Brits Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis-Healing Story

Hi Unique,

Here is a longer write up of my healing journey :)

When I was eleven years old, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthropathy, Hypothyroidism, and Vitiligo. As a younger child, I suffered from intense scalp eczema as well. My doctors shared I would be in a wheelchair within the year with my symptoms. Heavy drugs were advised, and my mom decided to pursue alternative routes to healing (e.g. diet). I was on an anti-inflammatory protocol for several years and antibiotic treatment (my mom thought it was a bacterial infection that caused my autoimmune diseases). Eventually, my rheumatoid was in remission and unlike the doctor's predicted I was not in a wheelchair and a very active young adult. 

Span out years later around age 30, my rheumatoid is in remission, but some gut issues and rectal pain led me to my first hospitalization. It was discovered I had a perianal abscess. I had my first drain put in at that time. Over the last few years, I have had two additional surgeries and two drains put in. My healing for the second round was much slower and I was really battling depression and anxiety over my pain. The doctors shared that some people are more susceptible to perianal abscesses.  I bounced around from rectal to gastro, rheumatology to infectious disease. None of my doctors were talking to each other and every time I met with a specialist it seemed like no one had tools to help get me healthy again. It was a very painful few years, feeling isolated at home. I required daily attention for my rectal wound and several weekly appointments. My health was almost a job at this point and my anxiety was growing because no one had any answers for me. After my colonoscopy, I was cleared from Crohn's disease, which could have been the reason for re-occurring perianal abscesses.

I found your healing story through my friend Alissa. At this time, I had gone back to my childhood eating and started back on an anti-inflammatory diet. Alissa shared her story of working with you and learning about the bean protocol. I had honestly never eaten beans before…and didn't understand how to wash them from the can haha (which Alissa still finds hilarious). I started incorporating a small portion of beans in my diet and whole foods (x3 meals a day). I also jumped into work with a pain therapist and participated in a chronic pain study at a local university. I learned how Pain (Sensation) = Structural + Fear (Stress). This class highlighted Safety and Danger messages we tell ourselves. Safe and danger foods/people/activities/habits. I realized through this pain class and your work with food, that I could heal myself and decrease my pain and anxiety. My Eczema had also come back very intensely on my scalp (like big chunks). And I am happy to say it is almost completely cleared. 

I have been on the bean protocol over a year. At times, if I drop off socially (the holidays) and the pain in my rectal area comes back, I get back on the protocol and can tell my brain safety messages that the pain will go away with good food. When we spoke on the phone, during my chronic pain years you shared "Your body is talking to you." This statement really woke me up, you were the first person in my adult pain to discuss food and healing. Thank you so much for your work. Your bean work is a lifestyle for me. My friends say, “here she goes again about the beans” and my response is “they changed my life, so yes I will talk about them."

Best,

Britt Stevenson

NOTE-

Hi Unique!

I wanted to reach out and let you know you changed my life. After we chatted on the phone, I started adding a small portion of beans to every meal. My body has totally healed itself.

I spent a few years being tossed around to different specialists (gastro, rectal, rheuamtology) and  no one could give me an answer. When we talked on the phone, your story of healing your body really inspired me. I have not been hospitalized for the past year. They kept putting drains inside me for parianal abscess. I also had crazy eczema (head scalp) that has completely healed. I have a massive history of autoimmune disorders as a child and your food healing has really impacted my story. 

Very thankful for your passion to heal people! I look forward to eating my beans because they make me feel so dang good!

Best,

Britt