Hi, there!
You know how you talk to someone a lot and you feel you know their struggles? Because s/he shares “everything” with you? Then you listen in on a conversation they are having with some other person and a new piece of information hits you and you go “Really? I never heard that part”?
This happened to me recently, with Timi – one of my closest friends and Co-founder of CrimsonBowNG, in the ears of thousands of listeners on live radio!
It was CrimsonBow’s interview with Dr. Julz on Nigeria Info 99.3 (the recording of that interview will be posted on here soon) and Timi was answering a question from the show host when she mentioned that guys often avoid taking female SCD Warriors seriously relationship-wise because they often believe these ladies are “high maintenance” women being that they have medications to pay for each month. Timi went on to say her meds cost less than N3000 (about $15) a month.
Right there it hit me like “Really? There are guys who think that?”. Immediately, I did a quick math of what my meds cost a month and I have decided to do a clear breakdown to share with you.
I take 3 different medications a day – Hydroxurea, Proguanil and Folic Acid, once a day and all at once.
Here’s why I take this ‘cocktail’:
Hydroxurua is used to reduce the frequency of painful crises and reduce the need for blood transfusions in patients with sickle cell anemia (an inherited blood disorder in which the red blood cells are abnormally shaped [shaped like a sickle] and cannot bring enough oxygen to all parts of the body). Hydroxyurea is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. Hydroxyurea treats sickle cell anemia by helping to prevent formation of sickle-shaped red blood cells.
Proguanil is a prophylactic antimalarial drug. It has been used for prophylaxis in [patients] with sickle cell disease living in malaria-endemic areas for many years.
Folic Acid (folate) is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells, for DNA synthesis and RNA synthesis, and for preventing changes to DNA. Folate is required to make red blood cells and white blood cells and folate deficiency may lead to anemia, which causes fatigue, weakness and inability to concentrate.
This combination works for me. Trust me, I have tried lots of others, I dare say I have tried everything out there on the Nigerian market for SCD management and nothing else has given me the level of results this combination has miraculously given me.
Here’s a picture
Now that you know why I take these particular drugs, here’s what they cost me each day:
Hydrourea – N1000/pack of 30 500mg capsules. At 3 capsules a day (it’s taken by weight), it comes to N100 (about $0.50)/day.
Proguanil – N1000/bottle of 100 tablets. At 2 tablets a day, it comes to N20 (about $0.10)/day.
Folic Acid – N650/bottle of 100 tablets (there are much cheaper brands). At 1 tablet a day, it comes to N6.50 (about $0.03)/day.
In total, my meds (this is my prescribed combination and dose) costs me N126.50 (about $0.64)/day which translates to about N3,795 (about $19.07) this month.
This is slightly higher than Timi’s because I take a bigger dose of Hydroxurea than she does and that’s simply because I’m bigger than she is.
Yes, there are months some Warriors have complications, crises or medical emergencies and would have to spend considerably more, but then that is common to all of humanity – seasons of ill health when extra care and cost are warranted.
I have come to learn that SCD is a gift for which I must be thankful. For there’s a reason, and that is why I do this.
Join us. An SCD Warrior yourself? Or have one in your life? Or you have questions, suggestions, etc…
Do get in touch.
Send us a mail: crimsonbowng@gmail.com
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