Page 12 - TB: The Ticking Time Bomb
P. 12
“ I was suffering from MDR TB; I completed my course successfully in August
2014 and today I’m cured. It was in the month of January 2012 that I experienced
pain in lifting my arm and I found some swelling under my armpit. After conducting
sonography, the doctor said it is tuberculosis and I undertook first-line medication
for 6 months.
In between, I had my TY board exams and took 1–2 hrs to reach the distance of 20–
30 mins of my exam centre because of heavy Mumbai traffic during peak hours. I
used to daily vomit 2–3 times on my way to the exams. I almost fainted during the
start of my first exam paper and started writing my paper 30 minutes later.
The college staff supported me a lot and gave me instant energy drink and allowed
me to sit with pillows and food for the remaining papers. Doctors advised me not to
give the exams but I did not want to waste a year. After almost 6 months of
medication there was no change, no improvement in my health. Local doctors failed
to notice that I was not getting cured. Suddenly one fine day, white fluid burst out
from my armpit and I underwent second surgery.
Yet the doctor felt I was normal and I should continue taking my medicine and come
to visit him again in some months. But my family was not willing to accept this
decision of doctor. So immediately the next day we took appointment of Dr Zarir
Udwadia of Hinduja Hospital.
I cried for weeks because I was very scared of injections and I had to drop my final
CA classes which I attended only for a month and had my exams the next year. I took
a break from studies. I took 140 injections and approximately 25 medicines in a day
which after 3–4 months reduced to 10–12. The side effects were so bad that I was
once diagnosed with drug- induced jaundice.
Each day was spent with a new problem fighting with side effects. The worst part of
this treatment is vomit which in the initial months was about 8–10 times a day and
later on, to once or twice a day till I took my last medicine. Other side effects I
experienced were joint pain especially unbearable leg and back pain throughout the
course, oral thrush and rashes on the skin, and change in skin colour, which was the
worst experience.
I somehow completed this treatment and today after completion of 9 months of my
medicine course still I am taking vitamins tablets and my skin colour has not yet
come back to normal. I’m hoping to resume my studies and live a normal life.
I would like to thank Dr Zarir Udwadia and my family and some friends. Without
them, I wouldn’t have been here.
” - Riya
10
2014 and today I’m cured. It was in the month of January 2012 that I experienced
pain in lifting my arm and I found some swelling under my armpit. After conducting
sonography, the doctor said it is tuberculosis and I undertook first-line medication
for 6 months.
In between, I had my TY board exams and took 1–2 hrs to reach the distance of 20–
30 mins of my exam centre because of heavy Mumbai traffic during peak hours. I
used to daily vomit 2–3 times on my way to the exams. I almost fainted during the
start of my first exam paper and started writing my paper 30 minutes later.
The college staff supported me a lot and gave me instant energy drink and allowed
me to sit with pillows and food for the remaining papers. Doctors advised me not to
give the exams but I did not want to waste a year. After almost 6 months of
medication there was no change, no improvement in my health. Local doctors failed
to notice that I was not getting cured. Suddenly one fine day, white fluid burst out
from my armpit and I underwent second surgery.
Yet the doctor felt I was normal and I should continue taking my medicine and come
to visit him again in some months. But my family was not willing to accept this
decision of doctor. So immediately the next day we took appointment of Dr Zarir
Udwadia of Hinduja Hospital.
I cried for weeks because I was very scared of injections and I had to drop my final
CA classes which I attended only for a month and had my exams the next year. I took
a break from studies. I took 140 injections and approximately 25 medicines in a day
which after 3–4 months reduced to 10–12. The side effects were so bad that I was
once diagnosed with drug- induced jaundice.
Each day was spent with a new problem fighting with side effects. The worst part of
this treatment is vomit which in the initial months was about 8–10 times a day and
later on, to once or twice a day till I took my last medicine. Other side effects I
experienced were joint pain especially unbearable leg and back pain throughout the
course, oral thrush and rashes on the skin, and change in skin colour, which was the
worst experience.
I somehow completed this treatment and today after completion of 9 months of my
medicine course still I am taking vitamins tablets and my skin colour has not yet
come back to normal. I’m hoping to resume my studies and live a normal life.
I would like to thank Dr Zarir Udwadia and my family and some friends. Without
them, I wouldn’t have been here.
” - Riya
10
