Life often throws us challenges when we least expect them. For me, that challenge came early, when I was just sixteen. I was full of dreams, lots of energy, and ready for anything. But slowly, things started to change in a way I didn’t understand. At first, I just felt tired all the time, which I blamed on exam stress. I couldn’t focus, no matter how hard I tried. My eyelids felt heavy, and I’d often fall asleep during the day. My favourite clothes started feeling tight. My hands and feet felt cold all the time, and my skin became dry. In just five or six months, I gained 10 kilograms.
It was like my body was trying to tell me something, sending signals I didn’t know how to read yet. I felt like I was just watching my body change, but I didn’t know why or how. It was almost like my body had its own plans, and I was just trying to keep up.
The Dawn of a Lifelong Journey
I’ll never forget it. My menstrual cycle became very unpredictable. Sometimes they would disappear for months, leaving me worried. Then, one day, I saw a few hairs on my chin. Slowly, they became dark and thick and started to grow on my face and chest. Can you imagine how embarrassing that was for a teenage girl? I spent hours in front of the mirror, plucking hairs and crying. Weight seemed to stick to me, no matter how much I tried to lose it. And that deep tiredness made even simple things feel like climbing a mountain.
My worried parents took me to see my family physician. He listened carefully as I explained how I was feeling inside. Based on my symptoms, ultrasonography, and blood tests (especially the Thyroid Function test), he told us the problem: I had hypothyroidism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS. He explained that hypothyroidism caused my weight gain, constant tiredness, cold hands and feet, and dry skin. PCOS, he said, explained my irregular periods, too much hair growth (which he called hirsutism), and why I struggled so much with my weight.
“Mira,” he told me kindly, “these conditions can be managed. You’ll need a small pill every day for your thyroid, called levothyroxine, and metformin to help with your PCOS. Regular exercise and a healthy diet will be your best friends.”
Motherhood's Embrace: New Horizons, New Challenges
Life continued its beautiful course, and I flourished. I built a fulfilling career and found love. At 28, I embarked on the joyous journey of pregnancy with my first child. While it was a time of immense happiness, it also brought unforeseen challenges. I found myself constantly parched, drinking glass after glass of water, and making frequent trips to the bathroom, even through the night. I simply assumed it was a normal part of pregnancy. Then, my treating gynaecologist informed me that I had gestational diabetes. My blood sugar levels were alarmingly high, posing a risk to both me and my baby. I had to take multiple insulin injections to control my blood sugar throughout the remainder of my pregnancy.
“We must be vigilant, Mira,” my gynaecologist said. “Gestational diabetes increases the risk of complications during delivery and can predispose you to type 2 diabetes later in life.” He meticulously taught me how to administer insulin and monitor my blood sugar at home with the help of glucometer. Honestly, pricking my finger multiple times a day was daunting at first. But seeing those numbers, understanding the direct impact of food on my body, made all the difference. The dietary adjustments were tough—giving up my beloved sweets and rice dishes was a real sacrifice—but witnessing my baby’s healthy ultrasound reports made every effort worthwhile. His unwavering encouragement kept me going.
The Forties: A Cascade of Complications
As I entered my forties, those familiar symptoms from my pregnancy began to resurface. That insatiable thirst, the incessant bathroom visits. This time, however, I was losing weight despite a constant hunger. My vision started to blur, and even minor cuts on my hands seemed to take longer to heal. A persistent metallic taste lingered in my mouth. When my treating diabetologist confirmed it was type 2 diabetes mellitus, I wasn’t surprised; I had, in a way, been anticipating it.
Around the same period, I noticed I was getting breathless just climbing a few stairs. My chest would feel tight, and sometimes I’d experience a strange, aching sensation. Tests revealed my cholesterol levels were alarmingly high.
Navigating a Multitude of Medications
The prospect of adding even more medicines felt unhappy and hopeless. My metformin dose was increased, and I began taking statins for my high cholesterol. Initially, the statins caused my muscles to ache, as if I’d run a marathon without moving; thankfully, the aches subsided with 2-3weeks. Within a few months, my energy soared, my blood sugars stabilised, and those dreadful mood swings finally settled. I felt a renewed sense of control over my health.
The Sixties: Confronting Serious Health Challenges with Hypertension and Diabetic Kidney Disease
By the time I reached sixty, the cumulative effects of years of diabetes began to manifest. One day, I woke up with excruciating headaches that throbbed behind my eyes. My face would appear puffy in the mornings, particularly around my eyes. But the most alarming thing I noticed was swelling in my legs. At first, I attributed it to prolonged standing, but then I noticed that pressing on my ankle would leave a distinct indentation. My shoes no longer fit properly. I was perpetually tired, more so than ever before. Climbing even a few steps left me gasping for breath. That strange metallic taste persisted, and at times, I felt nauseous. The food itself began to taste different, bland, and unappetizing.
When I consulted my diabetologist again after years, he explained that my kidneys were showing significant damage, operating at only about 50% capacity. Because of this kidney disease, my blood pressure is extremely high, 180/110 mmHg, causing this severe headache.
Managing Diabetic Kidney Disease and Blood Pressure
When my treating diabetologist informed me about my kidney damage, I honestly believed it was the end. But he immediately initiated anti-hypertensive medicine, a combination of ACE inhibitors + Amlodipine, and Diuretics and explained how these medications would safeguard my remaining kidney function. During the first few days on these medicines, I experienced dizziness whenever I stood up too quickly.
