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Testimonies
An encounter with a monster: Tuberculosis (TB)
A Tale worth to tell!!
An encounter with a monster: Tuber culosis (TB)
From 5th September 1998 I started experiencing bouts of fever. From then onwards the state of the fever never changed so I decided to seek professional attention in a hospital and do away with the tablets from the local drug shops.At the hospital, when my blood was tested for malaria, the parasites were found present, so I was given treatment.
On completion of the dose, my health did not improve; I still had spells of fever.I sought treatment from another hospital; the same treatment was given to me after finding the malaria parasites still present but still the fever persisted.By this time, my health had really deteriorated, I was coughing badly and my appetite was poor. Friends directed me to another clinic, which they claimed was very good at treating my condition.
By then I could not take myself, I had to be aided and supported. At this clinic, the doctor took blood from my arm, urine and sputum.The doctor told me that he was to divide the blood into three specimens; an x-ray was also taken. The results indicated that I had malaria and he prescribed five (5) injections, one was given there and then and the remaining four were taken in two days, one in the morning and later in evening. The other tests done, indicated that in the urine there were some bacteria and the x-ray showed that I had pneumonia. The Dr. prescribed some medication; by then I was coughing and vomiting terribly.The cough was not productive but persistent and whenever I ate I vomited.I tried the medicine given but there was no change, and eventually I started to become paralysed from the waist downwards.
The doctor took another x-ray still indicating confirmed pneumonia. He prescribed the same medication. I nearly died because I had spent two weeks without food but was living on Lucozade. I was not going to the toilet and most people said that the time had come for me to 'leave this world'.The food I would try to eat was without salt but to me it tested as if it had too much salt. "Geez! I cannot believe it is me writing all this stuff". "Fellow friends, what I believe is that T.B is a terrible disease, which can be cured but if not treated properly and in time can kill".
Later, TASO referred me to Mildmay Centre. By the time I went to Mildmay Centre I had already made my Will and had also requested TASO for transport to take my family from Ntinda where I was renting to Kawempe Lugoba where I had built my own house.My house was incomplete but I wanted to leave my family in a more secure place.3rd December 1998 was the day I was taken to Mildmay Centre, I was found with a temperature and gave the doctor the history of my health and at that time I could not swallow anything due to severe vomiting.The doctor gave me an injection to prevent further vomiting plus some medicine for my cough.
In addition, they took samples of my blood, urine, stool and sputum, I was also given another bottle to provide early morning sputum before eating anything.Another x-ray was taken which revealed that I had T.B. I was given T.B medicine, and advised to stop smoking and taking alcohol.
I made a conscious effort to gradually stop both practices with considerable success.What I realized about T.B as a disease, was that I had to seriously observe the rules given by the Doctor in particular taking the medication as prescribed until the treatment period of eight months was completed. I was supposed to take a lot of fluids and fruits.I used to take boiled food like Irish potatoes, eggs, meat, groundnuts, simsim and sometimes roasted chicken.I ate fruits like avocado pears, pineapples, paw paws, sugar cane and bananas of all types.
After diagnosing T.B, I weighed 39kgs as compared to 55kgs which I weighed at the time I started feeling sick. Now I weigh 65kgs and I feel very fine.
I am grateful to TASO; I attribute my recovery and improvement in welfare to staff and clients who were an inspiration through my terrible time; and I wish to appeal to the caregivers of people with T.B to be patient with them.
Long Live TASO!"
Ali Senyange, TASO client
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A Tale worth to tell!
The writer is a person living with AIDS wishing to share his experience of living with the disease, after testing HIV positive in July 1999.
"In 1992 I got a strange skin disease on my abdomen which I feared to be Herpes Zoster, a known symptom for AIDS. I took several tests at the AIDS Information Centre but I tested negative. I felt that I had escaped AIDS and decided never to 'play with fire' in my life again. It only worked for some few months until I got some one thought fit to be my wife. After obtaining an Advanced Certificate of education, I trained as a 'Croupier' (CASINO Dealer), a course I completed in June 1993. No sooner had I started working at the International Leisure Casino as a Croupier than I got married. We got our first baby, Joyce in 1994 and the second one John in 1996. In August 1996, my wife chose to use the injection method as a means of contraception. The side effect was a prolonged menstrual period, which lasted for over six months. However, the medical staff that attended to her three months after getting the first injection had assured her that the second injection would normalize her situation, but instead it worsened. I feared she would become anaemic but later she recovered with less interest in sex. At one time she told me to look around for some one else. " I am sorry but I am serious" she said.
As a result of her suggestion, I fell in love with one lady living about half a Kilometre from my home. Gradually, the love grew to an extent that sometimes I lied to my wife that I was going for duty yet I was off-duty, so that I could spend more time with my new partner. Eight months later, I dropped the use of a condom however, but then I got worried of my sero-status and I told my wife about this worry.
My new partner then fell ill and was admitted four times in Mulago hospital. I spent a lot of money on her treatment. More problems arose when I lost my job; yet I had to support two families. I owned a motorcycle that I gave to someone to transport passengers. The money, which my cyclist used to bring home, was no longer enough, for the drugs and other requirements. The rent bills started to accumulate and my wife wanted some more capital for her business. I sold the motorbike but still it did not solve all the problems. My wife eventually decided to divorce me and I moved to the house of my other partner. Burglars broke into my first home and stole most of my property.
My health situation worsened and I started suspecting that I had AIDS. I got courage and on the 4th of April 1999 I again went for an HIV test at the AIDS Information Centre (AIC). Despite the fact that I highly suspected my partner to be HIV positive, I nearly 'went mad' when the counsellor gave me my positive results. I remember telling her something like ' "Oh God, now my children... they are ... anyway they are lovely!" Then immediately I lost sight as tears clouded my eyes. I re-collected myself and I went directly to TASO Mulago Counselling Centre.
That day I felt like not wanting to go back home so I stuck around. In the mean time I heard some music from a nearby building and that was, the drama group of TASO Mulago. I picked some interest in the drama group and Mr. Richard Serunkuuma; the Day Care Supervisor interviewed and introduced me to the rest of the group as a new member. I liked the way I was received and immediately felt at home. Looking in one corner of the building I saw a keyboard, which I had for sometime longed for, and this further intensified my interest in the group.My appreciation goes to organisations like The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), AIDS Information Centre (AIC), the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) which have worked hard to sensitise the population about HIV/AIDS, carrying out blood tests, caring for the sick and offering counselling.
Fred Mpiima, Drama group member, TASO Mulago Counselling Centre, Kampala.
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