Re: considering surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone:

I just wanted to say that when I was diagnosed with Graves approx. 4 - 5

years ago, my doctor in no way tried to rush me into radiation. I had no

knowledge whatsoever about thyroid disease and I would have probably just

followed along if he had. But he said to me that I was still young and if I

might want to have more children he wouldnt reccomend RAI unless all else

failed. He said it would be worth my while to try the ATD's for a year or

two and see if I go into remission because alot of people do go into

remission. I am so shocked that so many people have such a negative

experience with their doctors and that doctors are so uninformed about the

choices and possibilities with this disease. Why the rush into RAI????? I

have been in remission for about a year now, on NO medication whatsoever.

And the truth of the matter is, that I was very very sick when I was

diagnosed with graves and would have probably done anything that my doctor

told me to do at that point. I have great compassion for all people who

suffer through this, but I do believe that there is a light at the end of the

tunnel. Thanks to all of the people on here who continue to read the boards

and do research long after they themselves are actually feeling ill. The

information is really invaluable.

[Guest guest]

Dawn, it definitely sounds like they are trying to wear you down and push

you into RAI. Ultimately it's your decision but make sure it's your

decision and not theirs. Haviing RAI is not going to fix you overnight -

apparently it takes a while.

If you choose surgery make sure you have someone who is experienced with

thyroidectomies otherwise they can damage your vocal cords. They will try

to scare you away from surgery because of the risks. I'm still on ATDs but

would choose surgery if necessary. I'm too afraid of the RAI. Do they have

you on medication to slow down your heart? Wish you the best, Mona

considering surgery

This is DAWN ROSE: Sorry it is long again, but I'd appreciate any advice

about surgery.

Saw another endo today . We spoke for about an hour. he was basically

trying to persuade me to have RAI, but accepted that it didn't look like I

was going to do it and is now talking about surgery. However, he has

insisted that I still go to the RAI appointment and talk to the doctor in

charge of it, that way, he says, I will get the facts about it straight.

I think they just hope you will cave when presented with a pill that will

" cure " you. I am afraid taht I will too, I feel terrible. I don't want RAI

but am considering surgery, espicially if it is only going to be partial. I

can't live like I am doing for very much longer.

My blood and tests are as follows: They have been hyper since july and like

this since September:

TSH undetectable

FT4 above 50 (which in this country means unmeasurably high)

FT4 4.2 when the top of the range is 2.0

My uptake scan was apparently totally black, showing a very high rate of

iodine uptake all over it.... indicative of GD. (It feels like I am

boasting!)

I am feeling appropriately ill and miserable and am considering surgery. I

know that it is not the most wholistic way to go and could send me hypo and

there are other risks, BUT it feels like I am doing damage to my heart at

the moment by not doing anything more radical than minerals.

I am afraid of damaging my organs and my bones by remaining thyrotoxic too

long. I have tried all the available anti thyroid drugs, but am at risk of

bone marrow reactions. I did try the copper and am writing another email to

about my reaction after it... it made me feel very nauseous and dizzy.

The endocrinologist has also arranged for a test for 's disease as I

DO look like I have a tan and I haven't been in the sun for about 10 months

- it is so rare, it is very unlikely though.

LOW WHITE BLOOD CELLS.

He said that low white blood cell counts can be a symptom of GD and that

this could explain why I had low neutorphil count BEFORE ATDs. I seem to

remember reading the same thing in medical text books. It would, he said,

be a brave man who proscribed ATDs to me while I had a low neutrophil count,

and I agree with him - i DON't think I should take them, but that means

there is a strain on my organs and bones while I wait for remission.

Surgery (partial) seems to be a serious option... anyone share their surgery

experiences with me? - there must be good and bad stories out there?

DAWN

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[Guest guest]

> However, he has insisted that I still go to the RAI appointment and talk to

> the doctor in charge of it, that way, he says, I will get the facts about it

> straight.