The swelling in my legs began to recede within two weeks of starting the diuretics. It was such a relief to comfortably fit into my shoes again! The dietary restrictions proved to be the most challenging aspect—limiting Potassium and salt is almost an impossible feat for an Indian palate! However, my treating diabetologist connected me with a dietitian who helped craft delicious meal plans that still adhered to the restrictions. I learned to embrace herbs and spices as flavorful alternatives to salt. After a few months on the new regimen, I started feeling more like my old self. The morning headaches vanished, and I could walk longer distances without becoming breathless.
The Crisis at Sixty-Four: A Massive Heart Attack
The heart attack—I can still recall that evening vividly. I was preparing dinner when a crushing pain erupted in my chest, feeling as though an elephant had settled upon it. The pain radiated down my left arm and up into my jaw. I felt intensely nauseous and began to sweat profusely. I kept assuring my husband it was just indigestion, but the pain refused to subside. A profound sense of dread washed over me, as if something truly terrible was unfolding. My heart raced, yet simultaneously, I felt I couldn’t catch my breath.
A Medical Miracle: Recovery from Heart Attack and Brain Stroke
Following the angioplasty, I experienced immediate relief from the chest pain. However, the medications they prescribed made me feel different. The blood thinners meant I bruised easily—even a gentle bump would leave a mark. But my treating cardiologist patiently explained that these minor bruises were a small price to pay for preventing another heart attack.
Then came the stroke. One moment, I was conversing with the nurse, and the next, the entire right side of my body simply ceased to function. My mind was clear, but when I attempted to speak, my words came out slurred. My right arm felt alien, as if it belonged to someone else—I could see it, but I couldn’t command it to move. The frustration was unbearable. I desperately wanted to ask for water, but the words wouldn’t form correctly. When I tried to stand, my right leg simply buckled. I felt utterly trapped within my own body.
The rehabilitation process was the most arduous thing I have ever undertaken, yet also the most profoundly rewarding. Every small improvement—being able to grip a spoon, articulating a word clearly—felt like a monumental victory. My family physician would often visit during my physiotherapy sessions, celebrating these tiny milestones right alongside me. Initially, the stroke medications left me feeling foggy, but as my body gradually adjusted, my thinking became clearer than it had been in years. The intricate combination of all my medicines was finally working in perfect harmony.
My Current Treatment Experience
Taking fifteen different medications twice a day sounds daunting to many, but for me, it’s become like a meticulously choreographed dance. Each pill serves a specific purpose, and I recognise them all by sight. This morning routine provides me with a profound sense of control over my health.
Some days I do experience side effects—the blood thinners cause me to bruise easily, and occasionally the blood pressure medications make me feel a bit dizzy if I stand up too quickly. But these are minor inconveniences when weighed against the alternative.
The most gratifying aspect is the stability I now feel. My blood pressure remains controlled, my blood sugars are within target range most days, and I haven’t experienced any major complications in over a decade. The medicines that once felt like a burden now feel like my daily armor against disease.
How Treatment Has Transformed My Life
People often ask if I resent having to take so many medicines, but honestly, I am profoundly grateful for every one. Without my thyroid medication, I would still be that perpetually exhausted teenager. Without my diabetes medicines, I might have lost my sight or even my limbs. Without my heart medications, I might not even be here today. This long journey of multiple diseases taught me a crucial lesson: chronic diseases are not a death sentence; they are conditions that can be effectively managed. The key lies in finding the right balance of treatment and having a healthcare provider who genuinely cares about your well-being.
The side effects I experience now are minor compared to the debilitating symptoms I endured before treatment. Yes, I bruise easily these days, but I haven’t had a heart attack in eleven years. Yes, I require frequent blood tests, but my kidney function has remained remarkably stable.
Most importantly, these treatments have gifted me a vibrant quality of life. I can travel to visit my beloved grandchildren, I can joyfully cook for my family, and I can maintain my cherished independence. That, to me, is worth every single pill I take.
Meet the Author, Dr. Om Prakash Kumar: a renowned Diabetologist and Interna Medicine Specialist Physician in Noida
He is a highly regarded diabetologist and Internal Medicine Specialist, Physician in Noida Sector 27. His extensive expertise is rooted in a robust educational background: he earned his MBBS and MD in Internal Medicine from the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College & Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi, and further specialised with a Postgraduate degree in Advanced Diabetes Management from Harvard Medical School (USA). He also completed his Senior Residency at Lady Hardinge Medical College and RML Hospital, Delhi. With over 9 years of experience (and many more since our first meeting, now spanning nearly six decades of practice as my physician), Dr. Kumar possesses specialized knowledge in treating complex conditions including Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Thyroid disorders, Heart Disease, Fatty Liver Disease, Weight loss, and Diabetes Reversal.
For anyone in search of a leading Diabetologist in Noida, a trusted General Physician in Noida, or a skilled Internal Medicine Doctor in Sector 27, Dr. Om Prakash Kumar stands out as a first choice. For an Appointment, call/WhatsApp at 7982454594. Currently, he is practising diabetology and Internal Medicine at Tripathy Clinic, Noida, Sector 27 and New Ashok Nagar, Delhi .
