In this episode of The Sick and Tired Pod, Mel sits down with Aiyannah, host of Black Girl With Sickle Cell, to talk about what it’s really like living with sickle cell disease—and what happens when the people you're relying on for care don't believe your pain.

Aiyannah shares her experience learning about her sickle cell diagnosis as a child, the symptoms and pain she experiences today, and how she has learned to navigate life with a condition that can affect everyone differently.

We also get into a much bigger issue: medical bias.

Aiyannah opens up about going to the ER in pain and being stereotyped as someone seeking drugs rather than a patient seeking help. She shares why she now waits for healthcare providers to ask what medication she needs, what it feels like when doctors don't believe her, and the importance of having someone in your corner who will advocate for you when you aren't being heard.

We talk about:

🩸 Growing up with sickle cell disease
🏥 Navigating sickle cell pain and ER visits
💊 Being stereotyped as “drug seeking”
🖤 Racial bias in healthcare
🗣️ Learning to advocate for yourself as a patient
❤️ Why compassion and better bedside manner matter
🎙️ Turning personal experiences into sickle cell advocacy
🤝 Creating community so others feel less alone

Aiyannah also shares why she created her own podcast, Black Girl With Sickle Cell, and how her experiences with mistreatment inspired her to use her voice to spread awareness and advocate for others living with sickle cell.

If this conversation resonates with you, like the video, leave a comment, and subscribe to The Sick and Tired Pod for more honest conversations about chronic illness, disability, neurodivergence, mental health, and the experiences we aren't talking about enough.