In this article, we will find out how Chase completely transformed her Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using the appropriate medication and key diet and lifestyle changes under the Rheumatoid Solutions program.
Chase was first diagnosed with RA at the age of 21 and was living her life with immense pain, barely able to walk. After receiving her diagnosis, Chase abandoned her usual standard American diet and went full force into following the Rheumatoid Solutions program. As a result, she enjoyed an entire year of living symptom-free. Unfortunately, this upturn in her health led Chase to abandon her lifestyle and dietary changes and revert back to her previous diet. Sure enough, a year later, her symptoms came back, and her pain once again became unbearable.
Chase was determined to avoid medication this time, defiant that diet and lifestyle changes alone would be enough. Chase began listening to the Rheumatoid Solutions podcasts 24/7 to help her through this tough time. In these podcasts, Clint Paddison (founder and Owner of Rheumatoid Solutions) reassured Chase that “sometimes you need to have medication and the diet, and that’s like the sweet spot.”
At this point, Chase began to take methotrexate, Humira (adalimumab), and prednisone. These drugs led to some unpleasant side effects, including extreme fatigue and chronic UTI symptoms with no detectable infection. It got so bad that Chase had to take some time off work to cope with this. She also tried taking Xeljanz (tofacitinib), which caused her extreme chest pain, heart palpitations, and anxiety.
While following the Rheumatoid Solutions program, Chase was able to slowly wean herself off these medications as she started to feel her body healing. She now takes only Enbrel (etanercept) every 6 weeks to 2 months if needed. Chase achieved great success following a plant-based, whole foods, highly raw diet combined with a lot of juicing and the all-important juice cleanses. She slowly increased her exercise by taking up walking and even got a new puppy to motivate and accompany her! Walking slowly progressed to jogging, and 6 months down the line, Chase enjoyed regular yoga sessions to keep her active and her joints flexible. She now maintains a healthy balance by doing a mix of yoga and running to keep her fitness levels up and really enjoys a hot yoga session to sweat the toxins from her body.
On a typical day, Chase will get up between 5 and 7 am and take her dog for a walk straight away. After this, she either attends a yoga session or goes for a 3-mile run followed by breakfast of either fresh fruit or a nutrient-dense smoothie. As a big fan of juicing, she is often known to take 64 ounces of juice to keep her going at work! Dinner usually comprises a cooked meal (plant-based, whole foods) that typically includes leafy greens and other vegetables, rice, quinoa, and beans. Dinner is usually followed by calming activities such as reading and then getting to bed early. Throughout the day, Chase fills up on fruit snacks, such as bananas, apples, and dates. Not forgetting the importance of mental well-being in the healing process, Chase also prioritizes regular meditation sessions and exposure to the sunshine.
Chase’s journey has not been without its setbacks. In fact, this year, she fell off track for about a month when a doctor on Instagram persuaded her to reintroduce meat into her diet. Three weeks of consuming a meat-containing diet set Chase back around 2 months, with her intense pain returning. She used this experience to her advantage, renewing her dedication to following a whole food, plant-based, and highly raw diet, and it didn’t take her long to get back on track.
Since reversing her RA symptoms through dietary and lifestyle changes, Chase is looking to build an exciting future. Currently working as a hairstylist (which she loves but it can be hard on her joints), Chase is considering pursuing a career as a health coach, a role which will see her experience guide her well. She is also working to get herself as healthy as possible to realize her dream of starting a family in the next chapter of her life. Chase realizes that her experience dealing with RA has put her in the ideal position of better understanding her health and the changes she needs to make to get to where she wants to be.
Author
Dr. Rachael Bailey is an experienced Medical Writer with a Ph.D. in Cell Biology/Gastroenterology and a First-Class Honours degree in Biomedical Science. She undertook a Postdoctoral role at the University of Birmingham (UK) within their Cancer Sciences department, where her research contributed to a better understanding of the final stages of DNA replication.
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