Re: Sharon's Appt. & ?'s

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It is late, and as usual I am thinking too much and suffering from

the buzzing in my head to sleep. Tomorrow (Mon) is my

Rhuematologist appointment. Say a prayer for me. I'm going armed

with lots of info. about autoimmune diseases in general, and also

about the saline implant link. I'll see how the conversation goes

before I bring that one up. My hope is for him to agree to lots of

diagnostic blood tests & an MRI to see what's going on from a

medical standpoint. Read in a book that there is such a thing as a

silicone antibody test...know anything about that?

Knowing all these symptoms were NOT in my head prompted me to see my

family Doctor back in December, but now I find that they are getting

worse and fast. Now I have this " joint cracking " everywhere that

drives me crazy...ankles, knees, elbows, hips, even in my neck...any

of you experience this? And did any of you experience an escalation

of your symptoms within a short time?

Thank you to Patty, & Pam for your advice & notes of

encoutagement. This site has been a blessing to me! Thank you also

for sharing your experience...when I see the number of members on

this site, I know there must be many who do not post, but benefit

from this information! I am curious as to why there are no other

members in this group (who share stories or post) with a breast

cancer history? I have met many who have been through it (as you

would expect...) and got many recommendations for implants. Most of

you sought out your implants originally, but I know you would all be

saddened to see how highly recommended, with few risks, implants are

to cancer patients. Lots of advertising about healing & feeling

whole again to vulnerable women who just want it to be " all behind

them " . I feel so deceived in a way, because to me, my implant

surgery represented something positive and a giant step towards

healing emotionally from my experience. Little did I know! I try

not to dwell on the " if only's... " , I had enough of that with the

cancer, but from that experience also know God's grace is sufficient

for any trial that He puts me through. So, I'm hanging in there!

Again, thanks for caring. I will keep in touch as I can...

(something is wrong with our computer moniter...wondering if it will

be easy to fix? Now is no time for the computer to break down!!)

- thanks for advice, re: Feng & Huang. I think Dr. Feng

would be my first choice but Dr. Hueng is in Denver where I grew up

& still have family to " nurse me back to health " . Is there a long

wait to see these doctors? Reading about your experience helped

soooo much - thanks!

God's blessings,

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Sharon

Don't be discouraged if your rheumatologist thinks you're nuts. The

unbelief of doctors is one of the hardest things to deal with when

you're definitely sick from the implants.

I have tons of cracking everywhere and it seemed to show up all at

once just a few months ago. It is so noticeable when I turn over in

bed! Everything pops at once!

I had the silicone antibody test done as 1 part of a full panel of

tests. The blood was drawn prior to my explant surgery and sent to

the Immunosciences lab in California. It was called " Immunology of

silica and silicone panel " or something close to that! My silicone

antibodies were high - more than double the normal. But Dr. Blais

said that can be deceiving. He said that no matter what type of

implant you have - whether it's an artificial hip or knee or breast

implant, you can have an elevated silicone antibody reading. What

that all boils down to? I have no clue? Anybody care to explain

further?

My symptoms began very shortly after getting the implants. For 3

years I went back and forth to doctors and was treated for

endometriosis, adhesions, migraines, everything but what it really

was. The 4th year things went from bad to worse. In just a few

months the pain and fatigue got so bad I just wanted to die. Thank

God that's about when I found this group. The pain and fatigue was

still there but the hope that I found here just eased my mind and

gave me the strength I needed to go on. I know that God led me here

and you too.

Let us know how your appointment went. Take care!

Pam

> Hi,

> It is late, and as usual I am thinking too much and suffering from

> the buzzing in my head to sleep. Tomorrow (Mon) is my

> Rhuematologist appointment. Say a prayer for me. I'm going armed

> with lots of info. about autoimmune diseases in general, and also

> about the saline implant link. I'll see how the conversation goes

> before I bring that one up. My hope is for him to agree to lots of

> diagnostic blood tests & an MRI to see what's going on from a

> medical standpoint. Read in a book that there is such a thing as a

> silicone antibody test...know anything about that?

> Knowing all these symptoms were NOT in my head prompted me to see

my

> family Doctor back in December, but now I find that they are

getting

> worse and fast. Now I have this " joint cracking " everywhere that

> drives me crazy...ankles, knees, elbows, hips, even in my

neck...any

> of you experience this? And did any of you experience an

escalation

> of your symptoms within a short time?

> Thank you to Patty, & Pam for your advice & notes of

> encoutagement. This site has been a blessing to me! Thank you also

> for sharing your experience...when I see the number of members on

> this site, I know there must be many who do not post, but benefit

> from this information! I am curious as to why there are no other

> members in this group (who share stories or post) with a breast

> cancer history? I have met many who have been through it (as you

> would expect...) and got many recommendations for implants. Most

of

> you sought out your implants originally, but I know you would all

be

> saddened to see how highly recommended, with few risks, implants

are

> to cancer patients. Lots of advertising about healing & feeling

> whole again to vulnerable women who just want it to be " all behind

> them " . I feel so deceived in a way, because to me, my implant

> surgery represented something positive and a giant step towards

> healing emotionally from my experience. Little did I know! I try

> not to dwell on the " if only's... " , I had enough of that with the

> cancer, but from that experience also know God's grace is

sufficient

> for any trial that He puts me through. So, I'm hanging in there!

