Re: First Breast Implant Surgery Scheduled August 1st- Help!

[Guest guest]

Having just had explant surgery on Monday the 7th, I totally agree

with Patty. When I got implants I was told that they would last

forever and that they were healthy because they were made of saline.

Within a year I wasn't feeling well and within a couple of years I

began developing many serious health problems. Of course, the

doctors said the implants couldn't possibly be causing problems

because " they're saline " (even though we know what the shell is made

of, and there haven't been long term studies on them.)

Finally, after I'd gotten to the point where I could no longer work

or even function, my rheumatologist sent me to a different plastic

surgeon (my original surgeon said, " the implants aren't causing any

problems,not even the severe breast pain.If you have pain in the

breasts it's because you were going to have it anyway. " He also

talked me out of explanting, warning me of the disfigurement I was

sure to face afterwards. Fortunately the next surgeon I saw admitted

they needed to come out.

If I had the chance to do it over, I would definately not get breast

implants. I would learn to love my body as it was and fix what was

on my inside that made me feel not ok as I was.

> Welcome to our group, CJ,

> First of all I want to tell you how proud I am of you for

researching this...yes, there are some ugly truths out there about

saline implants that nobody likes to talk about or hear about, and

in fact, there are many women who hear what we have to say and close

up their ears tight...they don't like the sound of it! I have been

in their shoes, though. When I got my saline implants, I think it

would have been very hard to talk me out of getting them. I wanted

them very badly. I am sure you do too. Believe me, we understand!

>

> But I think in hindsight, if I had available to me the information

that you have available to you now at your fingertips, I would have

had a very different outcome. I was actually told that my saline

implants would go with me to my grave, and the incidence of diseases

was discounted completely. However, that small incidence became a

100% reality to me as I became so ill that I really wanted to die.

If I had known beforehand just how bad this illness is, I am quite

certain I would have not gotten implants. Hindsight is always

better than foresight, isn't it? I can say with certainty, the

price I paid was too high.

>

> So, the advice I give you is completely from my experience, and I

know it will be echoed by hundreds and thousands of women who have

gone before you who have gotten sick like I did....implants are

TOTALLY NOT WORTH THE RISK, and it was the BIGGEST mistake of my

life, one of the most STUPIDEST things I've done. I know those are

strong words for you! But I mean them with all my heart. I wasted

thousands of dollars and lost 4 years of my life only to end up

small breasted once again, with scars and an autoimmune disease. Not

a good investment, I am afraid, wouldn't you agree?

>

> I know this is a decision only you can make, CJ, and I understand

your dilemma. It is a hard spot to be in. Sometimes the saying is

true, " Ignorance is bliss " . Not knowing what has happened to some

of us would make this decision alot easier for you, and you could

enjoy your implants. But as I say, ignorance is bliss only

until " the shit hits the fan " . (Please excuse my language--that's

another saying!) I only say this because of what I know to be true

once illness begins from implants. It is very hard to find doctors

to treat you, very hard to get anyone to believe you, very hard to

even get a diagnosis of what is wrong, and harder still to find a

doctor to remove them properly unless you can travel and spend

thousands more dollars.

>

> Some women seem to be able to bear the implants in their body for

a number of years without ill effects. Others get sick right away.

If you take a look at the polls on our website, one of the questions

is How long after getting implants did you first begin to experience

symptoms? You will see that most of the answers were under one

year. Some others took 2 years, 5 years, 8 years, 10 years.....the

bottom line is that you never know when you will become ill. It is

a matter of the immune system, the most complex part of our body

that is still not fully understood....the answers are not there yet,

and who knows? Maybe they never will be.

>

> And now that you know about the risks from implants, if you do go

through with the surgery, you will live in fear of what might

someday happen to you....unfortunately, not a very fun position to

be in. So you will need to think this over very carefully and come

firmly to a conclusion in your mind, or you will have no peace. I

hope I can be there to support you, even if you do decide to go

through with the surgery. We will be here to help.

>

> CJ, it really doesn't matter that you've told others about your

upcoming surgery and may be embarrassed if you back out. The truth

is that you will be seen as a very smart woman! You will be seen

as someone who researched this fully and found some information that

you really needed to know, information that could save you much pain

and suffering, as well as save your family the pain and suffering

they would have endured if you got sick. Tell your brother I think

he is awesome! Thank him for me for telling you to research this!

He was right on for putting some flashing caution signs in your

road!

>

> I wish you the very best, no matter what. I wish you happiness,

peace and contentment in life, and joy with who you are. And of

course, I think you are the best you can be without plastic bags in

your chest...

> let us know what you decide.

