In 2005, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and started treatment right away. The traditional treatments did not seem to work. I changed from several treatments and the one that did was an experimental drug. It worked pretty good for about 4 or 5 months and then I fell back. That was about 2 years ago. Then we discontinued it. It really didn’t work. Then I started on Humira and it really didn’t seem to do much of anything. At that time, I could barely walk across street. I was in constant pain.
A year ago in August, I did the stem cells. After about 3 or 4 months, I started to notice a difference. I can’t say I am 100% but from what I was to what I am, I got my life back. I am basically pain free. I still have a little bit of, not necessarily pain but, discomfort in my toes occasionally and sometimes in various joints. It bounces around a little bit. But it’s nothing, nothing like it was before.
In the beginning, I couldn’t sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time and I had to sit in a chair to be able to sleep for those 10 or 15 minutes. It was very discouraging. In fact, I wanted to die. It was so intense that I didn’t want to go on that way. It was not life. And even with the traditional treatments that seemed to help somewhat but it was no relief.
And now with this – like I said – I have my life back. And I am not taking any poisons. I function, basically, normally. I am basically pain free compared to what it was.
They did a mini-liposuction, processed it and gave it to me intravenously. We extended the treatment over 3 or 4 weeks. Since I live here (Panama) it was a lot easier to do that instead of doing it continually which I believe is what they do for most people who live outside Panama. People who had not seen me in a while said that my face has changed and my look. I feel different. Of course, when you are living with pain, you’re awful tight and that’s changed. I just saw some people who I have not seen in a while last week. They remembered when they saw me last, I couldn’t walk. They said, “Wow! You are a new person now.” And I am.
Michael Foster – Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient
