportages........why?.....
1st STRIKE! 12 years ago

I felt the same way! The sickle-cell trait is a genetic disorder that's passed on to the child, by either or both parents when he or she is being "choreographed" in the womb! The carrier is therefore born with it hence it' ...
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I felt the same way! The sickle-cell trait is a genetic disorder that's passed on to the child, by either or both parents when he or she is being "choreographed" in the womb! The carrier is therefore born with it hence it's fair to say that the "disease" is just as old as the "sick"!
The article above therefore indicates that Ben Ephson is 45----and that's misleading!
Kent Village 12 years ago

I was wondering where Mr Ben Ephson got his facts about sicklemia from.It looks he does not know the difference between a patient with AS and that of a patient with SS traits.Despite the fact that we sympathise with his situa ...
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I was wondering where Mr Ben Ephson got his facts about sicklemia from.It looks he does not know the difference between a patient with AS and that of a patient with SS traits.Despite the fact that we sympathise with his situation, we are expecting him not to mislead the public about this disease.
Sickle cell trait provides a survival advantage over people with normal hemoglobin in regions where malaria is endemic. Although the precise mechanism for this phenomenon is not known, a several factors are believed to be responsible.

* Infected erythrocytes (Red Blood cells) tend to have lower oxygen tension, because it is significantly reduced by the parasite. This causes sickling of that particular erythrocyte, signalling the phagocytes to get rid of the cell and hence the parasite within.
* Since the sickling of parasite infected cells is higher, these selectively get removed by the reticulo-endothelial system, thus sparing the normal erythrocytes.
* Excessive vacuole formation occurs in those parasites infecting sickle cells.
* Sickle trait erythrocytes produce higher levels of the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide than do normal erythrocytes, both are toxic to malarial parasites.
Osei 12 years ago

He either lied or was misunderstood about the causes of sickle cell. It is known to be caused by a replacement of glutamic acid by valine which changes the structure and function of the the Red Blood cell. This is a genetic m ...
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He either lied or was misunderstood about the causes of sickle cell. It is known to be caused by a replacement of glutamic acid by valine which changes the structure and function of the the Red Blood cell. This is a genetic mutation which has been realised at malaria endemic regions. I think he was trying to say that people with this disease should not indulge in alcoholism and etc.. Lets also note the fact that people with the sickle cell trait such as AS can also have the crises.
alex 12 years ago

Kent Village, you're right but did you write for Medical Students most of whom already know this 'stuff' or for the average person? If it is meant for the average person please come again with a 'user-friendly' version of you ...
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Kent Village, you're right but did you write for Medical Students most of whom already know this 'stuff' or for the average person? If it is meant for the average person please come again with a 'user-friendly' version of your piece. Too many unexplained scientific terms
Nyansasem 12 years ago

I was going to tell him to shut up and stop misleading the general public but yours was medical jargon.

Sickle cell patients being labelled in Ghana as "sicklers" is even wrong. That label came from doctors who were not kn ...
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I was going to tell him to shut up and stop misleading the general public but yours was medical jargon.

Sickle cell patients being labelled in Ghana as "sicklers" is even wrong. That label came from doctors who were not knowledgeable about the disease 3 or 4 decades ago. And at that time, they used to diagnose them as- Rheumatic patients.

In short, when you are child to 5 years, you experience a lot of infection and therefore might need pneumococcal vaccine and hydroxyuria in your adult years. The rest is pain medication for the crisis. Some doctors might give you folic acid to beef up your blood cells but the most important thing is prevention and that has got nothing to with having sex or "womanizing" By the way, womanizing is no gooooooood for anyone anyway.

For prevention, and this is for laymen to understand, since this has got more to do with "less" of hemoglobin- or say anemic, it is important to think of everything that you do that requires more of OXYGEN or causes you to lose water (become dehydrated) This is something most doctors don't even tell their patients. For example,

-If you exercise extremely, since you are losing more oxygen, you will have crisis. AS- trait folks are known to be better runners or athletes. But SS folks are not, and therefore need to be careful. Teachers have to ask their students about this before asking them to take that PE courses or running around the field.