>

> I think they just hope you will cave when presented with a pill that will

> " cure " you. I am afraid taht I will too, I feel terrible. I don't want RAI

There's a LOT of information on the downsides of RAI on this list, others, and

various sites around the 'net. If you do go to this appointment, go prepared -

printouts, notes, etc....

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I sent an e-mail earlier this evening indicating I understood one's

thyroid can continue its current functioning with only a SMALL portion of

the thyroid remaining intact. Experience has taught me that I'm still

HyperT with only one half of the gland, after the removal of the nodule.

Surgery is only better than RAI because you don't ingest radioactive

material which will probably " haunt " you for quite some time after the

procedure. Removal of the gland subjects you to being a patient for life.

I sympathize with you, but still think you need to get to a hematologist to

rule out other reasons for your symptoms and then to a rheumatologist, if

necessary. They specialize in auto-immune problems and I really think that's

what you need to investigate. Life should be LIVED, not endured. I've

forgotten, are you on beta-blockers? If not, you should be. Thankfully, I

don't have heart involvement even though I sometimes experience palpitations

when particularly stressed. PLEASE CONSIDER OPTIONS, OTHER THAN SURGERY even

though I know you're really tired of feeling sick!

=====

Bonner

[Guest guest]

, what a wonderfully inspiring message. Thanks so much for taking

the time to share your story with us.

=====

Bonner

[Guest guest]

Dear Dawn,

Have you started taking the copper yet? Has it made you feel any better?

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Dear Bonner,

Thanks for the info. From what you've said, you didn't have any choice as

far as the surgery went. YOu don't regret it do you? There wasn't any

other option for you was there?

You did say that having surgery makes you a patient for life... is that

really true? One of the reasons I want to have surgery over RAI is because

the rate of hypothyroidism resulting from surgery is so much less. Am I

misunderstanding something? How are you a paitient for life with surgery?

It is entirely up to the doctors whether I can see a hematologist and

rheumatologist. That's how it works over here. I might chase it up

privately, but even then, it is difficult to get copies of your notes for

the private doctors you are seeing. I WILL try though. Although, I think I

will be back in Oz before I could see one. If I have the surgery in the UK

I will not be able to fly after the anasthetic for some time. I think I

would rather recover there than here.

However, I am comforted about my blood changes by the fact that a low white

blood count can be a symptom of GRave's disease. It MUST just be a rare one

otherwise more of us would be reacting to ATds. I am going through old

blood results and seeing if there is any more evidence of graves in any of

the other results - (looking up each one in the index of Weber and Ingbars

The Thyroid!... pretty rough eh!)

I just don't know what to do. I know I don't want RAI and I finally worked

out why... for me, it's because you have to spend so much time guessing

whtat is going on in your body after you have taken it. You eat it and then

it just continues to have it's half life and it's half life again, untill

it's having imperceptible effects on your thyroid function forever more.

The imperceptible effects of , lets call it, pre-subclinical hyperT

(!)ruined my life for over a year before I was diagnosed and THAT is my

great fear, that I will still be ill, but be testing normal and left to put

up with it or put on " head " pills for something that is not a head problem.

I CAN'T put something in my body that is going to continue this for me.

I think that is why I will choose surgery if I have to - it IS more risky,

the morbidity associated with RAI is less than either surgery or continued

thyrotoxicosis - but at least wiht Surgery it is all over and you become

stable quicker... or am I wrong about that. I guess if they dont' take

enough of your gland away, you still have to cope with HyperT until

remission comes.

Just thinking out loud. Cheers Bonner

DAWN

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[Guest guest]

Dawn,

My cousin Gerry had thyroid surgery more than 40 years ago for her Graves'

disease and fared very well, especially considering how crude the surgical

technique was. I never even knew she had GD until a few years ago. She has no

scar, is in great shape, and takes a low dose of synthroid. She's in her 70's

and looks about 55. She said she did have a thin scar which faded over the

years.

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

They will try to scare you with the risks, but remember they are also going

to scare you because surgery is by far the most expensive technique. Surgery

today, has very little risk, <1% for complications.

