Journey to Bangalore for Kshar Sutra treatment

What can I say about it except it was not as bad I thought it would be! I survived (ha). Everyone is nervous for their first thread change which is understandable, but I think the nerves are exacerbated by the fact that you’ve just spent a couple of weeks recovering from a somewhat painful procedure, that you dread more pain. Everyone’s experience is different of course, but yeah.  I can sit ok and walk normally and pain is absolutely minimal – just a dull ache. So, Nava and I headed in to the clinic together and as I waited for doc to come in and do my thread change, Nava was getting the unexpected life changing news that she was fistula free! After 24 years!! Doc comes in to do the thread change for me, sprays to numb the area and completes the change in a minute or two. Very quick. I was jabbering away the whole time to distract myself, but was also genuinely keen to finish and see if Nava was ok as I wasn’t sure what news she’d received at that stage, I’d just heard crying....

Prior to coming I spent a LOT of time researching where to stay. One common theme is ideally to stay close to doc’s clinic, but during the pandemic sometime, doc moved clinics so all the recommendations on the support group on facebook were no longer applicable.  I had pre-requisites that I wasn’t willing to compromise on – main two being I wanted a balcony and a kitchen. The other things were: room service option for the days I wasn’t feeling well enough to leave the room or cook, a laundry, and a gym for a treadmill to walk easily and be close to my room should I need it. As a bonus I wanted a park nearby. I really wanted to stay in a 5 star hotel but it quickly became clear that it was unrealistic financially as well as it would not provide me my pre-requisites (the idea of staying in a room without an opening window for such an extended period of time makes me shudder). A friend from the support group advised me she was staying at the Melange Astris which I had seen in my s...

  What is kshar sutra? I have just assumed everyone reading knows what kshar sutra is/involves...but as we know, one shouldn’t assume! So I figured I’d include a very basic description here for those who need it, but also for the purposes of recording as much as I can about the treatment and all aspects of the journey for future fistula fighters. Kshar sutra is a technique where a thread is inserted through the fistula tunnel – like the seton we have at home, but oh so much more than that. The thread undergoes a specific process of coating. Numerous layers of varying Ayurvedic medications are used (aka herbs, plants, natural, healthy!) each of which play an important part in the healing process. Unlike the setons placed at home, this one is changed regularly, a fresh thread is placed and the herbs do their thing. The general idea (to my understanding – which won’t be precise of course!) is to essentially train that fistula out of your body gently from the inside. So the thread ...

Sorry for the delay in entries. I’ve been horizontal for a few days recovering from surgery. The day of the procedure (3 rd November) I headed in early but as this is the way of India, timing never really happens as planned. I ended up waiting until 11.30am for the anesthetist. The procedure takes place upstairs from Dr Bhat’s clinic. There are 3 or so recovery rooms (see pics), the ‘operation theatre’ and a nurse’s station/reception.   I was assigned to my little room which had a private bathroom, AC, TV and an extra bed for my carer person. I was joined by the lovely Nava who I met through the facebook group who so kindly stayed all day with me. One of my dearest friends Jen had come with me from Australia for the purposes of being my support but ended up ill! Poor poor Jen. I was prepared to undergo the surgery without anyone but am thankful for Nava’s presence. She’s truly been a massive support and I feel I have found a true friend in her. We have bonded and not just du...