My name is Sunali, and I am 24 years old. I live in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
In 2021, I took the COVID-19 vaccine, and one week later, I started experiencing regular nosebleeds for three consecutive days. After that, I developed a cold, and my nose became blocked, preventing air from passing through. Eventually, I lost the ability to breathe through my nose entirely and could only breathe through my mouth.
I consulted many doctors, but some were unable to diagnose the cause of my condition. Some even referred me to a mental health doctor. I was continuously crying and felt very distressed. My mother, who supported me throughout, and I decided to visit a hospital in Kangra — RPGMC (Tanda).
I was admitted there for 22 days, but unfortunately, there was no improvement in my condition, and they could not find the underlying cause. Despite this, they decided to perform surgery on my nose without anesthesia, which was extremely painful. I still remember that pain vividly.
After being discharged, on October 23, I experienced trauma, continuous vomiting, and dizziness that lasted the entire night. My mother again took me back to RPGMC, but they didn’t treat me urgently. They admitted me once again, and the following morning, I was referred to the ENT department. Despite the ongoing dizziness, they were still unable to identify the cause.
On October 24, I underwent surgery on my ear, but 2–3 days later, I lost all sensation in my ear and became completely deaf. On November 2, just two days before Diwali, I was discharged, but by then, I had completely lost sensation in my ear.
As time passed, I began experiencing severe pain and swelling in my hands, feet, and joints, which became so intense that even the lightest touch caused unbearable pain. A week later, I began coughing up blood, which stopped after a few days.
I returned to RPGMC for blood tests. After a week, we went back to the hospital for the results. On that day, my eyes had turned completely red. The doctors prescribed some medication, but the redness persisted. When we received the reports, the doctors informed me that my creatinine levels were dangerously high at 7, and my liver was damaged, which could lead to further organ failure. They advised us to seek urgent treatment in Shimla or Chandigarh (PGI).
My brother, who lives in Chandigarh, suggested we go to PGI immediately. That very night, we made our way to the PGI emergency department. Upon arrival, I was treated on a priority basis. I could not walk, my hands and feet were swollen, and I could barely speak because my voice was too faint.
After some initial tests, the doctors diagnosed me with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA). They administered several medications, including blood transfusions, and I began to regain some hearing in my ear. I was admitted to PGI, where I underwent dialysis and continued treatment.
Slowly, I started to recover.
Now, three years later, I am completely fine and healthy. I am incredibly grateful to the doctors of PGI, whose expertise and care made all the difference in my recovery. PGI has always been a place of excellent care, where treatments are effective and painless, helping patients recover as quickly as possible.
Thank you so much to the entire PGI staff for their unwavering support and compassionate care throughout this journey.