What does it actually look like when a patient goes from swollen joints, X-ray erosions, and almost starting a biologic — to zero inflammation, no medications, and running on a treadmill again? In this episode, I sit down with my patient Jenny Heiss, who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 10 years. Her road to remission is one of the most remarkable I’ve seen in my clinic, and I wanted her to share it in her own words.

We talk about her decade-long search through conventional rheumatology, holistic practitioners, ozone therapy, and methotrexate side effects — and the three things that finally turned everything around: Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN), MSM supplementation, and Low-Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) using a Proteus/Klebsiella antigen. Jenny has now been in full remission for 2.5 years with zero joint inflammation on labs and zero disease limitations. This one is for anyone who’s been told biologics are their only option.

Key Takeaways
Seronegative RA is still real RA
Methotrexate isn’t the only answer — and side effects are real
MSM was a surprisingly powerful first step
LDI works by retraining the immune system, not suppressing it
Root cause matters — bacteria may trigger RA
Food is medicine — and Jenny proved it early on
Remission means getting your life back — completely
There’s no right or wrong path to healing

Chapters & Time-Stamps
00:56 Meet Jenny Hess
01:47 First Signs and Diagnosis
02:53 Methotrexate Experience
03:19 Holistic Detours and Setbacks
04:41 Minocycline and Moving States
07:02 Seropositive Shift and Fears
09:01 Starting Care With Dr Yu
09:33 Supplements and LDN Gains
10:11 LDI and Lab Turnaround
12:07 Life in Remission
14:53 Current Regimen Breakdown
15:44 How LDI Works
17:34 Diet and Lifestyle Foundations
19:38 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Guest & links
Jenny Heiss — Patient & RA Remission Advocate
Patient of Dr. Micah Yu | 10-year RA journey, now in full remission
No social media listed — her story speaks for itself
Dr. Micah Yu, MD — Host
Integrative Rheumatologist & Functional Medicine | Newport Beach, CA
Clinic: drlifestyle.org
LDI episode reference: Search “Dr. Ty Vincent” on Autoimmune Alchemy
About Your Hosts
Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University’s Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women’s wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast
Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy
AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.

Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy
Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com
Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org
Instagram: @myautoimmunemd
Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD
YouTube: @myautoimmunemd
Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com
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