-Have you heard a cell patient who went to swimming and had crisis- your guess is obvious, low oxygen while under the water and always struggling to breathe can trigger the crisis.

While walking in the rain coming home for 30mins or 1 hour- the same thing. don't make mistake thinking that air is made up of ALL oxygen. Many people non-science people even equate the AIR to OXYGEN; WRONG. Actually we have more nitrogen (78%) than Oxygen (21%) in the air. And when it rains, the oxygen becomes lesser. I can't go into body mechanism for the layman- but it means if you walk in the rain, you are not getting a lot of oxygen and this can trigger crisis.

For alcohol, he is right because alcohol is anti-diuretic- meaning, it causes you to pee a lot. Have you seen those drunkards peeing where it says - don't urinate-. And that causes dehydration. That is the reason why alcohol is not good for sickle cell. I could have gone into ADH hormone or lactic acid but it would not help any lay man.

In all, for sickle cell patients, your best bet is conserving "water" (hydration) and Oxygen in the body- and that is drink more water or fluids, and don't do anything that will require you to lose oxygen. Take enough rest and learn to relax.
Kweku 12 years ago

Although Ben got some of his facts wrong (he is not medically trained), it is incumbent on healthcare professionals to intensify their efforts to educate the public on the subject. Many old women were in the past labelled as ...
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Although Ben got some of his facts wrong (he is not medically trained), it is incumbent on healthcare professionals to intensify their efforts to educate the public on the subject. Many old women were in the past labelled as witches because their daughters suffered many child losses. The reason being that both parents have SS traits which was passed on to their children who subsequently died. I have lost two very dear friends who managed to live for 48 years before dying from complications associated with "crises".
ORM 12 years ago

Your has been very educative, However I would like to add a little more. What I have to say is not from any scientific research but simply from personal observation, being an SS PATIENT myself.
As you mentioned it is very im ...
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Your has been very educative, However I would like to add a little more. What I have to say is not from any scientific research but simply from personal observation, being an SS PATIENT myself.
As you mentioned it is very important to conserve water and oxygen in the body, so sickle cell patients have to avoid all activities that causes the body to dehydrate and also to avoid reduced oxygen intake. It is important also for patients to study themselves and know what is good for them and what is bad and can cause a crisis. For me, sweet things that contain burnt sugar must be avoided. No ALCOHOL and BEER is the worse offender. Its not all types of friut that I can take- wine grapes are out. So are pineapples and some types of apples. I cannot take some types of spices too- garlic and ginger and also hot pepper or curry. In short a patient must obsrve him or herslf to know what to avoid.

Nyansasem 12 years ago

Actually, I believe that sickle cell sufferers know more about that disease than many medical doctors.

Yes, you need to study yourself -personal observation- and learn from your mistakes. Anything you did, that caused the ...
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Actually, I believe that sickle cell sufferers know more about that disease than many medical doctors.

Yes, you need to study yourself -personal observation- and learn from your mistakes. Anything you did, that caused the "crises" to take place should not be done again.
Kwaku Kpandos, Barcelona. 12 years ago

Ben God really bess you for your life.

Ben God really bess you for your life.
Honesty-the best policy! 12 years ago

Thanks for the education!

Thanks for the education!
AYIGBE MAHAMA 12 years ago

DONT MIND BEN, HE WAS VERY WICKED IN SCHOOL, ACCRA ACADEMY. VERY FAT AND WILL LIE ON WHILE UNDER HIS SPRING BED. THANK GOD I HAVE FORGIVEN HIM. I DIDNT KNOW THAT THIS WAS SOME ONE WHO WAS THEN CARRYING SICKLE CELLS.

DONT MIND BEN, HE WAS VERY WICKED IN SCHOOL, ACCRA ACADEMY. VERY FAT AND WILL LIE ON WHILE UNDER HIS SPRING BED. THANK GOD I HAVE FORGIVEN HIM. I DIDNT KNOW THAT THIS WAS SOME ONE WHO WAS THEN CARRYING SICKLE CELLS.
KOO NIMO 12 years ago

and so what

and so what
Otafrogya, Washington DC 12 years ago

'Idiotmatic' expression is what I call this. Go hide your fucking self some where Koraa.