[Guest guest]

Yeah... that is what I have been thinking and I came so close to saying so

to my very good endo yesterday and didn't in case it offended him -

ridiculous! it would've been a very interesting topic.

It felt like a the doctor had all the same information as me regarding RAI,

he agreed with most of the statistics I mentioned and his information agreed

with mine. He just came to a different conclusion. Maybe it is because he

is a man. At least some of the reason I don't want radiation in my body is

because of the genetic abnormality thing; I have re-read the info about that

since yesterday and it does seem that the risks are small in that respect,

but I always knew that, it doesn't make any difference to my head - I don't

want it. Cheers

DAWN

>From: daisyelaine@...

>Reply-hyperthyroidismegroups

>hyperthyroidismegroups

>Subject: Re: considering surgery

>Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 10:55:31 EST

>

>Dawn,

>They will try to scare you with the risks, but remember they are also going

>to scare you because surgery is by far the most expensive technique.

>Surgery

>today, has very little risk, <1% for complications.

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[Guest guest]

Good morning....last night a neighbor came over and we chatted while handing

out candy to the trick-or-treaters. He was rendered hypo several years ago.

He had RAI. They never bothered to try any of the ATDs. Now he is always

tired, hasn't slept well since RAI and when he gets sick, he stays sicker

longer. He also told me since the RAI his saliva has changed and he can't

lick an envelope or stamp because they won't stay stuck! Weird huh? I have

also noticed he seems " down " lately. I think his thyroid levels are off so

he's going in for blood work. He hates the way he feels! He's 39 years old

and likes all kinds of outdoor activities with his kids and wishes he felt

better. He also told me it took OVER A YEAR before the thyroid was

destroyed and in the meantime had to take meds. Just thought I'd share

this. Mona

Re: considering surgery

Dear Bonner,

Thanks for the info. From what you've said, you didn't have any choice as

far as the surgery went. YOu don't regret it do you? There wasn't any

other option for you was there?

You did say that having surgery makes you a patient for life... is that

really true? One of the reasons I want to have surgery over RAI is because

the rate of hypothyroidism resulting from surgery is so much less. Am I

misunderstanding something? How are you a paitient for life with surgery?

It is entirely up to the doctors whether I can see a hematologist and

rheumatologist. That's how it works over here. I might chase it up

privately, but even then, it is difficult to get copies of your notes for

the private doctors you are seeing. I WILL try though. Although, I think I

will be back in Oz before I could see one. If I have the surgery in the UK

I will not be able to fly after the anasthetic for some time. I think I

would rather recover there than here.

However, I am comforted about my blood changes by the fact that a low white

blood count can be a symptom of GRave's disease. It MUST just be a rare one

otherwise more of us would be reacting to ATds. I am going through old

blood results and seeing if there is any more evidence of graves in any of

the other results - (looking up each one in the index of Weber and Ingbars

The Thyroid!... pretty rough eh!)

I just don't know what to do. I know I don't want RAI and I finally worked

out why... for me, it's because you have to spend so much time guessing

whtat is going on in your body after you have taken it. You eat it and then

it just continues to have it's half life and it's half life again, untill

it's having imperceptible effects on your thyroid function forever more.

The imperceptible effects of , lets call it, pre-subclinical hyperT

(!)ruined my life for over a year before I was diagnosed and THAT is my

great fear, that I will still be ill, but be testing normal and left to put

up with it or put on " head " pills for something that is not a head problem.

I CAN'T put something in my body that is going to continue this for me.

I think that is why I will choose surgery if I have to - it IS more risky,

the morbidity associated with RAI is less than either surgery or continued

thyrotoxicosis - but at least wiht Surgery it is all over and you become

stable quicker... or am I wrong about that. I guess if they dont' take

enough of your gland away, you still have to cope with HyperT until

remission comes.

Just thinking out loud. Cheers Bonner

DAWN

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[Guest guest]

DOes anyone watch the TV showed " JAG " ?? Have you noticed the scar on the

tall female officer across her throat? I often wonder if she had her

thyroid removed. Mona

Re: considering surgery

Dawn,

My cousin Gerry had thyroid surgery more than 40 years ago for her Graves'

disease and fared very well, especially considering how crude the surgical

technique was. I never even knew she had GD until a few years ago. She has

no

scar, is in great shape, and takes a low dose of synthroid. She's in her

70's

and looks about 55. She said she did have a thin scar which faded over the

years.

[Guest guest]

Hey Mona,

why don't you show your neighbor my new revised Sjogren's article. it's on

themestream and linked to my web site. In it I mention that sympoms much like

SS can occur from RAI.

[Guest guest]

If you have your thyroid removed your stuck on pills forever and meetings

with the doctor once or twice a year, if you have only a portion removed

your still stuck on pills and meetings with the doctor for the remaider of

your life.

> Re: considering surgery

>

> Dear Bonner,

>

> Thanks for the info. From what you've said, you didn't have any choice as

>

> far as the surgery went. YOu don't regret it do you? There wasn't any

> other option for you was there?

>

> You did say that having surgery makes you a patient for life... is that

> really true? One of the reasons I want to have surgery over RAI is

> because

> the rate of hypothyroidism resulting from surgery is so much less. Am I

> misunderstanding something? How are you a paitient for life with surgery?

>

> It is entirely up to the doctors whether I can see a hematologist and

> rheumatologist. That's how it works over here. I might chase it up

> privately, but even then, it is difficult to get copies of your notes for

> the private doctors you are seeing. I WILL try though. Although, I think

> I

> will be back in Oz before I could see one. If I have the surgery in the

> UK

> I will not be able to fly after the anasthetic for some time. I think I

> would rather recover there than here.

>

> However, I am comforted about my blood changes by the fact that a low

> white

> blood count can be a symptom of GRave's disease. It MUST just be a rare

> one

> otherwise more of us would be reacting to ATds. I am going through old

> blood results and seeing if there is any more evidence of graves in any of

>

> the other results - (looking up each one in the index of Weber and Ingbars

>

> The Thyroid!... pretty rough eh!)

>

> I just don't know what to do. I know I don't want RAI and I finally worked

>

> out why... for me, it's because you have to spend so much time guessing

> whtat is going on in your body after you have taken it. You eat it and

> then

> it just continues to have it's half life and it's half life again, untill

> it's having imperceptible effects on your thyroid function forever more.

>

> The imperceptible effects of , lets call it, pre-subclinical hyperT

> (!)ruined my life for over a year before I was diagnosed and THAT is my

> great fear, that I will still be ill, but be testing normal and left to

> put

> up with it or put on " head " pills for something that is not a head

> problem.

> I CAN'T put something in my body that is going to continue this for me.

>

> I think that is why I will choose surgery if I have to - it IS more risky,

>

> the morbidity associated with RAI is less than either surgery or continued

>

> thyrotoxicosis - but at least wiht Surgery it is all over and you become

> stable quicker... or am I wrong about that. I guess if they dont' take

> enough of your gland away, you still have to cope with HyperT until

> remission comes.

>

> Just thinking out loud. Cheers Bonner

> DAWN

>

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________________

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>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

ok, I'll download and give him a copy. Thx, Mona

Re: considering surgery

Hey Mona,

why don't you show your neighbor my new revised Sjogren's article. it's on

themestream and linked to my web site. In it I mention that sympoms much

like

SS can occur from RAI.

[Guest guest]

Elaine....got a blood test question for you.

Total T3 is 123 (60-181 range)

Free T4 is 0.88 (.90-1.80 range)

TSH 2.04 (.3-5.00 range)

Since August T3 is up from 91, T4 is down from .92 and TSH up from

1.83......should I be worried about the T4? Is this the reason why my eyes

are bothering me a bit? Everything else is normal so why isn't T4? Other

than my eyes bothering me a bit I haven't noticed anything else except maybe

I'm a little hungrier. What do you think, should I be concerned? Thanks,

Mona By the way, my eyes bothered me in the past when my levels were out of

whack!

-

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I didn't have a choice about surgery because the results of the needle

aspirations were " suspicious, " meaning there was a real chance that I had

thyroid cancer. Thankfully, I didn't and only one-half of my thyroid gland

was removed with the nodule. As I said, the body can function normally with

only a portion of the thyroid gland. I intend to get mine under control and

get off PTU, thereby NOT being a patient for life.

If you have your thyroid removed, you'll become hypoT immediately and

dependent on synthetic thyroid hormone to stimulate your metabolism, the

same as if you choose RAI. This will be a life-long balancing act. The only

benefit I can see is that you don't expose yourself to the radiation and the

unknown effects which may show up years from now.

I understand the bureaucracy of health benefits is different in the UK, but

surely they can't deny you the opportunity for an accurate diagnosis. Can

you demand that your primary physician perform additional blood tests and

then refer you to the proper specialist? Lupus and other auto-immune

diseases can be difficult to diagnose, particularly by a physician not

specifically trained in that area, but this IS important to your health and

well-being and if I were you, I'd pursue whatever avenues necessary to

determine and treat your disease.

I think you'd be happier back home in Australia. What plans have you made

to return? Is socialized medicine better there?

What is the flight route from the UK to Australia? I tried to look it up on

the Internet, but got so confused I gave it up.

Your low white blood cell count NEEDS to be addressed. You're subject to

battling lots of infections and each time you have to use antibiotics,

rather than depend on your natural antibodies, you're further diminishing

you ability to fight off infection. Dawn, I know you probably don't have

much energy to " do battle " with the medical community, but if I were you,

I'd summon all of my strength to get a REAL diagnosis. What if you have

your thyroid removed and HyperT doesn't turn out to be the culprit? Your

condition will worsen and you'll have even less strength for the journey

towards good health.

The effects of RAI aren't completely understood, but don't misunderstand

that it has " imperceptible effects on your thyroid forever more. " With RAI,

it's as if you don't have a thyroid; the same as with surgery, but you have

to deal with the effects of radiation on your ENTIRE body, in addition to

trying to establish the correct thyroid hormone level to feel good.

Maybe I've missed something. Do you have a thyroid nodule? If that's the

case, what are the results of the biopsies? I had a benign one for several

years and it didn't affect my hormonal levels at all, nor did I experience

discomfort from having an enlarged gland. A partial thyroidectomy ISN'T a

bad thing; it's the TOTAL removal of the gland which should send you

shrieking from the doctor's office, UNLESS you have thyroid cancer and have

NO choice.

I hope this is helpful to you in assessing your options.

=====

Bonner

[Guest guest]

n, your message isn't quite right. People CAN function with only a

small portion of their thyroid gland. We CAN gain remission, via medication

and aggressive self-help in vitamin/mineral supplements, healthy diet,

stress reduction. With remission, NO PILLS ARE NECESSARY. There are lots

of success stories " out there " in the threads of ithyroid.com, 's

website.

=====

Bonner

RE: considering surgery

> If you have your thyroid removed your stuck on pills forever and meetings

> with the doctor once or twice a year, if you have only a portion removed

> your still stuck on pills and meetings with the doctor for the remaider of

> your life.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I've never heard that before, I've heard that people that have a

portion of there thyroid gland removed, will have to subject themselves to

another operation as that half will eventually fail also. Now I'm sorry I

didn't get to keep half of mine, so hate that I'm stuck on a synthetic drug

for the rest of my life, didn't have any of this information to rely on

then. Thanks again!

> Re: considering surgery

>

> n, your message isn't quite right. People CAN function with only a

> small portion of their thyroid gland. We CAN gain remission, via

> medication

> and aggressive self-help in vitamin/mineral supplements, healthy diet,

> stress reduction. With remission, NO PILLS ARE NECESSARY. There are lots

> of success stories " out there " in the threads of ithyroid.com, 's

> website.

>

> =====

> Bonner

>

> RE: considering surgery

>

>

> > If you have your thyroid removed your stuck on pills forever and

> meetings

> > with the doctor once or twice a year, if you have only a portion removed

> > your still stuck on pills and meetings with the doctor for the remaider

> of

> > your life.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Bonner,

You are all so helpful. This board has helped me out such alot. No, I

haven't got a nodule according to the scan. Of all the availabel options,

partial thyroidectomy is my best one, but I will wait some time for

remission.

However, I have been told that at my local hospital (where I am allowed to

go on the NHS,) the surgeon only does total thyrodectomy because the policy

is to prevent relapse of hyperT. The RAI Doctor was TERRIFIC; she told me

everything and ended up agreeing with me about having treatment in Oz and

about surgery being likely to be my best option. However, because my gland

is very small, she says a surgeon will not want to operate. We'll see.

(despite it being small, it HURTS!)

I'd like to have a partial thyrodectamy, my Aunt had this because of a

nodule and has never had a problem with it. (I think she was never even

Hyper though!) Does anyone know if this is a possibility with GD and

increased homogenous uptake, it doesn't make alot of sense as a possibility

to me.

I've written it in some other emails, but the results of my uptake scan

showed 4x the normal uptake and my blood results are off the scale apart

from my FT3 which is more than twice the top of the normal range.

Yes, these emails are helping me to assess my choices.

I think I will be back in Oz on 16th November. Just waiting for the results

of some more tests.

Thanks again.

DAWN

>

>

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[Guest guest]

It's amazing the attitudes the doctors have. It's easier to do a total

thyroidectomy than a partial. I also spoke to a surgeon over a year ago and

she also does TOTAL to prevent hyperT. Thank goodness the ATDs work for me

and I'm heading toward remission. Best of luck to you and don't allow the

surgeons or doctors push you into anything you're not happy with. Search

around. There are other surgeons that will work with you. Mona

Re: considering surgery

Dear Bonner,

You are all so helpful. This board has helped me out such alot. No, I

haven't got a nodule according to the scan. Of all the availabel options,

partial thyroidectomy is my best one, but I will wait some time for

remission.

However, I have been told that at my local hospital (where I am allowed to

go on the NHS,) the surgeon only does total thyrodectomy because the policy

is to prevent relapse of hyperT. The RAI Doctor was TERRIFIC; she told me

everything and ended up agreeing with me about having treatment in Oz and

about surgery being likely to be my best option. However, because my gland

is very small, she says a surgeon will not want to operate. We'll see.

(despite it being small, it HURTS!)

I'd like to have a partial thyrodectamy, my Aunt had this because of a

nodule and has never had a problem with it. (I think she was never even

Hyper though!) Does anyone know if this is a possibility with GD and

increased homogenous uptake, it doesn't make alot of sense as a possibility

to me.

I've written it in some other emails, but the results of my uptake scan

showed 4x the normal uptake and my blood results are off the scale apart

from my FT3 which is more than twice the top of the normal range.

Yes, these emails are helping me to assess my choices.

I think I will be back in Oz on 16th November. Just waiting for the results

of some more tests.

Thanks again.

DAWN

>

>

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[Guest guest]

a,

thanks for joining us and asking some very important questions on behalf of your friend. So many women think that implants are going to make them happier, and that may be true for a period of time, but it is NOT true that saline implants are safer than silicone gel, as they both are made with a silicone elastomer envelope and that is what we are more than likely reacting to, especially if the implants are textured. I wouldn't go so far as to say that everyone who gets implants experiences side effects, in terms of the catastophic diseases that we have experienced, but I will say that everyone who gets implants will have to DEAL with them at some point in the future, whether it be from rupture, leaking, illness, contamination, hardness, shifting.....then YES, I would say that everyone will experience some kind of side effect. You can't put a foreign object in your body and not have some type of reaction to it.