> Take care,

> Patty

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: cjvon666

>

> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 6:27 AM

> Subject: First Breast Implant Surgery Scheduled

August 1st- Help!

>

>

> Hello everybody. I am scheduled to have saline breast implants

put

> in Friday August 1st. Yesterday morning and for the last two

weeks

> I have been so excited about the propsect and broadcasting to

the

> closest people around me of what I am doing and how excited I am

> about it. Most people's reactions are " good for you "

>

>

> Yesterday afternoon I told my brother about the date of the

surgery

> and he tried to talk me out of it and encouraged me to do

> more " research " For some reason eventhough he did not say

anything

> I did not already know or have thought about before -I came on

the

> internet and plugged in " saline implants " and " problems " and

came

> across this site!

>

> Prior to this, I had mostly been looking at implantinfo.com and

> at " nicole's website " Needless to say, after looking at this

site

> for a couple of hours I AM SCARED AND WONDERING WHETHER I SHOULD

> REALLY DO THIS!!!

>

> I had been telling myself that the " autoimmune problems " were

only

> for " silicone " filled implants eventhough the saline also have

a

> silicone shell.

>

> I had no idea that there were lots of women with saline implants

> that also reported the same problems!!! I THOUGHT MY BIGGEST

RISKS

> WERE SIMPLY CAPSULAR CONTRACTION AND HAVING TO RE-DO THE

IMPLANTS

> MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE NOT THAT I COULD FACE DEBILITATING

DISEASES

>

> Then again I tell myself --over 100K women get this every year -

how

> can it really be that bad? Wouldn't thousands of women be

coming

> forward with these problems. Could it really just be a

coincidence?

>

> And these surgeries continue year after year. I hear all these

> other women say " It is the best thing I did for myself " but

then

> again a lot of these women have had them only from 2-6 years I

> suppose there is still a chance for diseases to manifest later.

>

> ANY COMMENTS FOR ME?? I would feel like a " chicken " in a way

for

> backing out of the surgery or even embarrassed that people think

I

> am " flaky " for having gone through all the consults and hoopla

and

> then two weeks before the surgery backing out! I also would

lose

> some of the deposit (But that is not that big of deal)

>

> PART OF ME REALLY WANTS TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS BUT ANOTHER

PART OF

> ME IS VERY SCARED THAT SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE

REGRETTING

> MY DECISION

>

> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I woke up this

morning

> and the fisrt thing I did was go on this site!! I am very

nervous -

> not sure what to do.

[Guest guest]

You sound like me back in 1993........

Here I am today, very, very, ill with no doctor to help me cuz they don't believe (except for some docs back East like Dr. Kolb and Dr. Feng....I'm in Calif.)

DO NOT DO IT

DO NOT DO IT

DO NOT DO IT

My symptoms started two months after implant BUT they were so subtle, I never put it together.

I slowly deteriorated for years and had no idea why I was or what was happening......etc.

Then BANG I became very ill. Woke up one day in 2002 sicker than sick.

This is real!

It can really happen to you.

Don't do it.

What more can I say....................

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

From: cjvon666

Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 6:27 AM

Subject: First Breast Implant Surgery Scheduled August 1st- Help!

Hello everybody. I am scheduled to have saline breast implants put in Friday August 1st. Yesterday morning and for the last two weeks I have been so excited about the propsect and broadcasting to the closest people around me of what I am doing and how excited I am about it. Most people's reactions are "good for you"Yesterday afternoon I told my brother about the date of the surgery and he tried to talk me out of it and encouraged me to do more "research" For some reason eventhough he did not say anything I did not already know or have thought about before -I came on the internet and plugged in "saline implants" and "problems" and came across this site!Prior to this, I had mostly been looking at implantinfo.com and at "nicole's website" Needless to say, after looking at this site for a couple of hours I AM SCARED AND WONDERING WHETHER I SHOULD REALLY DO THIS!!!I had been telling myself that the "autoimmune problems" were only for "silicone" filled implants eventhough the saline also have a silicone shell.I had no idea that there were lots of women with saline implants that also reported the same problems!!! I THOUGHT MY BIGGEST RISKS WERE SIMPLY CAPSULAR CONTRACTION AND HAVING TO RE-DO THE IMPLANTS MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE NOT THAT I COULD FACE DEBILITATING DISEASES Then again I tell myself --over 100K women get this every year -how can it really be that bad? Wouldn't thousands of women be coming forward with these problems. Could it really just be a coincidence?And these surgeries continue year after year. I hear all these other women say "It is the best thing I did for myself" but then again a lot of these women have had them only from 2-6 years I suppose there is still a chance for diseases to manifest later.ANY COMMENTS FOR ME?? I would feel like a "chicken" in a way for backing out of the surgery or even embarrassed that people think I am "flaky" for having gone through all the consults and hoopla and then two weeks before the surgery backing out! I also would lose some of the deposit (But that is not that big of deal)PART OF ME REALLY WANTS TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS BUT ANOTHER PART OF ME IS VERY SCARED THAT SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE REGRETTING MY DECISION Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I woke up this morning and the fisrt thing I did was go on this site!! I am very nervous -not sure what to do.

