The Carnivore Diet Reversed My Autoimmune Disease: 2 Years of Blood Work and What My Doctor Said

My Rheumatologist Thinks I'm a Statistical Anomaly

My rheumatologist thinks I'm a statistical anomaly. My gastroenterologist says it shouldn't work. But my blood work doesn't lie.

Two years ago, I could barely type a line of code without my knuckles screaming. Today I'm writing this at 6 AM before a full day of software engineering, something that would have been physically impossible during my worst flares. I am not a doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I am a 34-year-old software engineer who was desperate, tried something extreme, and got results that nobody in my medical team can fully explain.

This is my story, told with receipts.

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The Diagnosis: When My Body Turned Against Itself

I was 28 when I woke up one morning and couldn't close my right hand. I remember staring at my fingers, willing them to bend, and feeling this deep, hot ache radiating from every joint. I figured I had slept on it wrong. A week later, both hands were swollen. Then my knees. Then my feet.

After three weeks of "maybe it's just stress," my GP ran blood work. My C-reactive protein was 48 mg/L (normal is under 3). My rheumatoid factor was 312 IU/mL (normal is under 14). My sed rate (ESR) was 67 mm/hr (normal is under 20).

The rheumatologist didn't even hesitate. Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, aggressive onset. She told me that with numbers like mine, we needed to hit it hard and fast or I'd have permanent joint damage within two years.

I was terrified.

The Conventional Treatment Timeline

Here's what the next four years looked like:

Year 1 (Age 28-29): Methotrexate + Prednisone

• Started on 15mg/week methotrexate, ramped to 25mg
• Prednisone bridge therapy at 20mg, tapered over 3 months
• Methotrexate made me violently nauseous every dosing day
• Lost clumps of hair in the shower
• Liver enzymes started creeping up at month 8
• CRP dropped to ~18, but never below 12
• Could function but felt like I was living at 60%

Year 2 (Age 29-30): Added Hydroxychloroquine

• "Triple therapy" approach
• Marginal improvement, CRP hovering around 14-16
• Developed mouth ulcers so bad I couldn't eat solid food some weeks
• Required eye exams every 6 months due to hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity risk
• Brain fog became constant; I started making mistakes at work

Year 3 (Age 30-31): Switched to Biologics (Humira)

• $5,200/month before insurance, $800/month after
• Self-injecting every two weeks
• CRP finally dropped to 8-10 range
• But developed recurring sinus infections (4 in 6 months)
• One infection turned into pneumonia; hospitalized for 3 days
• Immunosuppression is no joke

Year 4 (Age 31-32): Biologic Roulette

• Humira stopped working (developed antibodies)
• Switched to Enbrel - allergic reaction at injection site
• Switched to Actemra - worked for 4 months, then liver enzymes spiked
• Rheumatologist mentioned "we still have options" but her voice said otherwise
• CRP back up to 22
• I was depressed, exhausted, and starting to accept permanent disability

At 32, I was taking 11 pills a day, giving myself injections, getting blood work every 6 weeks, and still waking up every morning with 45+ minutes of joint stiffness. My grip strength was 40% of normal. I had to use voice-to-text for most of my coding because my fingers couldn't keep up.

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The Turning Point: A Podcast and Pure Desperation

I'll be honest about how I got here because I think the source matters for credibility.

In October 2023, I was lying on my couch during a bad flare, unable to do much besides listen to podcasts. I stumbled on Mikhaila Peterson's appearance on Joe Rogan's show where she talked about her severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis going into remission on an all-meat diet.

My immediate reaction? This is insane. This is quackery. This is everything my doctors have warned me about - internet health gurus selling false hope.

But then she said something that stuck with me: "I'm not telling you it will work for you. I'm telling you what happened to me, and I have the blood work to prove it."

I spent the next two weeks reading everything I could find. Not the carnivore diet influencer content - I went to PubMed. I read about elimination diets and autoimmune conditions. I found case reports (yes, just case reports, not RCTs) of people with RA showing improvement on highly restrictive diets. I read about the potential mechanisms: removal of plant antigens, lectins, and oxalates that might trigger immune responses in susceptible individuals. I read about the relationship between gut permeability and autoimmune disease.

