a story of healing, hope and listening to your gut
do difficult things, follow your heart
In the video above, you saw a version of me from 2018.
I had just moved back to my hometown after three of the best years of my life at university — followed by a few torturous months at an MNC.
Somewhere deep within, I had always known that kind of life wasn't for me.
Still, I tested it — perhaps just to be sure.
By November 2017, I came home with one clear intention:
To follow my heart.
To do what I loved most — write.
I was lucky to join Amrutam as a content writer soon after. I thought life in a smaller city would offer me the luxury of time — to read all the books I wanted and live a slow, steady life.
Or so I imagined.
A few weeks in, a sharp pain pierced through my left ankle.
At 21–22, with great health and stamina (I could walk 10+ kilometers daily), this felt strange.
Within my body, a silent thunderstorm was brewing — something even the best doctors couldn't comprehend.
Doctor after doctor, diagnosis after diagnosis — ligament tear, fracture, nerve pain — different pills, different treatments.
But the pain kept growing, sharper and deeper.
Eight exhausting months passed.
Emotionally, I was unraveling too.
I missed the inclusive community at university, where poetry and cinema were celebrated — unlike the place I had returned to.
After hundreds of pills and countless appointments, a breakthrough finally arrived.
In August 2018, through a simple Montoux skin test, we discovered the truth:
Latent Bone Tuberculosis.
A rare and silent condition, hard to detect.
Most of us carry the TB bacteria, but strong immunity keeps it in check.
When immunity falters — like it did in my case — the bacteria can attack silently.
The diagnosis was bittersweet.
Relief in knowing.
Terror in understanding the battle ahead.
I began a year-long course of Rifampin — a powerful antibiotic with over 60 documented side effects, including depression.
If you're wondering why I didn’t seek Ayurvedic treatments: I did.
They helped ease the pain — but in emergency situations, I learned: modern medicine excels at acute care. Ayurveda offers profound support for sustained health and resilience.
Years of heavy medication weakened my body.
By 2019, I had finished my treatment — but my muscles had wasted away.
I could barely walk.
My metabolism crashed.
From being at my physical peak, I hit my heaviest weight — 115 kgs.
It was heartbreaking.
I, who loved walking, now needed a walker to reach the bathroom.
Some doctors said I would never walk properly again.
I’m glad they said that — it ignited a fire within me.
I decided to be my own experiment.
During the pandemic, step by step, I slowly started to reclaim my life.
I focused on regaining muscle.
I rebuilt my metabolism.
I lost 25+ kgs over two years (still a work in progress).
I learned that health isn't a destination — it's a way of life.
Today, I walk.
Today, I dance.
Today, I live.
Not every day is easy.
Even this morning, my muscles were sore and my mind restless.
But healing has taught me that slowing down is part of moving forward.
They say, "get out of your comfort zone — do difficult things."
But I say — listen to your gut.
Pain and suffering will visit you anyway — no need to chase them.
Instead, listen to the whisper of your instincts.
They know your path better than any advice ever will.
You have all the answers within you.
Trust yourself.
With love,
Yash