I can guarantee that if you friend gets implants and gets sick, she will regret her decision with all her heart. These illnesses we suffer from are not simple, they are not understood, they are a curse that has brought only pain and suffering to our lives, while at the same time destroying the lives of those around us, as others bear the burden of having to deal with our inability to function, to work, to live life normally or with happiness. Many of us will tell you that we were suicidal, depressed, cried every day till we had no more tears.....all over this mysterious illness that doctors can't seem to identify or know how to treat, and that no one has fully understood. The weird thing is that we all look fine, we don't look sick, but we feel like we have been poisoned. Those dark days are painful for me to remember.

And then if she does get sick, she has to deal with not only all that, she has to have thousands of dollars available for the proper removal of the implants. The implants AND the scar tissue have to be removed, (a total capsulectomy), and she will have to work hard to detox her body and be patient as it may take years for full healing to take place, if it takes place. Some women are still struggling with their illnesses years later. For others, like me, it has taken 5 years to feel completely human again, and even then, I still have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroid disease, a disease I will have to treat for the rest of my life. But I thank God that I have my life back!

It was definitely the very worst, absolutely the most stupidest decision I ever made in my life, all because I trusted plastic surgeons when they said they would make me feel better about how I looked. That was a total lie because in the end, I was left with a disease, loss of sensation in my nipples, and scarred breasts. A total scam.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: ericac802000

Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 10:21 PM

Subject: considering surgery

Hi,I came across this website while doing some research. A friend of mine wants to get breast implants and I don't know if she should. She told me that Saline implants are much safer--is that true? She has been considering surgery for two years and seems pretty convinced that getting implants will make her happy and make her feel better about her appearance. I am just wondering if anyone has any advice for what I can say to her--I am also wondering if everyone who gets implants experiences side-effects.What should I say to my friend? Anyone have any advice?Thanks a lot,a

[Guest guest]

a if you have been reading up on this site then you can see how

many of us have had issues related to these supposedly safe implants.

I would encourage your friend to really check out both sides before

making any final decisions regarding getting implants. She may be

fine with them for awhile, but problems are bound to creep up sooner

or later and you have to ask if it is worth the chance to have bigger

breasts now, and all that is at stake.

your a good friend for being so concerned and we always want women to

get all the information out there, rather than the positive ones,

because not all of us have good expereinces with implants.

good luck

In , " ericac802000 "

<ericacresswell@h...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I came across this website while doing some research. A friend

> of mine wants to get breast implants and I don't know if she

> should. She told me that Saline implants are much safer--is that

> true? She has been considering surgery for two years and

> seems pretty convinced that getting implants will make her

> happy and make her feel better about her appearance. I am just

> wondering if anyone has any advice for what I can say to her--I

> am also wondering if everyone who gets implants experiences

> side-effects.

>

> What should I say to my friend? Anyone have any advice?

>

> Thanks a lot,

>

> a

[Guest guest]

Honee,

Please keep us posted on your situation...we are here to support you through this. That is a tough one.....but you gotta do what is good for you. In the end, you have found out the true colors of this person you married. Sometimes it is hard to find this out...

We're here for ya girl.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: Honee Aylmer

Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 11:43 AM

Subject: Re: considering surgery

Even if your friend does not have major health issues with the implants, it may affect her relationships. I am scheduled for explant on July 9th. I have been lucky and fortunate not to have had "major" problems. My main issues with them are that they are uncomfortable, my muscles cramp, when I lift something heavy they shift. Also, within the last year, I have had 3 sinus infections and pneumonia twice. The only other time I had any respiratory problems was 12 years ago, I had bronchitis. The implants have also ruined my marriage. My husband LOVES them. He is very upset that I am removing them. He hasn't talked to me about 3 days. I wanted these things out within a week of getting them, and he has talked me into keeping them "a little longer" in hopes that I will "get used to them". I am extremely depressed and angry. So, warn your friend that there are definitely health AND emotional risks with these thin gs.