In one of the rarest surgeries conducted in India, Sadaf Ansari Mohammed Faisal, weighing 142 kg, finally found relief from chronic pelvic pain that had tormented her for nearly a decade. Over the years, various general physicians, surgeons, and gynaecologists attempted to treat her, but each time she was left with disappointment.
Her fortunes changed after her brother’s friend mentioned Dr Abhishek Mangeshikar, a consultant gynaecologist and endometriosis surgeon.
Painful journey
Sadaf’s ordeal began in 2017. “It would hurt from the stomach downwards. I couldn’t sit, walk, sleep, or do any work. So I went to a hospital in the Masjid area. After some tests, they said a cyst had formed around my uterus. They operated laparoscopically and discharged me,” she said.
Sadaf’s surgery was covered under the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The pain returned in early 2018. “I visited the same doctors, and again they said it was a cyst and performed the same operation. This happened twice in 2018, around eight to nine months apart,” she added. The cycle continued with similar surgeries in 2019 and 2020.
However, her condition never improved. In 2022, she experienced severe pain once again. This time, she visited a different hospital in Byculla. “They admitted me to the ICU, kept me under observation, and gave me a leuprolide injection. But I didn’t get better, so they discharged me. I returned home completely disheartened,” said Sadaf.
In 2024, her pain became unbearable. She visited another hospital in Charni Road. “They admitted me for three days and gave me leuprolide injections. On the fourth day, they said they couldn’t treat me any further, as they were unable to diagnose the exact issue. They warned that attempting any surgery might risk my life and referred me to a civic hospital,” she said.
“I was taken there by ambulance because I couldn’t move at all. I lay on a stretcher for four to five hours with no medical attention. Two days later, I was re-admitted to the private hospital, but during laparoscopy, the doctors stopped midway. They said the cyst was bursting internally and proceeding could endanger my life,” she said.
Turning point
In April 2025, a friend of her brother referred them to Dr Mangeshikar. “We visited him, and he just asked for an MRI. After reviewing the report, he said he would treat my wife at Jaslok Hospital, where he is a consulting doctor. It was a simple and quick diagnosis — endometriosis. We were shocked that he diagnosed it with just one test.” said Faisal Ansari, Sadaf’s husband.
Complex surgery
Sadaf was admitted to Jaslok Hospital on May 11, and the surgery took place the next day. “At 142 kg, Sadaf was the heaviest person in the country to undergo this type of procedure. There were multiple adhesions around her reproductive organs due to previous laparoscopies. Her uterus, ovaries, and intestines had fused together, forming a frozen pelvis. The excess fat also made accessing the cysts extremely difficult,” said Dr Mangeshikar.
“She had both internal and external bilateral cysts. But using robotic surgery, we were able to operate without risking her life. The robotic arms could rotate 180 degrees, allowing us to reach and remove the cysts without damaging other organs,” he explained.
While typical endometriosis surgeries last about an hour, Sadaf’s operation took nearly three hours.
Financial struggles
“I used to give tuitions to students from Std I to Std XII. My husband works as a delivery person at a chemist. Together we earned about Rs 30,000 a month. Before the operation, we had already spent Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh on treatments. Monthly medication cost us Rs 18,000, and each leuprolide injection costs Rs 3800,” said Sadaf. Fortunately, her surgery was covered under the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Looking ahead
“I want to return to teaching. It’ll take time, but after this surgery, I finally have hope. We want to give our daughter a good education, and for that, both of us must work. I also hope the TB cyst in my thigh can be removed soon, but only after I recover fully,” said Sadaf as she thanked her family members, parents and her in-laws, for being her pillars of strength throughout.
142 kg
Weight of Sadaf Ansari Mohammed Faisal at the time of the surgery
2017
Year Sadaf Ansari first started feeling pain
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a medical condition where tissue like the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus, mostly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissue. This wrongly grown tissue reacts to hormonal changes in the same way the tissue inside the uterus reacts. This results in thickening of tissues, bleeding, and inflammation, which can cause severe pain. It also affects the productive ability of a woman as her fertility is hampered,” explained Dr Vandana Ghadge, a gynaecologist.