Was any of it conclusive? Absolutely not. But I was 32, running out of pharmaceutical options, and facing the real possibility of joint replacement surgery before 40.

I decided to try it for 90 days. If nothing changed, I'd go back to biologic roulette. I had nothing left to lose.

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The Transition Protocol: 8 Weeks to Carnivore

I didn't go cold turkey (no pun intended). Here's exactly what I did:

Weeks 1-2: Elimination Phase 1

• Removed all processed foods, sugar, seed oils, grains
• Kept vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, eggs, dairy
• Already felt slightly better (probably the sugar and processed food removal)

Weeks 3-4: Elimination Phase 2

• Removed all fruits, nuts, nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes)
• Kept meat, fish, eggs, low-oxalate vegetables, dairy
• Noticeable reduction in morning stiffness (from 45 min to ~25 min)

Weeks 5-6: Elimination Phase 3

• Removed all vegetables and remaining plant foods
• Kept meat, fish, eggs, butter, hard cheese
• This is where things got weird: massive improvement in 10 days
• Morning stiffness down to ~10 minutes

Weeks 7-8: Strict Carnivore

• Removed dairy (except butter and ghee)
• Meat, fish, eggs, animal fats only
• Salt and water
• Morning stiffness: essentially gone

I tapered my medications in consultation with my rheumatologist (she was NOT happy about this experiment, but she's a good doctor who respects patient autonomy). Methotrexate was tapered over 8 weeks. I was not on biologics at this point because of the liver enzyme issues.

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The Blood Work: Numbers Don't Lie

This is the part that matters. Not how I feel (feelings are subjective), not what I believe (beliefs are biased), but what my blood shows.

Key Takeaways1 / 5
Key Health Metrics: Before vs. After Carnivore Diet
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Full Blood Work Comparison Table

Yes, you're reading that right. My inflammation markers went from "actively destroying my joints" to "within normal range." My anemia resolved. My liver enzymes normalized (no more methotrexate damage). My vitamin D went from insufficient to optimal without supplementation.

But let's talk about the elephant in the room.

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The Cholesterol Panic

Look at that LDL number. It went from 98 to 179. My primary care doctor nearly had a cardiac event herself.

She immediately wanted to put me on a statin. I asked her to look at the full picture:

• LDL: Up 83% (bad, right?)
• HDL: Up 58% (protective)
• Triglycerides: Down 68% (dramatically improved)
• TG/HDL ratio: Went from 3.1 to 0.6 (this is considered one of the best predictors of cardiovascular risk, and mine went from concerning to excellent)
• HbA1c: Dropped from pre-diabetic range to optimal
• CRP (cardiovascular inflammation marker): From 22 to 0.9
• Liver enzymes: Normalized

I asked for a referral to a cardiologist. Here's what happened:

The cardiologist ordered a coronary calcium score (CT scan). Score: 0. Zero. No calcified plaque whatsoever.

He also ordered an advanced lipid panel (NMR LipoProfile). It showed:

• LDL particle number: mildly elevated
• But LDL particle size: predominantly Pattern A (large, buoyant) - the less atherogenic type
• Small dense LDL: actually lower than before

His exact words: "Your standard lipid panel looks concerning in isolation. But your advanced markers, your inflammation profile, your metabolic markers, and your calcium score all tell me you're at very low cardiovascular risk. I wouldn't recommend a statin for you right now. But I want to see you annually."

I could have cried. Finally, a doctor looking at the whole picture.

My primary care doctor still isn't fully convinced. She's documented her concerns and recommended I "reconsider a more balanced diet." I respect her position. She's practicing evidence-based medicine and the evidence on long-term all-meat diets is thin. She's right to be cautious.

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What I Actually Eat: Daily Meal Plan

People always ask what my days look like. Here's a typical week:

A few notes:

• I eat about 1.5-2 lbs of meat per day
• I prioritize ruminant animals (beef, lamb) over poultry
• I eat liver once a week for micronutrients
• I cook almost exclusively in beef tallow, butter, or ghee
• I drink water, bone broth, and black coffee (my one "plant" indulgence)
• I salt generously with Redmond Real Salt
• I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. Most days that's 2 meals and a snack

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The Cost Breakdown

"But isn't it expensive?" This is the second most common question I get.

