FRANCISCO DE ALBA
Mexico
Rheumatoid Arthritis

For eight long and crippling years, I suffered with severe shoulder, neck and lower back pain accompanied by persistent joint swelling. In an effort to find relief from the increasing pain, I sought out and was treated by several world-renowned physicians in both Mexico and the United States. The diagnoses I received from these physicians was that I was suffering from either Rheumatoid Arthritis or Reiter’s Syndrome—both of which are chronic forms of inflammatory arthritis. Steroids, antibiotics and sulfa drugs were prescribed but as the years dragged on I found the medications grew less and less effective and my symptoms became worse. It seemed that nothing could help me anymore. I was a successful businessman who had worked very hard to achieve my goals and dreams. I had been blessed with a beautiful wife, three healthy children and a wonderful family. It seemed that the agony of this “incurable” disease was taking all of that away from me.

There are moments in your life that you will remember forever. For me, it came in 1998 when one of my physicians recommended that I begin taking the medication Methotrexate—an oral chemotherapy. I was stunned. I thought to myself, “If I don’t have cancer, then why is chemotherapy being prescribed?” This question made me realize that my physicians were not interested in what might be causing the pain and swelling I endured. How could I possibly make a decision about starting chemotherapy if I didn’t know why I was receiving it or exactly what the physicians were treating? As it was, I had already suffered from the negative side effects caused by the drugs I was prescribed. I knew there had to be another alternative.

I began hearing amazing stories from my friends in Mexico who had traveled to Sierra Integrative Medical Center (SIMC) in Nevada to receive treatments for their “incurable” disease and would return to Mexico “cured”. This at a time when most Americans were traveling to Mexico for alternative treatments! The philosophy of this clinic is a simple yet powerful one; “We treat the cause of the disease, not just the symptoms”. I was so impressed by this creed and so desperate to avoid chemotherapy that I contacted SIMC. I began my medical quest to determine the cause of my suffering in the latter part of February 1998. Laboratory tests performed at the clinic revealed that I had extremely high titers of Epstein Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus, abnormal EKG, kidney and liver dysfunction, Hepatitis A and B, elevated Rheumatoid Factor and Sedimentation Rate, Multiple Allergies which included severe food allergies. The food allergies alone would explain why everything I ate resulted in increased pain and swelling!

My business keeps me extremely busy and I was unable to stay for treatment at the clinic immediately. Periodically from April 1998 through October 1998, I would receive a few of the clinic’s scientific, natural therapies, which were custom-made just for me. In a very short time I began to notice a significant improvement in my pain and swelling. At last, in February of 1999, all my symptoms had subsided. My latest laboratory test results showed the rheumatoid factor to be way down, the sedimentation rate is normal and the elevated viral titers no longer exist. Gradually, I have stopped taking all prescribed medications. I am now healthy, happy and enjoying a wonderful quality of life.

The physicians and staff at SIMC work diligently to treat the “cause” of each and every patient’s illness. They spend countless hours researching each individual case and take whatever time and effort is needed in helping that patient recover. My family and friends join me in saluting SIMC for their humanity, spirit, ability and kindness. Their selfless and endless pursuit of knowledge and research ultimately benefits each and every one of their patients.

It is my sincere hope that no one has to go through the needless pain and suffering that I endured for so many years. With a medical facility as knowledgeable, experienced and caring as SIMC, no one should ever have to.