'Idiotmatic' expression is what I call this. Go hide your fucking self some where Koraa.
alex 12 years ago

who said sickle cell disease has anything to do with 'alcohol drinking' and 'womanizing'?
I expected Ghanaweb to have checked with some experts in the field before putting it out for public consumption or to have brought an ...
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who said sickle cell disease has anything to do with 'alcohol drinking' and 'womanizing'?
I expected Ghanaweb to have checked with some experts in the field before putting it out for public consumption or to have brought an expert's version on the issue to ensure a more balanced, accurate information
Amponsah Benjamin 12 years ago

The disease has something to do with alcohol in that the red blood cells of someone with the SS trait are unable to process alcohol qucikly. Our red blood cells are irregular and siclkle shaped. Same with sex the red blood ce ...
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The disease has something to do with alcohol in that the red blood cells of someone with the SS trait are unable to process alcohol qucikly. Our red blood cells are irregular and siclkle shaped. Same with sex the red blood cells have to carry oxygen to the brain and they are not carrying enough for such an energy activity.
Black Banana 12 years ago

We already know, we just did not know it had to do with your brain.

We already know, we just did not know it had to do with your brain.
KOFI ASANTE 12 years ago

I DONT KNOW HOW ACCURATE THIS INFORMATION IS AND THE EXPERTISE OF THIS GUY-ALL WE KNOW IS THAT HE IS A PATIENT. SO NEXT TIME PLEASE CHECK THE FACTS WITH AN EXPERT, LIKE A DOCTOR , BEFORE YOU PUBLISH.
THER IS NOTHING WORSE TH ...
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I DONT KNOW HOW ACCURATE THIS INFORMATION IS AND THE EXPERTISE OF THIS GUY-ALL WE KNOW IS THAT HE IS A PATIENT. SO NEXT TIME PLEASE CHECK THE FACTS WITH AN EXPERT, LIKE A DOCTOR , BEFORE YOU PUBLISH.
THER IS NOTHING WORSE THAN WRONG INFORMATION

TROKOSI USING MAHAMA 12 years ago

Don't you think that 45 years of medication has had effect on you not to see what's right and wrong ?

Don't you think that 45 years of medication has had effect on you not to see what's right and wrong ?
SAMAX 12 years ago

GOD KEEP ALIVE UNCLE BEN NA D SERVE YOUR NATION TO ITS BEST.

GOD KEEP ALIVE UNCLE BEN NA D SERVE YOUR NATION TO ITS BEST.
Alhaji Moro 12 years ago

THIS MAN WAS PAID TO TELL THE WHOLE NATION THAT NDC WILL WIN THE 2012 ELECTION KNOWING VERY WELL THAT THERE WAS A PLAN AT FOOT TO CHEAT .NOW IT IS SICKLE CELL.THE DAY OF REVELATION IS NEAR .THE WHOLE WORLD WILL SEE HIM AND K ...
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THIS MAN WAS PAID TO TELL THE WHOLE NATION THAT NDC WILL WIN THE 2012 ELECTION KNOWING VERY WELL THAT THERE WAS A PLAN AT FOOT TO CHEAT .NOW IT IS SICKLE CELL.THE DAY OF REVELATION IS NEAR .THE WHOLE WORLD WILL SEE HIM AND KNOW WHO HE IS .SHOW ME YOUR FRIEND AND .........
DODOWA 12 years ago

Listen people, the Internet provides a plethora of data on diseases. People should quit listening to these half-baked experts who claim to know all. Reading through Ben Ephson’s equivocations about sickle cell anemia gives ...
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Listen people, the Internet provides a plethora of data on diseases. People should quit listening to these half-baked experts who claim to know all. Reading through Ben Ephson’s equivocations about sickle cell anemia gives me the chills. The fact that he has the disease does not guarantee him the right to all facts about the disease. His association of sickle cells with malaria is wrong. Detailed research shows that sickle cell provides resistance, to individuals living in malaria - endemic regions, against the malarial parasite. Academic sites like EBSCO provides detailed information on the subject. Ben is entitled to his opinion but not entitled to the facts.
ORM 12 years ago

