Re: I'm back after months of tests

[Guest guest]

Beth

I had the same insurance problems - they didn't want to cover it unless I could

prove that they were leaking which of course I couldn't unless they were out. I

went ahead and paid for the explant and upon removal sent them to Dr. Pierre

Blais in Canada for him to analyze them - both were not only proven to be

leaking but they were also contaminated with a lot of crap. I took this to me

explant doc who wrote the insurance a letter and sent the ins co the report from

doc Blais also and got a refund. Chances are, if you have saline they are

leaking - they all do, you just need to prove it. Make sure you make it very

clear you want to keep the implants after explant and do the same thing as me.

hopefully you can get a refund. It takes a while and is a real pain but it

worked for me. can I ask who your insurance co is?

shari

[Guest guest]

Beth,

Doesn't that just burn you about the rheumatologist?? Of all doctors, they are supposed to be the ones that understand autoimmune disease. Who got to all these rheummies for crying out loud, everyone of them seems to run like a scared rabbit when you mention implants, what are they so afraid of? I am sorry, this just makes me so mad when they tell you to see a psychiatrist! PLEEEEZE!

I also had my implants for only 9 months. Your symptoms are identical to what mine were.

As far as I know, if you go to Dr. Kolb, she should be able to get all your insurance things squared away. Did you talk to her about it? It is my understanding that she can get insurance to cover it. I don't see where a neurologist is going to help you if that is the case, but you should ask her if you are going to use her.

Best wishes,

Patty

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

From: bethlakey

Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 12:58 PM

Subject: I'm back after months of tests

Hi ladies,I am back after several months of testing which have mostly turned out fine. I now have the following symptoms after only having implants for 9 months: heart palpitations,numbness and tingling on left side of body, muscle twitches, crawly sensations on left jaw, headaches and weird mosquito-like bumps breaking out on my legs.My silicone sensitivity test was negative, my MRIs didn't show anything, my ANA is slight positive and I have an enlarged thryoid. I have seen a neurologist who mostly ruled out MS, etc, and have seen a neurosurgeon, orthosurgeon and rheumatologist. When the rheumatologist found out I had implants, he suggested I see a psychiatrist because he didn't believe my symptoms were physical. My HMO said they can't help me anymore.If/when I can explant Dr. Kolb will be my surgeon. I need to get a letter of medical necessity to present to my insurance company, but I also think I may need another letter from a neurologist as well.There is a neurologist in the Atlanta area that knows quite a bit about silicone and is receptive to implant patients. Do you think it would be worth my time to see him? I am now having to work outside my insurance company.I am "stuck" at this point and appreciate your thoughts,Thanks,Beth

[Guest guest]

Beth,

I also had a feeling only in the left side of my face that felt like a fan was blowing on my face(kinda hard to describe) and on the right side of my body only I get the creepy crawly feeling on my arm and leg occasionally. Just thought I would let you know its not uncommon for a symptom to show up only on one side of the body. I had saline implants for 8 yrs that were contaminated with all kinds of micro-organisms. But what do these Drs. think will happen to the saline solution after years in a constant temperature of 98degrees?? Of course things will fester, and also these sterile bags of saline have expiration dates. I asked the question before about what was making me sick the saline or the shell and its probally a combination of both. Silicone is silicone, whether its the gel or the shell. It is a foreign body and causes havoc on the immune system.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

What I don't understand is why is this happening to me when I have

saline filled implants? I have received many emails from women who

had ruptured gel filled implants and the same symptoms. Is it the

silicone shell, or are these things infected with bacteria? Very

confused. I'm also very confused about the crawly senations on the

left side of my face, and why my symptoms are on the left side of my

body.

I am with a HMO and I have been told twice they probably won't cover

it because it was a cosmetic procedure. My GP has asked for a letter

of medical necessity and she will present it to the board. I think

the way HMOs work is the GP somehow is penalized when things like

this happen, because they are all about saving money. My GP wasn't

very friendly to me last week, and the Rheumy. diagnosis didn't help

my case. The man was a complete jerk and not worth another thought.

I probably shouldn't have told him about the implants but I was

supplying dates of surgery and symptoms.

Dr. Kolb has worked with my insurance company before and she says

they will cover complications. If I get denied my retired mother has

jumped in and said she will pay to have the d*** things taken out.

She is very upset with the manufacturers and thinks they should all

be sued. Way to go mom. You know I am still paying off the first

surgery, sigh. I could always get a pathology report and try for an

appeal, but I am starting to think I really need to get them out and

time is flying by and I have started running a low grade fever.

Something new every month.

Fortunately I'm not depressed and my outlook is pretty good. I guess

it could be worse.

Thanks everyone,

Beth

--- In , " ~*Patty*~ " <redeemed7@c...>

wrote:

> Beth,

>

> Doesn't that just burn you about the rheumatologist?? Of all

doctors, they are supposed to be the ones that understand autoimmune

disease. Who got to all these rheummies for crying out loud,

everyone of them seems to run like a scared rabbit when you mention

implants, what are they so afraid of? I am sorry, this just makes

me so mad when they tell you to see a psychiatrist! PLEEEEZE!

>

> I also had my implants for only 9 months. Your symptoms are

identical to what mine were.

>

> As far as I know, if you go to Dr. Kolb, she should be able to get

all your insurance things squared away. Did you talk to her about

it? It is my understanding that she can get insurance to cover it.

I don't see where a neurologist is going to help you if that is the

case, but you should ask her if you are going to use her.

> Best wishes,

> Patty

>

[Guest guest]

Beth

I wondered the same things about the saline being supposedly safe - I has salines for years but the fact is, the salines shell is made of silicone. /are your textured or smooth? my original set were textured and bits a particles of the shell broke off and are in my system - silicone. Saline water has a shelf life of months @ 78 degrees - think of what life it has at 98? Mine were full of basteria and mold and god knows what else. Either one of these could be your problem - or both. A negative reaction to the silicone shells by your body or possible contamination. One of my implants upon removal months ago had black stuff growing on the outside if it and chunks inside. I have some pics saved on a disc around here somewhere - I will look for them so I can let you see.

love shari

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

did you have a total capsulectomy?

DebbieBARBY4271@... wrote:

Beth,I also had a feeling only in the left side of my face that felt like a fan was blowing on my face(kinda hard to describe) and on the right side of my body only I get the creepy crawly feeling on my arm and leg occasionally. Just thought I would let you know its not uncommon for a symptom to show up only on one side of the body. I had saline implants for 8 yrs that were contaminated with all kinds of micro-organisms. But what do these Drs. think will happen to the saline solution after years in a constant temperature of 98degrees?? Of course things will fester, and also these sterile bags of saline have expiration dates. I asked the question before about what was making me sick the saline or the shell and its probally a combination of both.

Silicone is silicone, whether its the gel or the shell. It is a foreign body and causes havoc on the immune system.Barbara

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

Yes I did have a total capsulectomy.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Can I see too, please ?

Thanks

Fiona

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

From: halvey70@...

Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 3:35 AM

Subject: Re: Re: I'm back after months of tests

BethI wondered the same things about the saline being supposedly safe - I has salines for years but the fact is, the salines shell is made of silicone. /are your textured or smooth? my original set were textured and bits a particles of the shell broke off and are in my system - silicone. Saline water has a shelf life of months @ 78 degrees - think of what life it has at 98? Mine were full of basteria and mold and god knows what else. Either one of these could be your problem - or both. A negative reaction to the silicone shells by your body or possible contamination. One of my implants upon removal months ago had black stuff growing on the outside if it and chunks inside. I have some pics saved on a disc around here somewhere - I will look for them so I can let you see. love shari