[Guest guest]

,

Hello. My asthma has definately lessened. I am sleeping so much

better and I feel an immense pressure off of my chest. The pain

between my shoulders and in my rib cage is already gone as well. I

thank God that I had the explant surgery. I pray that I and everyone

else will regain our health.

> Hello Lena...You mentioned you were having night sweats after

surgery still. I am still having them as well( explanted on the

30th). Did any ladies take longer for some of these symptoms to go

away. My asthamtic, or auto-immune symptoms have improved a bit.

Went to the beach and the hike down san onofre cliffs is a tough

one. Did not have the pain in my head like with implants but still

hard to catch my breathe and just a litttle achy...not quite as

bad...I guess it takes time since I had the implants 3 years....

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: lena_beck2004

>

> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 9:18 AM

> Subject: Re: First Breast Implant Surgery

Scheduled August 1st- Help!

>

>

>

> Having just had explant surgery on Monday the 7th, I totally

agree

> with Patty. When I got implants I was told that they would last

> forever and that they were healthy because they were made of

saline.

> Within a year I wasn't feeling well and within a couple of years

I

> began developing many serious health problems. Of course, the

> doctors said the implants couldn't possibly be causing problems

> because " they're saline " (even though we know what the shell is

made

> of, and there haven't been long term studies on them.)

>

> Finally, after I'd gotten to the point where I could no longer

work

> or even function, my rheumatologist sent me to a different

plastic

> surgeon (my original surgeon said, " the implants aren't causing

any

> problems,not even the severe breast pain.If you have pain in the

> breasts it's because you were going to have it anyway. " He also

> talked me out of explanting, warning me of the disfigurement I

was

> sure to face afterwards. Fortunately the next surgeon I saw

admitted

> they needed to come out.

>

> If I had the chance to do it over, I would definately not get

breast

> implants. I would learn to love my body as it was and fix what

was

> on my inside that made me feel not ok as I was.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --- In , " *~Patty~* " <fdp@l...>

wrote:

> > Welcome to our group, CJ,

> > First of all I want to tell you how proud I am of you for

> researching this...yes, there are some ugly truths out there

about

> saline implants that nobody likes to talk about or hear about,

and

> in fact, there are many women who hear what we have to say and

close

> up their ears tight...they don't like the sound of it! I have

been

> in their shoes, though. When I got my saline implants, I think

it

> would have been very hard to talk me out of getting them. I

wanted

> them very badly. I am sure you do too. Believe me, we

understand!

> >

> > But I think in hindsight, if I had available to me the

information

> that you have available to you now at your fingertips, I would

have

> had a very different outcome. I was actually told that my

saline

> implants would go with me to my grave, and the incidence of

diseases

> was discounted completely. However, that small incidence became

a

> 100% reality to me as I became so ill that I really wanted to

die.

> If I had known beforehand just how bad this illness is, I am

quite

> certain I would have not gotten implants. Hindsight is always

> better than foresight, isn't it? I can say with certainty, the

> price I paid was too high.

> >

> > So, the advice I give you is completely from my experience,

and I

> know it will be echoed by hundreds and thousands of women who

have

> gone before you who have gotten sick like I did....implants are

> TOTALLY NOT WORTH THE RISK, and it was the BIGGEST mistake of my

> life, one of the most STUPIDEST things I've done. I know those

are

> strong words for you! But I mean them with all my heart. I

wasted

> thousands of dollars and lost 4 years of my life only to end up

> small breasted once again, with scars and an autoimmune disease.

Not

> a good investment, I am afraid, wouldn't you agree?

> >

> > I know this is a decision only you can make, CJ, and I

understand

> your dilemma. It is a hard spot to be in. Sometimes the saying

is

> true, " Ignorance is bliss " . Not knowing what has happened to

some

> of us would make this decision alot easier for you, and you

could

> enjoy your implants. But as I say, ignorance is bliss only

> until " the shit hits the fan " . (Please excuse my language--

that's

> another saying!) I only say this because of what I know to be

true

> once illness begins from implants. It is very hard to find

doctors

> to treat you, very hard to get anyone to believe you, very hard

to

> even get a diagnosis of what is wrong, and harder still to find

a

> doctor to remove them properly unless you can travel and spend

> thousands more dollars.