Guy, You've got it wrong on the malaria issue. There has been going on misinformation in medical books and research works that sickle cell patients have immunity against malaria. This is not true, because as a sickler myself ...
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Guy, You've got it wrong on the malaria issue. There has been going on misinformation in medical books and research works that sickle cell patients have immunity against malaria. This is not true, because as a sickler myself I know malaria is very dangerous to SS patients. When you have some malaria that is when one can experience the most severe crisis, so it is very important for SS patientS to prevent malaria.The so call research that showed that people with the disease are immune to malaria is completely wrong. It might have been carried out in some region were people might be immune to malaria for other various reasons but the researchers might have gotten it wrong to link that to sickle cell. Show me one sickle cell patient in Ghana that does not catch malaria?
Professor Felix Konotey-Ahulu MD(Lond 12 years ago

You are absolutely right! And that was what I said in the interview broadcast on WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY 19 June 2013. Listen to it again on www.sicklecell.md and you will hear me say that malaria is the greatest killer of sic ...
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You are absolutely right! And that was what I said in the interview broadcast on WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY 19 June 2013. Listen to it again on www.sicklecell.md and you will hear me say that malaria is the greatest killer of sickle cell disease patients. Please don't use the word "sickler". Say "SS" or "SC" or if you are Sickle Cell Trait like my own mother then say "AS". Never say "Sickle Cell Disease Trait" because there is no such thing. Professor Felix Konotey-Ahulu MD(Lond) FGA FGCP FRCP
HARUNA 12 years ago

may ALMIGHTY ALLAH bless you and let you leave up to 100yrs.I will like to use this opportunity to say you try and get time to be educating us on the media every month so that people should not be over worried.

may ALMIGHTY ALLAH bless you and let you leave up to 100yrs.I will like to use this opportunity to say you try and get time to be educating us on the media every month so that people should not be over worried.
Dross Mahama 12 years ago

Thanks for sharing but you dhould have explained that you have had the sickle cells all your life.

Good advice

Thanks for sharing but you dhould have explained that you have had the sickle cells all your life.

Good advice
Whatever 12 years ago

Great to see you in good spirit all the tim

Great to see you in good spirit all the tim
Professor Felix Konotey-Ahulu MD(Lond 12 years ago

Dear Mr Ephson: You can see from my website www.sicklecell.md or www.konotey-ahulu that I discourage the use of the term "sickler" to mean "sufferer from sickle cell disease". As I said in my interview broadcast yesterday 19 ...
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Dear Mr Ephson: You can see from my website www.sicklecell.md or www.konotey-ahulu that I discourage the use of the term "sickler" to mean "sufferer from sickle cell disease". As I said in my interview broadcast yesterday 19 June 2013 WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY on The Sickle Cell Disease Patient my parents had 11 children 3 of whom had Sickle Cell Disease. Instead of calling my two brothers and one sister "sicklers" I called them ACHEACHE because they inherited an ACHE gene each from Mamma and Papaa who themselves never suffered from hereditary rheumatism because they were each NORMACHE. In procreation my father passed on in his sperm either ACHE or NORM, never both. So did my mother in her egg, either ACHE or NORM - never both. So the remaining 8 of us alive turned out to be NORMACHE or NORMNORM. None of us suffer from cold season rheumatism (Sickle Cell Disease), and there is no way of knowing which of us is NORMACHE ie Carrier or Trait unless our blood is tested. To call an ACHEACHE person a sickler has been misinterpreted to mean "They are always sick". Not true, because they are not always sick. My ACHEACHE brother Tei Jerry did not die from sickle cell disease. He was a fantastic footballer; he and I were struck by lightning on the football field at Somanya. He died immediately, while I was spared. Those who did not hear yesterday's interview broadcast even in Sierra Leone both in Kreol and English will find it on YouTube or on the Home Page on www.sicklecell.md or www.konotey-ahulu.com and you will learn how Circumstances are what make the patients ill. In Ghana malaria is the commonest cause of sickle cell crisis. Tell any expert or scientist who tells you that sickle cell disease (ACHEACHE) patients are protected against malaria that Professor Konotey-Ahulu says they are talking (Tafracher) rubbish! My brother who was killed by lightning was always tipped into sickle cell crisis bone pains whenever he had malaria. Please go to my website and learn. Felix Konotey-Ahulu MD.