I actually spend less money now. The grocery bill is higher, but I never eat out (hard to order "just steak, no sides, cooked in butter" without getting weird looks), I don't buy snacks, and I'm off all medications. The medication savings alone are significant.

I buy in bulk from a local ranch - half a cow at a time, which brings the per-pound cost way down. I also got a chest freezer, which was a $200 one-time investment that paid for itself in two months.

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The Social Consequences: The Part Nobody Talks About

I want to be real about this because the carnivore influencers never mention it.

This diet is socially isolating.

My family thinks I've joined a cult. My Indian parents are devastated that I won't eat my mother's dal or her biryani. Every family gathering involves at least one aunt pulling me aside to tell me I'm going to get cancer. My dad, a retired chemistry professor, has sent me no fewer than 15 research papers on fiber and colon cancer.

My vegan friends - and I had several in the Bay Area tech scene - have essentially ghosted me. One of them posted a passive-aggressive Instagram story about "people who use personal health crises to justify animal cruelty." I know it was about me because she tagged a mutual friend and I was the only person in our group who had changed their diet.

Dating is awkward. I went on a date where the guy asked what I like to eat and I said "mostly beef" and he literally thought I was joking. When he realized I wasn't, he launched into a 20-minute lecture on methane emissions. There was no second date.

Work dinners and conferences are a minefield. I've become "that person" who calls the restaurant ahead of time to ask if they can do a plain steak with just salt. Half the time I end up eating before or after the event and just nursing a water at the table.

I won't pretend this doesn't bother me. It does. Food is social. Food is cultural. Food is love, especially in Indian culture. When I can't eat my mother's cooking, it hurts both of us.

But I can use my hands. I can type all day. I can go for runs. I can pick up my niece without wincing. And that matters more.

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The Relapse Experiment: Month 14

At month 14, I was feeling so good that I convinced myself I was "healed" and could reintroduce some foods. My rheumatologist actually supported this - she wanted to know if the restriction was really the key variable.

Here's exactly what happened:

Day 1: Added white rice (low-allergen, right?). Felt fine.

Day 2: White rice again with some steamed broccoli. Still fine. Getting cocky.

Day 3: Added lentils (dal - I missed it so much). Small portion.

Day 4: Woke up with stiff fingers. CRP wasn't tested but I could feel the inflammation. Dismissed it as "maybe I slept wrong."

Day 5: Added wheat bread. I missed sandwiches.

Day 6: Full Indian meal at my parents' house. Dal, rice, roti, sabzi. My mom was so happy she cried.

Day 7 (72 hours after lentils): I couldn't make a fist. Both hands were swollen. My right knee was hot to the touch. The morning stiffness was back to 30+ minutes.

I went and got emergency blood work:

• CRP: jumped from 1.4 to 11.2 in one week
• ESR: went from 8 to 28

I went back to strict carnivore immediately. Within 10 days, the flare subsided. Within 3 weeks, my CRP was back to 2.1.

This was devastating emotionally but incredibly informative. My body has a clear, measurable, reproducible inflammatory response to certain plant foods. The mechanism is not fully understood. But the response is real and it is measurable.

Later, I did more careful reintroductions one food at a time with 2-week intervals:

• White rice: Seems okay in small amounts (no measurable inflammation response)
• Lentils/legumes: Definite trigger (CRP increase within 72 hrs)
• Wheat/gluten: Major trigger (joint stiffness within 48 hrs)
• Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers): Moderate trigger
• Leafy greens: No measurable response
• Dairy (hard cheese): No measurable response
• Dairy (milk, soft cheese): Mild trigger

So it's likely not "all plants are poison" for me. It's specific compounds - probably lectins, gluten, and possibly some saponins - that my particular immune system reacts to. But since the strict carnivore approach eliminates all variables and I feel best on it, that's where I stay. The marginal benefit of adding back rice and salad isn't worth the risk of accidentally triggering a flare.

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The Honest Limitations: What I Don't Know

I want to be painfully clear about what this is and what it isn't.

