I'm new - Could it be the implants??

August 22, 2003

Hi Ladies - I have enjoyed finding your site tonight and reading

your personal stories... Here is my question.

I had tear-drop, textured saline implants put in about 3 1/2 years

ago. Approximatly 7 months post-op I noticed the right breast was

showing signs of capsular contracture. This has gotten progressivly

worse over the years and the pain in my right breast is rapidly

increasing. BUT... that is not why I am posting.

In the past few months I have noticed pain in my shoulders, neck,

low back - with numbness in my hands/arms and tingling in my legs.

I have experienced nausea on a very regular basis and started seeing

occasional spots. The pain in my neck and back has become

unbearable so I have been referred to a specialist - had an MRI -

going to physical therapy. Yesterday - my doctor said that she

wondered if this could be a reaction to the silicone in the

implants. Well - I was really shocked. My PS had told me the risks

of capsular contracture - but not THIS!

I have been researching the web and find that these are all

symptoms - is this normal? correct? I contacted my PS here in

Dallas a few months ago about explantation (because of r breast) and

he stated he would not charge a fee for removing them. I would pay

for surgery center, medication, ect. - about $1000...

Any advice is appreciated.

Kristi

August 22, 2003

Kristi, I has saline smooth implants placed in 1994 when I was about 20. About 5 yrs into having them, I became very ill. My symptoms were: numbness/tingling in feet, muscle twitches, headaches from hell, skin discoloration, cold hands and feet, severe joint pain esp in hands and feet, hair loss, vision loss, forgetfulness, poor metabolim, dizziness, ect. I then went on to having a full blown auto immune illness called Hashimtos (a thyroid disease that makes your thyroid almost inactive) and Rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 26! Then I had a bels palsy attack (its like a stoke, on the one side of your face. Come on that’s nuts! That’s when I decided to get them out, despite what most of all the docs told me. It was too weird to all be happening to an to an otherwise active healthy young woman. I did, and have gotten better, some right way, some are still lingering (it has been about 11 months) It takes time, for your body to heal. I wanted to say that you are a smart girl, and removing them is a wise choice. Textures implants are said to be of the worst on the market, by specific reputable doctors: as the silicone flakes off and goes throughout the body easier. I have to tell you, that pain in my neck, Id get it so bad in the morning I would take advil, right by the side of my bed, sometimes in my sleep. It was horrible. Like a tight, deep nawing pain. That went away immediately. My rheumatoid arthritis is also testing negative right now and since explant ,and my joint pain has gotten much better! No more headaches too. What you are experiencing is all to familiar, sounds like almost every gal here. I hope you look further into this, and decide to get them out. It would be your best bet to get well. I have seen so many girls bounce backafter removal, and detox. Its amazing. At least all of us have gotten better to different degrees. Take Care, and God Bless ----- Original Message -----