The Initial Crisis: From Acute Event to Chronic Fear

Ketan’s struggle with Pancreatitis began when he was just 20 years old and a student. It started with a sudden, excruciating pain that forced him into a cycle of sitting, lying down, and doubling over, unable to find relief until he vomited. His initial diagnosis revealed elevated Amylase and Lipase levels, but the true gravity of the disease remained a mystery to the family for years. What was thought to be a one-time “swelling” soon became a recurring nightmare. By the time he was 40, the “acute” attacks had transitioned into a relentless Chronic Pancreatitis pattern, strike every single year from 2012 to 2015.

The Systemic Breakdown: Pain Management vs. A Family’s Despair

The medical advice was a repetitive cycle: “Starve, take IV fluids, and manage the pain.” Ketan spent nights pacing the halls of his home, clutching his stomach, waiting for painkiller injections to give him a mere two-hour window of peace. The physical toll was devastating; even a drop of liquid wouldn’t stay down. Doctors restricted his diet so severely—no fat, no milk, no paneer—that his weight plummeted.

The systemic breakdown hit its peak when Ketan was hospitalized with a platelet count of just 10,000. His body was so weak that blood would spray back during IV insertion. Despite being non-diabetic, the heavy medical interventions induced insulin-dependent diabetes. The family was told to consider gallbladder removal or duct surgery, but they were warned, “The pain will still happen.” His career as a software engineer suffered as he was forced to take long leaves, leading to salary cuts and stalled growth. His young daughter, Shrestha, recounts the trauma of seeing her father “vibrating” in a machine in a cold hospital room, eventually seeing him on a ventilator during a particularly severe acute-on-chronic flare-up.

The Padaav Pivot: The Last Resort and Ray of Hope

Exhausted by the lack of solutions, Ketan’s father-in-law suggested Padaav. Despite a long waiting list, the severity of Ketan’s condition moved the team to accommodate them. Driven by pain, they traveled from Gujarat to Dehradun. The first shock came when they were told to start medicine with fresh cream (malai). After years of being told fat was “poison,” this felt like a miracle.

At the Padaav Speciality Ayurvedic Treatment Center, the focus shifted from starvation to structured healing. Shrestha, who was only five at the time, found comfort in the staff, while Ketan began his 21-day residential journey. The transition was radical: from a man who couldn’t digest water to a patient eating Paneer Chena and structured meals. The family realized that Ayurveda wasn’t “slow” or “unscientific”, it was a precise biological recalibration.

The Recovery: Restoring Function and Reclaiming Childhood

The recovery was built on unwavering discipline. Ketan resigned from his job to prioritize three months of absolute bed rest and a full year of the Padaav protocol. The diet was strict but nourishing: home-cooked meals, no garlic, no red chili, and specifically no garam masala, which they identified as a major trigger for acidity and gas.

The results were transformative:

• Weight Rebound: Ketan gained 10–15 kg back within a year.

• Organ Healing: The recurring annual attacks stopped completely.

• Mental Peace: Shrestha no longer fears losing her father; she even has a “favourite eagle” toy given to her by the staff at Padaav that symbolizes that happy time.

• Functional Life: Ketan now manages his work from home, stays active with walking and pranayama, and his diabetes is managed with a much calmer system.

Ketan’s daughter, Shrestha, now an advocate for her father’s health, has a simple message: “Pancreatitis is not the end of life. It touches the end and comes back.” The mother’s relief is echoed in her simple mantra: “Just follow the diet, and everything is set.”

Experience at Padaav

For the Kamdar family, Padaav felt less like a hospital and more like a resort where healing happens through company, positive vibes, and a structured routine. They witnessed patients who hadn’t eaten in 10 days leave the center eating roti and dal. They now use steel and iron cookware instead of aluminum and treat even common colds with Padaav’s Ayurvedic formulations (Immbo). Their trust is so absolute that they tell other patients: “Go to Padaav with your eyes closed and without checking reviews; it gave us a second life.”