Even the Healer Gets Boils

Hello, I am both a patient and a doctor by profession.

Lately, I’ve been hearing the saying "The cobbler’s children go barefoot" more than ever — an apt reflection of my current reality. People often assume that, because I’m a doctor, I must be resistant to pain. Some even go as far as to suggest that my suffering exists simply because I am a doctor, rather than due to the underlying disease.

Living with ankylosing spondylitis has shown me how deeply misunderstood and unpredictable this condition truly is. Each flare brings a new set of challenges. As someone preparing for postgraduate exams, the effort it takes to study while managing pain is immense.

Stress becomes a dangerous trigger — leading to a flare, which then worsens my depression, further intensifying the pain and breaking my ability to focus. This vicious cycle has become my reality for months.

Despite repeated efforts, I often feel like I’m failing to break free from it. But recently, I discovered this community, and reading through the shared experiences has been a turning point. For the first time, I felt seen and understood. This space has quietly offered me a sense of hope—something I had almost lost.

Thank you, truly, to everyone.