Nyansasem 12 years ago

So what is the different between SS and your ACHEACHE or AA from your NORMNORM. Nothing. Did not find anything new from what we know already.

I see no difference. You are just confusing matters.... I can use anything to re ...
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So what is the different between SS and your ACHEACHE or AA from your NORMNORM. Nothing. Did not find anything new from what we know already.

I see no difference. You are just confusing matters.... I can use anything to represent SS-(disease,) say CRYCRY and AA-(normal) to be JOYJOY, then my AS-(Trait) becomes JOYCRY. LOL.

And talking about protection against malaria, we are not talking about the disease or your ACHEACHE but rather the trait or your NORMACHE. Yes, the sickle cell trait are protected against malaria. The fact that every sick person is diagnosed in Ghana with Malaria can't be used to support your theory.
Professor Felix Konotey-Ahulu MD(Lond 12 years ago

By the way, Ben, there is no such thing as "SS Trait". Please go to www.sicklecell.md and look up the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and learn why there is no such thing as "SS Trait". Please do not ashamed for getting it w ...
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By the way, Ben, there is no such thing as "SS Trait". Please go to www.sicklecell.md and look up the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and learn why there is no such thing as "SS Trait". Please do not ashamed for getting it wrong because so-called Experts in the UK and Canada are getting it wrong all the time. Some are doing it out of ignorance while others are getting it wrong deliberately to help Insurance Companies make a lot of money. I once published in the British Medical Journal why I was given 4 Bodyguards in Philadelphia because I was lecturing on the difference between Sickle Cell Disease (ACHEACHE) and Sickle Cell Trait (NORMACHE). Insurance Companies were charging Sickle Cell Traits (NORMACHE) through the nose even when they had just run at Olympic Games and beaten the whole world! Sickle Cell Traits were being told that they had a disease and I was there to prove them wrong. So The Martin Luther King Jr Foundation Award Organisers who were honouring some of us, thought I had better be given 4 bodyguards. Google the account of what happened in the British Medical Journal 28 July 2007, Volume 335, pages 210 & 211: "Four bodyguards and the perils of unmasking scientific truths" by Felix I D Konotey-Ahulu. One in 4 of all Ghanaians reading this is a Carrier (NORMACHE) so be warned that there are Insurance Companies across The Sahara and across The Atlantic that will love you to describe yourself as "SS Trait" and then proceed to cheat you. Go to my website and read my detailed exposure of "Sickle Cell Trait Misinformation and Disinformation" in the Blogs. Moreover, listen to yesterday's WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY 19 June 2013 interview on YouTube or on www.sicklecell.md Professor Felix Konotey- Ahulu MD(Lond)
ooo 12 years ago

B FSON HAS NOTHING TO SAY,WHY NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS,ESPECIALLY SUPREME CT

B FSON HAS NOTHING TO SAY,WHY NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS,ESPECIALLY SUPREME CT
DRX. 12 years ago

most of what you said is true. well done. we need people like you to take most airtime to talk on proper things instead of political insults

most of what you said is true. well done. we need people like you to take most airtime to talk on proper things instead of political insults
Kk 12 years ago

Is sick cell a disease?

Is sick cell a disease?
D.A.Boadu 12 years ago

Are you "ss?" You may not have suffered any crisi because you have a high haemoglobin "F" content, not because you were not "womanising". Consuming alcohol can trigger a "crisis" so can dehydration ,extremes of temperature-t ...
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Are you "ss?" You may not have suffered any crisi because you have a high haemoglobin "F" content, not because you were not "womanising". Consuming alcohol can trigger a "crisis" so can dehydration ,extremes of temperature-too hot or too cold, fatigue, infection, malaria, and other factors precipitate a crisis, which can be different depending on the individual. Genetic counselling is required prior to marriage in case any of the individuals are carriers or have the disease state.
Please find out your facts properly, before you put them out!

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Ben Ephson: I’ve been a “sickler” for 45 years

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