Generalized Myasthenia Gravis
Before I share my medical journey, I must say something from the heart.
The way all of you — my batchmates from Jolu 83 — constantly think of me, check in, and stand by my side has touched me beyond words. Even my daughters and son-in-law are amazed. They often ask, “What kind of bond did you all share, that even after forty-five years, your friends still care so deeply, offering such courage and support without pause?” I truly believe this is something rare and precious, and I am forever grateful.
It all started in July 2024 with a drooping of my left eye.
Coincidentally, I was in Delhi at the time, and the neuro-ophthalmologist I saw there diagnosed me with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG).
gMG is a rare, chronic autoimmune disorder that disrupts communication between nerves and muscles, leading to weakness in voluntary muscles—the ones we use to move our arms, legs, face, and even to breathe.
We returned to Kolkata and consulted Sankara Nethralaya. They confirmed the diagnosis and referred me to Dr. Haseeb Hasan, a distinguished neurologist in the city. I began my treatment under him.
Around this time, our friend Anjan Dasgupta (Bedo) reached out and shared that his father had also suffered from the same condition and was treated by Dr. Sitansu Sekhar Nandi. I then consulted Dr. Nandi and underwent a series of tests, including a CT scan. An enlargement of the thymus gland was detected, and I was started on steroid therapy.
Dr. Nandi referred me to a surgeon, Dr Bhabatosh Biswas. Unfortunately, our interaction with him was unsettling—he came across as highly eccentric and left us more anxious than assured.
My daughter and son-in-law then arranged an online consultation with Dr. Arvind Kumar of Medanta Hospital, who strongly advised immediate surgery to remove the thymus gland. We rushed to Delhi to prepare for it.
However, before going ahead with surgery, my daughter and son-in-law felt it was important to get a second opinion — and that’s when my journey to AIIMS Delhi truly began.
It was a difficult and uncertain phase. At the Neurology OPD, we began consulting Dr. Vishnu. He immediately ruled out the need for immediate surgery, which left us confused and unsure about the next steps. My steroid dosage was doubled, and over time, additional medications were introduced. Dr. Vishnu also referred me to Dr. Rajendra Prasad from the General Surgery department for further evaluation.
It took many months of OPD visits, long waits, and constant follow-ups. After nearly 6–7 months of medical management, Dr. Vishnu finally gave the surgical clearance. With a great stroke of fortune, I underwent successful surgery at AIIMS Delhi.
It’s honestly hard to believe that such a level of healthcare exists in our own country. As I lay there recovering, I often thought—every Indian citizen deserves access to this kind of care, just as people do in Europe’s welfare states. Sadly, by following the American model, we've allowed commercial healthcare to dominate our system.
The behavior of the doctors at AIIMS was remarkable—so respectful, gentle, and humble. Many are well-known across India and even Asia. Their teams include MD and DM students, and every day without fail, senior doctors would visit the ICU, HDU, and even the private cabin in the ward to personally check on patients. They would always speak warmly:
“Uncle, how are you today? Taking your medicines? Can you show us the exercises?”
Doctors from other departments—neuro, cardiac, anaesthesiology—would also come promptly whenever required. And because the entire setup is non-commercial, my trust in their care was absolute.
The nurses, most of them young and sweet-natured, looked after me with such kindness and care.
Those twelve days at AIIMS turned into a lifetime memory. One more thing that amazed me—despite lakhs of people moving in and out of that hospital daily, the place was kept clean and shining. I still wonder how they manage it.
Honestly, instead of more Rafales, Sukhois, or Agni missiles, I wish we had more AIIMS-like institutions across the country.
It’s important to note that this surgery is not curative in itself. But with continued follow-up and medication, there’s a real chance of controlling or possibly containing the disease—which otherwise has no permanent cure.
Name | Specialization | Contact | Hospital/Clinic | Action |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Rachna Mazumder | Endocrinology | +91 33 6628 4444 / 1860 500 4424 (Toll-Free) | Fortis Hospital Anandapur | View |
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