There was a time when Rashi was gripped by a disease so feared that just hearing its name sent chills down people’s spines. This goes back to when Rashi was about seven or eight years old. She suddenly experienced an unbearable pain in her stomach, a pain that came and went and would last for hours. Rashi recalls, “This pain used to be in my stomach and caused me immense discomfort. I would get some relief for an hour or two, but it never completely went away.” At that time, doctors suggested administering a drip. Receiving the drip at home provided some relief, but the cycle continued.
Rashi says, “Sometimes, even the drip at home wouldn’t help, and I had to be hospitalized. During school days, I would often experience stomach pain and vomiting, which forced me to return home from school. I used to live in a hostel, and even there, the pain would strike repeatedly. Within one or two months, the pain would return, and this pattern has continued till today. Even last year, in 2023, I experienced pain multiple times and had to visit the hospital repeatedly.”
Recalling the pain, Rashi says, “I was very afraid of the pain because it involved so many injections and drips.” At the time, Rashi’s father, a schoolteacher in their village, took care of her as best as he could. Rashi, who was fifteen years old and in the 10th grade back then, shares about her illness: “I’ve had this problem since childhood, but it worsened after a certain [trip/treatment]. I would experience pain three to four times a year.” Her family consulted a doctor in Moradabad, who suggested an MRI. The MRI revealed that Rashi was suffering from pancreatitis.
Rashi explains, “Pancreatitis causes a very unbearable kind of pain. The first time I experienced it, I was about seven or eight years old. It was an excruciating pain in the upper part of my stomach. We got a drip administered, and that provided some relief. Even though the drip helped, it didn’t completely resolve the pain. It was a sharp, piercing type of pain. I couldn’t eat anything and would repeatedly vomit. Initially, the doctor prescribed some medication, which we gave at home, but it only provided temporary relief for an hour or two, not for the entire duration of the pain. The doctor then advised administering a drip at home, which provided some relief. Sometimes, even that didn’t work, and I had to be hospitalized.”
This pattern continued for years. Rashi recounts, “This went on for many years and still continues to this day, though I have started finding relief now. Back in school, I would sometimes experience pain and vomiting, which forced me to leave school early. At the hostel, I would experience the pain repeatedly, every one or two months. Even last year, in 2023, I faced the same situation, having to be called back repeatedly due to the pain. I had to follow a strict diet, and eventually, my name was removed from the hostel rolls because of this condition. It had a significant impact on my studies, and I missed several exams because of it.”
One day, an acquaintance of Rashi’s father, an Ayurvedic doctor, told them about a special place for treatment. Rashi explains, “This doctor, who was treating my father for back pain with Ayurvedic medicine, told us about a treatment facility. We consulted him about my condition, and he said that this place specializes in treating such cases. The pain, which is very sharp and piercing in the upper abdomen, often accompanied by vomiting, makes it difficult to eat or study. He recommended this facility, saying it could provide a unique and effective treatment.”
Describing the place, Rashi says, “When we first arrived here, we met Dr. Riya Sheeta. She took a detailed follow-up and recorded all my reports in a file. Then we met Vaidya Shikaji, who suggested staying at the facility for proper treatment. He assured us, ‘You will get better, but you must strictly follow the diet plan and make changes to your daily routine.’”
Reflecting on the next 20 days, Rashi shares, “During the next 20 days, I underwent tests, which thankfully came back normal. If the results had shown any abnormalities, additional medicines would have been prescribed. Here, medicines are administered with strict supervision, and the doctors are in constant contact. We interacted with the doctors two to four times a day. The breakfast, snacks, and meals were well-organized. We would go to bed by 10 PM and wake up around 6 or 7 AM, ensuring eight hours of sleep, which plays a major role here. The diet is a crucial aspect of this treatment. If you follow the diet properly, only then can pancreatitis be managed. We had to wake up at 6 AM, drink two glasses of water, and go for a short walk.”
Describing the diet, Rashi says, “It started with a light diet. Breakfast was served at 8 AM, which included fruits, protein-rich items like chickpeas, etc. At 11 AM, we were given light snacks. Lunch was at 1 PM, consisting of salad, papad, rice, and similar items. Snacks were again served at 4 PM, similar to those at 11 AM. Dinner was at 7 PM, which included two rotis, vegetables, and other simple food. Post-dinner snacks were provided at 9 PM, which included light items like milk or dates.”
Reflecting on her experiences before coming to this facility, Rashi says, “Before coming to Padaav, the treatment elsewhere was quite different. In other places, they would just administer drips and provide a lot of medicines. Here, there is no need for drips; the light medications work effectively. In other hospitals, doctors would visit only once in two or three days. At Padaav, we could consult the doctors anytime about anything.”
Sharing a unique aspect of the treatment, Rashi says, “Here, we were asked to keep a diary and note everything, from what we ate to the activities we did. After 21 days, we were instructed to follow the same routine at home and email updates to the doctors. They would then advise if the routine was correct or needed adjustments. Many people who had been treated earlier would visit and share their experiences, saying how effective the treatment was. Hearing them and seeing their confidence made us believe that this would work for us too. We decided to follow the treatment properly, and slowly, I started getting better.”
