This post is also available in Russian
After having received treatment for regular TB, I was to be discharged from the hospital and start the continuation phase of the treatment. And as soon as I began the next phase, I realized that things were not going to be as easy as I thought.
Despite my optimism, a lot of obstacles stood in the way of getting rid of TB once and for all.
Quite unexpectedly I started to have a fever, severe muscular pains and was unable to even raise my hands. I had the feeling that something was moving inside me and making strange noises that I could hear.
After being examined again, the doctors found out that I had liquid accumulation in my lungs, and. so-called ‘pleurisy’ was added to my list of health problems.
The doctors tried to ‘dry out’ the liquid using drugs, but it did not work. In the end it was decided that a surgical intervention, or ‘puncture’, was required.
I remember how terrified I was. The doctors started their work after a local anesthetic, but I was so psychologically tense that I fainted.
One litre of liquid was removed from my lungs, but there was still one litre to go so I had to have the same experience a second time. I was very surprised and scared, as I had seen the quantity of the removed liquid with my own eyes and was astonished.
A few days later the doctors removed the remaining 700ml of liquid but I was not discharged from the hospital because I needed to recover. The doctors also wanted to run some tests to find out why the cause of the pleurisy.
Finally, the doctor summoned me to tell me the results. What I heard was quite unexpected and I was completely shocked…
He told me I had drug-resistant TB (DRTB). Specifically, I was resistant to three TB drugs: Isoniazid, Rifampicin and Streptomycin.
I left the doctor’s room and went to the ward. I was crying and laughing at the same time. The other TB patients started asking me what had happened to me? When I told them the results of the examinations nobody believed me. They all thought I was joking or I was just trying to get a reaction.
The strangest thing was that all the TB patients, including me, were frightened of people who are diagnosed with DRTB. We tried to be cautious with them because we thought DRTB patients could not be cured.
Now I was in the same boat, although not long after, the majority of the TB patients that were being treated with me were also diagnosed with DRTB.
However, we soon all adapted to the situation and even could make a few jokes about our situation to make each other happy.
Hi
I hope you are good with your recovery and congrats. My Mom had TB and i know how difficult it is to stay with such disease, thanks to Almighty she is recovered just like you, May you both have good health in the rest of your life ahead.
Your attitude in these difficult circumstances is really admirable.I myself am a medical student and get really depressed and feel impotent when i can do nothing for those who are seriously ill or are non-curable,not even a word of hope.But your example here has really inspired me a lot.Thanks and wish you a speedy recovery.
Hi Mariam,
I know it’s not easy to be sick all the time. And very few people can understand what you’re going through who haven’t been there. I haven’t been there. But I want you to know that I hope you have peaceful moments when you don’t have to worry about being ill, and fun times when you just enjoy being alive and happy. And I hope those moments far outweigh the not so good times.
All the best from New Jersey, USA,
Karen
Մաղթում եմ ձեզ լավ Մարիամ … Ես հանդիպել եմ Հայաստանի համար, եւ ունեն ընկերներ են Էրեբունի եւ ՀՀ առողջապահության նախարարությունը … Ես հիշում եմ իմ մեքենայով մի հին TB կլինիկա … Ինձ համար դրական փորձարկվել TB (մաշկի փորձարկում), .., ինչպես աշխատել եմ մի TB լաբորատորիան, սակայն, որ եղել է 1984 թ … Isoniazid մեկ տարի … եւ կրծքավանդակի ռենտգենյան ճառագայթների ..
Edvardas Krisiunas
ԱՄՆ միջոցով Կանադա եւ Լիտվայի
I wish you all of the best with your recovery. Remain as spirited and hopeful as you are. I work with TB patients every day (except when I’m studying, like now) and your blog offersmso much insight.
Amanda ! It was a terrible thing to experience such pain during the course of treatment. But your courage in such difficult situation is exemplary to such fellow patients. In fact, our Organization is also supporting the Indian Government for reducing DRTB in certain States of India. We will share your feelings with the communities with whom we will be working for them to be more responsible for the continuous treatment. We wish you all the best.
You are courageous and wonderful. Keep fighting and sharing your story; it instills perspective in what people see as obstacles in their daily lives and how much we take for granted. You are wise to have realized the value of finding a place for laughter in serious situations and comfort in fellow patients and MSF staff! I hold all of you in my thoughts and wish you the best, Amanda