Meryem's Story: The Path to Recovery from Tuberculosis

She moved abroad to pursue her studies in management and was excelling academically. Her first-year exams were intense, but she passed them more than successfully.

The First Warning Signs

During the summer break, however, she began to feel unwell: constant fatigue, a swollen throat, a persistent cough, and severe headaches. She initially thought it was due to academic stress, but when the symptoms persisted for over a month, Meryem visited the university hospital.

Doctors first diagnosed her with a common cold, but the prescribed treatment didn’t help. Over the next three months, Meryem was treated for everything from the flu to tonsillitis. Medications, physiotherapy, and recommendations kept changing. Online searches for her symptoms yielded a range of possibilities — from depression to cancer.

Prolonged Treatment for Unknown Illness

By mid-September, when classes resumed, Meryem was completely exhausted. She woke up at night drenched in sweat, had lost significant weight, and was tormented by a productive cough. One night, she woke up unable to feel her legs below the knees. She pinched her calves, but sensation only returned after an hour.

"When I suddenly started feeling nauseous from my favorite oranges, I immediately thought — it’s tuberculosis. I remembered a distant relative who had tuberculosis and compared the symptoms. He also suffered from constant nausea and extreme weight loss. But when I brought this up with the campus hospital doctor, I had to insist on a lung X-ray! I wasn’t afraid of the diagnosis; I just wanted to know the truth and finally start treatment".

The X-ray revealed a dark spot, but laboratory tests did not confirm tuberculosis. Until December, Meryem was hospitalized several times, but the treatments provided little relief. At dorm, her condition worsened. A clear diagnosis remained elusive, and her studies had to be put on hold.

Returning Home

Meryem decided to take a leave of absence from her studies and return home.

Upon arrival, she immediately underwent all necessary tests and another X-ray. The next day, she was informed that she had tuberculosis — instead of a spot, the X-ray now showed a clearly visible open cavity. The diagnosis was confirmed by a sputum test using the GeneXpert machine.

"The doctors explained to me how important it was to detect the disease earlier," Meryem said. "If I had waited a bit longer, my condition could have been much worse".

Receiving the diagnosis brought mixed emotions for Meryem. She was shocked that it was indeed tuberculosis, but also relieved that treatment was available and accessible. However, she was deeply concerned about the possibility of having infected others.

Accepting the Diagnosis and Starting Treatment

After the diagnostics, Meryem began an 9-month treatment regimen, which was far from easy. Doctors explained that she had initially had a sputum positive form of tuberculosis – contagious form of TB, when mycobacterium tuberculosis were actively released from her lungs into the environment. This was terrifying, and despite the doctors' support, Meryem worried about how this might affect her loved ones. She strictly followed the recommendations — staying home in self-isolation, regularly wet-cleaning her room, wearing a mask, and avoiding prolonged contact with family members.

Meryem was incredibly fortunate with her family. They supported her at every stage of treatment and actively involved her in family life, ensuring she never felt alone. Her parents underwent preventive treatment, while her siblings and their children, who adored their aunt and visited her often, regularly had follow-up X-rays. Even her neighbors supported her on her path to recovery.

Meryem was open about her diagnosis. When chatting with people online, if anyone showed romantic interest, she would bluntly say: "I have tuberculosis!". This weeded out those who held stereotypes about the disease. But one person wasn’t discouraged.
 

The First Signs of Recovery: A Step Toward a New Life

After nearly a month of intensive treatment, Meryem’s condition started improving, and doctors informed her that tuberculosis had transitioned to a sputum negative – non-contagious form. This meant the risk of transmitting the infection to others had significantly decreased. Despite the side effects of the medication, Meryem felt uplifted by this news — she was relieved that her family were no longer at high risk.

During this time, her family grew even closer. Her parents, sister, and brother supported her at every step — from picking up her to get medicines at the health center to helping with household chores. They adapted their daily lives to minimize the physical burden on Meryem.

Transformation Through Illness: Learning to Care for Herself

However, there were periods when she felt particularly weak, both physically and emotionally.

Throughout her treatment, Meryem had to rethink her life and self-care habits. The medicines caused her skin to darken and dry out, so she dedicated time each day to skincare routines. Her appetite increased, and her food preferences changed, so she made time for walks in the fresh air not to gain weight. When the medicines caused apathy, she took up new hobbies — doing whatever it took to emerge from this experience stronger.

Once her tuberculosis became “non-open”, Meryem again started thinking about her future. Her studies and career were still unresolved. She was used to being self-sufficient, but her unstable health made even remote work difficult. The young man who wasn’t scared off by her diagnosis became a great support. He took on more responsibilities, caring for her and planning their future wedding so Meryem could focus on her recovery. Their chats became a daily routine — they discussed the importance of following medical advice, shared concerns about the treatment process, and explored ways to regain her health faster. These cuddling moments and care made her recovery journey easier and quicker.

After several months of consistent treatment, Meryem noticed significant improvements. Her symptoms gradually disappeared, and doctors confirmed that her immune system had recovered, allowing her to return to an active life. However, despite the positive changes, she faced a new challenge: stigma. As she began to go outside more and more, she noticed that some acquaintances and relatives avoided her, fearing infection. This hurted, but Meryem understood that tuberculosis is treatable and that she was doing everything possible to recover.

Rebuilding the Future: Dreams and the Path Forward

Today, nearly a year into her treatment, Meryem feels much better. The cavity in her lung has closed, and her TB tests are negative. Her phthisiatrician (TB treating physician) has even recommended her for a medical commission to officially declare her cured of tuberculosis.

"I’m eagerly awaiting the commission’s decision — it will be a new beginning for me. Once I get the certificate of recovery, I’ll finally believe that all the plans I’ve been making for almost a year are real. And I have many: resuming my studies, preparing for my wedding, and setting up our future home".

More Than Just a Diagnosis: A Message for Others Fighting TB

Meryem’s path to recovery was not easy, but she didn’t take it alone. The support of her family, doctors, and loved ones gave her the strength to keep going, and now she knows that life, not illness, awaits her.

She advises anyone experiencing similar symptoms to get diagnosed as soon as possible. And if the diagnosis is confirmed, focus not on the disease but on the treatment — take medicines regularly, eat well, rest, and build up strength.

“Most importantly, don’t face it alone: the support of loved ones can be the key to successful recovery”.

Since 2010, Turkmenistan's National Tuberculosis Program has been implemented with the support of grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GF). In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MoHMIT) and with the implementation support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GF grants have contributed to reducing the burden of tuberculosis and strengthening the healthcare system. Starting in 2018, the Government of Turkmenistan has gradually taken over financial responsibilities for many program activities, including the procurement of medicines and reagents for the treatment of drug-sensitive tuberculosis, and by 2021, for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) as well.

In 2025, the GF project will focus on the most complex cases of tuberculosis, as well as supporting diagnosis, treatment, and patient care, with a gradual transition to full domestic funding of the program by 2027.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the GF, UNDP, and MoHMIT, tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment have become more accessible in the country. However, the path to recovery for patients can still be challenging, especially if the disease is not diagnosed promptly. This was the case for Meryem, a young woman who had to endure a long and difficult process of diagnosis abroad and treatment at home.