“Some diseases don’t just affect the body. They quietly take away a person’s confidence, routine, freedom, and peace of mind. And the hardest part is that most people suffering from them don’t even talk about it. As a gastroenterologist, I don’t just treat diseases of the gut. I witness stories people are often too embarrassed to share. A person who cannot eat without fear can’t truly enjoy life. That understanding slowly drew me towards gastroenterology.
I come from Ongole in Prakasam district. Both my parents are school teachers by profession and taught me the value of service from a very young age. My medical journey began at ASRAM Medical College, Eluru, in 2002. Later, I pursued my MD from Manipal University and completed my DM in Medical Gastroenterology at Osmania Medical College between 2014 and 2017.
No textbook prepares you for what patients go through emotionally. I still remember a young patient who stopped attending social gatherings because they constantly feared needing a washroom urgently. The illness slowly isolated them. Months later, after treatment helped them regain control, they smiled and said, ‘Doctor, I went out without fear today.’
People hesitate to talk about gut-related symptoms due to embarrassment, often causing complications to develop before they reach us. Take Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)—it is far more than just a ‘gas problem.’ More than 5 million people worldwide are living with it, and the numbers in India are steadily rising among young adults. When patients ask me, ‘Doctor, is this because of my diet?’ I always say, no, it is not your fault. With more than 165 genes predisposing someone to it, it is predominantly a genetic problem.
To anyone silently struggling with this condition, please know this: you are not alone. Your condition is real, your struggles are valid, and help is available. Medicine can be exhausting, but what keeps me grounded is the trust patients place in me and the small victories, like a fear reduced or a life made a little easier. Because health is not just about living; it is about living with dignity.”
— Dr. Sarath Chandra Gorantla