Testimonial: Beating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Testimonial written by: Samuel Githegi

 

Hey,
My name is Samuel Githegi. I am 29 years old. I live in Nairobi Kenya and work as a copywriter for an advertising agency. What that means in simple terms is I write the content in the adverts you see and other forms of media. About 11 years ago in 2003, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. RA for short. This is characterized by stiffness in joints usually the small ones, and then progressing to larger joints. The difference between RA and osteoarthritis is that osteoarthritis is the general wear and tear of joints due to age or injury while RA is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks your joints and the ligaments therein. Doing my research online, I found out that certain foods were bad for arthritis, and these were things like tomatoes potatoes and red meat. I tried to avoid them as best I could. Granted there was some relief, but my diet focused on grains and “natural” foods, I still got progressively worse with time. I wrote this down to the fact that RA was a degenerative disorder and nothing more. But a few weeks into June 2014, I was the worst I had ever been. I could not work because the balls of my feet hurt when I did. My ankles hurt too and virtually every joint from there to my shoulder blade. I got depressed, hardly 30 and I was going cripple. I had tried my best to keep fit and go to the gym but now I couldn’t even put on my clothes out of pain. Driving became a task because my wrists couldn’t handle the pressure of turning a steering wheel. I saw my rheumatologist and he prescribed medicine I couldn’t afford and tests I also couldn’t afford. He was brief and offered no explanations to any questions I had. My insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions and I felt helpless. I was depressed and thought hopelessly about my life. I shut myself out from people and hardly talked to anyone. At my office, in mid June 2014, I decided to look for new solutions to my problem. Things I could do for myself that didn’t involve solutions I couldn’t. I then stumbled upon one testimonial and despite working in the advertising industry (A place where skewed testimonials written by men like me are a dime a dozen) I decided to look for the book being talked about by the lady there…The Paleo Solution. A few pages in, I honestly did feel like an honest person who wasn’t trying to sell was talking to me. A man like me not only needs convincing, I like to know what is going on and why I should do this or that. This book satisfied those very needs. It told me how I should eat and why i should eat and live a certain way. This book changed the way I think and live. After reading it, I thought it was a blessing in disguise that I could not afford medication. I think of all those I used to meet at my doctors lobby and I want to get the word out to them. Doctors do not care about you. If they did, they would prescribe this book and you would live a normal life.

It is July 28th 2014, I woke up this morning well rested. For the first time in over ten years, there is not a single pain in my body. I had a perpetually swollen finger and I have attached its picture here. It is in the best condition it has been in, in over 6 years. At one point in life I had considered cutting it off, but I couldn’t find a doctor who would. Anything from “wiping” my posterior in the loo to holding a tea cup had been changed because of the pain this finger brought. Now the fluid build up is gone and only the deformed joint remains. I had eczema before…..its gone. My skin is smoother. While my clothes fit better, despite weight loss never being my aim. Getting healthy has been my focus. My love handles are noticeable smaller, despite working out less.

I am eternally grateful for your book Sir. It’s basic solutions have changed my life. While I found it hard to switch at first, my pain gave me the resolve to do it and I thank you for making life a possibility for me once again. I wish everyone could read this book. There is too much suffering out there and Doctors doing too little to help their patients. I am going to do this for a few more weeks and keep you up to date with my progress. I still can’t believe this is only six weeks in. Once again, thank you.

A very mobile and once again athletic Samuel Githegi

Squatchy

Christopher Williams (a.k.a. Squatchy) is a paleo aficionado, educator, personal trainer, wellness coach, and hobbyist chef. He also works as part of the Robb Wolf team.