Saurabh Rane was just 20 years old when it was diagnosed that he had tuberculosis. The young doctor started a course of medication which didn’t help him much. The fevers continued and so did the weight loss. He felt continually anxious and exhausted.

More tests were done and the results were even more disheartening- it was found that Rane suffered from extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis. The first and second line of drugs being of little use in such a scenario, his doctor recommended he start on Bedaquiline.

But even that was not to be: Rane’s heart rate and calcium levels were higher than the permissible range in which Bedaquiline could be taken. That being the case, his doctor put him on an alternative regimen that includes toxic and potent drugs. These drugs did treat Rane’s TB. Only, the problem was that it also brought side effects including the partial loss of sight, hearing, sensation of touch, along with thyroid imbalances and depression.

Bravely enough, Rane has overcome many of these hurdles and  is completely cured now. The Delhi based public healthcare official is back at work; not just that he has started running marathons and undertaking  tough treks- his recent conquests include scaling the 20,000 ft high Stok Kangri peak in Leh.

A video that has the doctor narrating his experience of XDR-TB hit Youtube and is turning out to be an inspiration for many who suffer from the deadly disease. You can view the video right here:

image credits: youthkiawaaz.com

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