> >

> > Some women seem to be able to bear the implants in their body

for

> a number of years without ill effects. Others get sick right

away.

> If you take a look at the polls on our website, one of the

questions

> is How long after getting implants did you first begin to

experience

> symptoms? You will see that most of the answers were under one

> year. Some others took 2 years, 5 years, 8 years, 10

years.....the

> bottom line is that you never know when you will become ill. It

is

> a matter of the immune system, the most complex part of our body

> that is still not fully understood....the answers are not there

yet,

> and who knows? Maybe they never will be.

> >

> > And now that you know about the risks from implants, if you do

go

> through with the surgery, you will live in fear of what might

> someday happen to you....unfortunately, not a very fun position

to

> be in. So you will need to think this over very carefully and

come

> firmly to a conclusion in your mind, or you will have no peace.

I

> hope I can be there to support you, even if you do decide to go

> through with the surgery. We will be here to help.

> >

> > CJ, it really doesn't matter that you've told others about

your

> upcoming surgery and may be embarrassed if you back out. The

truth

> is that you will be seen as a very smart woman! You will be

seen

> as someone who researched this fully and found some information

that

> you really needed to know, information that could save you much

pain

> and suffering, as well as save your family the pain and

suffering

> they would have endured if you got sick. Tell your brother I

think

> he is awesome! Thank him for me for telling you to research

this!

> He was right on for putting some flashing caution signs in your

> road!

> >

> > I wish you the very best, no matter what. I wish you

happiness,

> peace and contentment in life, and joy with who you are. And of

> course, I think you are the best you can be without plastic bags

in

> your chest...

> > let us know what you decide.

> > Take care,

> > Patty

> >

> > ----- Original Message -----

> > From: cjvon666

> >

> > Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 6:27 AM

> > Subject: First Breast Implant Surgery

Scheduled

> August 1st- Help!

> >

> >

> > Hello everybody. I am scheduled to have saline breast

implants

> put

> > in Friday August 1st. Yesterday morning and for the last

two

> weeks

> > I have been so excited about the propsect and broadcasting

to

> the

> > closest people around me of what I am doing and how excited

I am

> > about it. Most people's reactions are " good for you "

> >

> >

> > Yesterday afternoon I told my brother about the date of the

> surgery

> > and he tried to talk me out of it and encouraged me to do

> > more " research " For some reason eventhough he did not say

> anything

> > I did not already know or have thought about before -I came

on

> the

> > internet and plugged in " saline implants " and " problems "

and

> came

> > across this site!

> >

> > Prior to this, I had mostly been looking at implantinfo.com

and

> > at " nicole's website " Needless to say, after looking at

this

> site

> > for a couple of hours I AM SCARED AND WONDERING WHETHER I

SHOULD

> > REALLY DO THIS!!!

> >

> > I had been telling myself that the " autoimmune problems "

were

> only

> > for " silicone " filled implants eventhough the saline also

have

> a

> > silicone shell.

> >

> > I had no idea that there were lots of women with saline

implants

> > that also reported the same problems!!! I THOUGHT MY

BIGGEST

> RISKS

> > WERE SIMPLY CAPSULAR CONTRACTION AND HAVING TO RE-DO THE

> IMPLANTS

> > MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE NOT THAT I COULD FACE DEBILITATING

> DISEASES

> >

> > Then again I tell myself --over 100K women get this every

year -

> how

> > can it really be that bad? Wouldn't thousands of women be

> coming

> > forward with these problems. Could it really just be a

> coincidence?

> >

> > And these surgeries continue year after year. I hear all

these

> > other women say " It is the best thing I did for myself " but

> then

> > again a lot of these women have had them only from 2-6 years

I

> > suppose there is still a chance for diseases to manifest

later.

> >

> > ANY COMMENTS FOR ME?? I would feel like a " chicken " in a

way

> for

> > backing out of the surgery or even embarrassed that people

think

> I

> > am " flaky " for having gone through all the consults and

hoopla

> and

> > then two weeks before the surgery backing out! I also would

> lose

> > some of the deposit (But that is not that big of deal)

> >

> > PART OF ME REALLY WANTS TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS BUT ANOTHER

> PART OF

> > ME IS VERY SCARED THAT SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE

> REGRETTING

> > MY DECISION

> >

> > Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I woke up this

> morning

> > and the fisrt thing I did was go on this site!! I am very

> nervous -

> > not sure what to do.

>

>

>