This is n=1. I am one person. My experience is an anecdote, not evidence. There is no randomized controlled trial showing that a carnivore diet treats rheumatoid arthritis. There are case reports and observational data, and they are interesting, but they are not proof.

I don't know the long-term consequences. The longest-running carnivore diet data we have is maybe 5-10 years of self-reported outcomes from online communities. That's not enough to know what happens at year 20 or 30. Am I trading autoimmune disease for colon cancer? Maybe. I genuinely don't know. Neither does anyone else.

Survivorship bias is real. You're reading this because it worked for me. You're not reading the stories of the hundreds of people who tried a carnivore diet for their autoimmune disease and it did nothing. Or the people it made worse. Those stories exist, but they don't get podcast appearances.

My autoimmune disease may have gone into spontaneous remission. RA can do that. It's uncommon with seropositive RA and the numbers I had, but it's not impossible. Maybe the diet had nothing to do with it. Maybe I would have gotten better anyway. I don't think so - especially given the relapse experiment - but I can't rule it out.

I might have specific genetic variants that make me unusually sensitive to plant compounds and unusually tolerant of high saturated fat intake. If so, my results wouldn't generalize to most people.

The fiber question is real. I eat zero fiber. Conventional gastroenterology says this should destroy my colon. My colonoscopy at month 18 was clean, but that's one data point. The long-term effects of zero fiber intake on the gut microbiome are genuinely unknown.

I still see all my doctors. I get blood work every 3 months. I see my rheumatologist every 6 months. I see a cardiologist annually. I got a colonoscopy. I am not "doing my own research" and ignoring medical professionals. I am working with them, even when we disagree.

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What My Doctor Actually Said

At my 24-month appointment, my rheumatologist pulled up my chart and was quiet for a long time. Then she said:

"Priya, your inflammatory markers are better than I've seen them since your diagnosis. Your joint exam is essentially normal. Your functional status is excellent. If you were a new patient walking into my office with these numbers, I would not diagnose you with active rheumatoid arthritis."

She paused.

"I want to be clear: I cannot endorse what you're doing, because there is no clinical evidence that a carnivore diet treats RA. If I told my other patients to try this, most of them would not get your results, and some of them would stop their medications and get worse. That would be irresponsible."

Another pause.

"But I also can't argue with your labs. You're in clinical remission by every measure we use. Your disease activity score is 1.2. Your HAQ-DI is zero. Whatever you're doing... it's working for you. I just can't tell you why it's working, and that bothers me as a scientist."

She asked me to continue monitoring, to come in immediately if I have any flares, and to consider participating in a research study if one ever opens up for dietary interventions in RA. I agreed to all of it.

She's a good doctor. She's honest about the limits of her knowledge while still practicing within the evidence base. I respect her enormously.

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Final Thoughts

I didn't write this to convince you to eat only meat. I wrote it because when I was at my lowest point, I found someone else's n=1 story that gave me the courage to try something different. If this helps even one person in a similar situation have a conversation with their doctor about dietary interventions, it was worth writing.

If you have an autoimmune condition and you're curious about elimination diets:

1. Talk to your doctor first. Do not stop your medications without medical supervision.
2. Get baseline blood work before changing anything.
3. Start with a standard elimination diet (AIP protocol), not carnivore. Carnivore is the nuclear option.
4. Track everything. Symptoms, blood work, photos of joint swelling, pain scores. Data is your friend.
5. Give it at least 90 days before judging. Autoimmune responses are slow to change.
6. Be prepared for it not to work. Most people probably won't get my results. That's the honest truth.

My CRP at diagnosis was 48. Today it's 0.9. My joint swelling score was 14. Today it's 0. I am off all medications. I have my hands back. I have my life back.

My rheumatologist calls me a statistical anomaly. Maybe I am. But for this particular anomaly, the carnivore diet gave me something four years of pharmaceuticals couldn't: remission.

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Disclaimer: This article is a personal account and is not medical advice. Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious autoimmune condition that can cause permanent joint damage if left untreated. Do not stop or modify your medications without consulting your physician. Individual results vary dramatically, and what worked for one person may not work for you. Always work with qualified healthcare professionals when making decisions about your health.