I’m sure I don’t need to remind you folks about the general consensus around here when Phil announced he had psoriatic arthritis and publicly sang the praises of Enbrel for treating his psoriatic arthritis. His announcement was August 2010, who knows how long he had it prior to his announcement. As we all know, most go through a stage of denial or searching for differential dx’es.

I’m sure I don’t have to remind some of you of the comments made on this board at the time:

“The only time I would ever wish for biologics to fail someone. it really would be a turning point if we converted Phil!! but he would be coming to the green grassy side not the dark side. :D”

“I posted about Phil the Shill …..”

“I know for a fact that Phil got the information that AP is out there. I gave it to him. I work at the same place as his brother Tim. I wrote a lengthy letter to Phil when his diagnosis first became public knowledge, and I know Tim passed it on to Phil from me. ” Joe’s note: this poster lies when he says he gave Phil the information, because in the next sentence he says he really gave it to his brother Tim, and is sure Tim gave it to Phil. Riiighhhhht. He continues: “Phil has made the choice that made the most sense for him at this time. He may very well change his mind later, and if that happens, I stand ready to welcome him with open arms to the family of AP believers. ” Nice to know the us vs. them mentality was alive and well back then too.

One poster gave a link to a website article called “Phil Mickelson is Now Regulated by FDA”. Nice. The article is filled with personal insults and half-truths, both in the main article and the comments.

I could go on, but it is easy enough to search for “Mickelson” in the search box at the top of this page and see for yourself.

Fast forward to today. Last weekend he won the British Open, one of golf’s four major championships. He did so on a long and brutal course over four days. Many noted how he appeared to be as fit as he ever has been. Winning this championship was no small feat, as most considered his game unfit for the British links courses. Besides this major victory and also winning the Scottish open the week prior, here are some results highlights from 2010 – today:
2010 Masters (major championship) – 1st
2011 British Open (major) – 2nd
2012 Masters – 3rd
2013 US Open – 2nd
2013 British Open – 1st
Regular Tour – 1 win in each of 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Member of 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup Team
Member of 2011 Presidents Cup Team

Because I know the mindset of this board, I don’t expect anyone to take back their words about Phil or about the route he chose to go for treatment.

I just wanted to remind everyone that technology is a GOOD thing, and that nobody has to live a day in misery with these diseases anymore. How do I know? My wife was dx’ed with severe RA in 2003 and tried numerous conventional treatments, including minocycline through the famed Dr. S in Iowa, and did not find relief until trying the most non-conventional treatment of all, a treatment that actually targets RA specifically (instead of cancer or maleria), and is SO specific it targets ONE protein out of the millions of proteins in your body. I have no doubt Dr. Brown would have been AMAZED by this treatment and would have whole-heartedly supported it after seeing the clinical results which have remained constant for over a decade now.

As for my wife? Mostly pain-free since the day she started Humira in 2005. I say “mostly”, because even the healthiest among us get aches and pains as we grow older.

I have never wished treatment failure for anyone with these horrid diseases, nor criticized their treatment choice (unless it was an unproven alternative treatment like chelation or ph balancing (still the king of bogus treatments).

I can respect groups like the Amish without endorsing their lifestyle choices. I urge all of you, if AP has not been successful, to at least TRY something different. Do biologics work for everyone? Of course not. Can they have bad side effects? Of course, just like any drug including aspirin. But sometimes you must say, what have I got to lose.

Phil didn’t lose, he just won two tournaments in a row, including the British Open.

Joe