> Again, thanks for caring. I will keep in touch as I can...

> (something is wrong with our computer moniter...wondering if it

will

> be easy to fix? Now is no time for the computer to break down!!)

> - thanks for advice, re: Feng & Huang. I think Dr. Feng

> would be my first choice but Dr. Hueng is in Denver where I grew up

> & still have family to " nurse me back to health " . Is there a long

> wait to see these doctors? Reading about your experience helped

> soooo much - thanks!

> God's blessings,

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

Sharon I believe we don't hear from more cancer patients for a few

reasons, one being that allot of women who have had implants after

cancer would have a hard hard time even considering removing them due

to having nothing left or fear of that. I do know that on

explantation.com's forum there are a few women that have had removal

of implants after cancer that are doing better. There is one woman I

know of who had removal with one Dr and then is doing a tram flap

reconstruction with Dr Feng, that has been a major surgical

experience for her. If you want to talk to these women I can probably

find them for you. I do know that one of them used to come here as

well but as she got well, as often happens, she chose to put this all

behind her. There are allot of women that just cannot think about all

this stuff anymore, and I can understand their reasoning too, while I

personally felt and feel the need to remain involved, I can see how

it would and could be difficult for others, so that is part of the

reasons why there are not more postings here I believe.

Your rhuemy may be sympathetic but most likely he will take the

stance that it is not your implants. I have not encountered very many

Dr's that were willing to say yes, it is your implants. I found that

I had more success getting the lab tests and medication etc that I

needed by just kind of saying that I feel that my implants could have

a part in this but I am not sure and not dwelling on it too much.

This may seem like a cop out, but it just seemed that I got treated

better and in the end what I wanted was the testing and meds anyhow.

For confirmation of my implant related illness, well that was why I

sought out a wonderful PS who believed in my illness like Dr Feng.

FOr me that was the most important person to believe in me anyhow, my

surgeon who was removing. I just cannot imagine in my condition going

to a surgeon and trusting them if they did not believe implants were

the cause of my illness ya know what I mean? Anyhow honey let us know

how things go. As far as blood tests to watch, rhemuatoid factor,

ANA, sedrate and CBC and thyroid are good ones to start with. If any

of those come off wacky there are tons more in depth ones they will

run too. The only one I ever had was my ANA which has gone back to

normal. As for the silicone sensitivity test I personally never did

it, maybe cause it was a hassle and since I already new what was

wrong with me I decided to just explant. I felt that even if that

test came up negative I knew it was the implants so why bother, but

others feel it is important to get. I don't think most Dr's will do

it though so you will need to find a special dr. Maybe some one here

can refer you to those that do it.

good luck and keep us all posted please!

Hugs

In , " northwoods7380 "

<northwoods7380@y...> wrote:

> Hi,

> It is late, and as usual I am thinking too much and suffering from

> the buzzing in my head to sleep. Tomorrow (Mon) is my

> Rhuematologist appointment. Say a prayer for me. I'm going armed

> with lots of info. about autoimmune diseases in general, and also

> about the saline implant link. I'll see how the conversation goes

> before I bring that one up. My hope is for him to agree to lots of

> diagnostic blood tests & an MRI to see what's going on from a

> medical standpoint. Read in a book that there is such a thing as a

> silicone antibody test...know anything about that?

> Knowing all these symptoms were NOT in my head prompted me to see

my

> family Doctor back in December, but now I find that they are

getting

> worse and fast. Now I have this " joint cracking " everywhere that

> drives me crazy...ankles, knees, elbows, hips, even in my

neck...any

> of you experience this? And did any of you experience an

escalation

> of your symptoms within a short time?

> Thank you to Patty, & Pam for your advice & notes of

> encoutagement. This site has been a blessing to me! Thank you also

> for sharing your experience...when I see the number of members on

> this site, I know there must be many who do not post, but benefit

> from this information! I am curious as to why there are no other

> members in this group (who share stories or post) with a breast

> cancer history? I have met many who have been through it (as you

> would expect...) and got many recommendations for implants. Most

of

> you sought out your implants originally, but I know you would all

be

> saddened to see how highly recommended, with few risks, implants

are

> to cancer patients. Lots of advertising about healing & feeling

> whole again to vulnerable women who just want it to be " all behind

> them " . I feel so deceived in a way, because to me, my implant

> surgery represented something positive and a giant step towards

> healing emotionally from my experience. Little did I know! I try

> not to dwell on the " if only's... " , I had enough of that with the

> cancer, but from that experience also know God's grace is

sufficient

> for any trial that He puts me through. So, I'm hanging in there!

> Again, thanks for caring. I will keep in touch as I can...

> (something is wrong with our computer moniter...wondering if it

will

> be easy to fix? Now is no time for the computer to break down!!)

> - thanks for advice, re: Feng & Huang. I think Dr. Feng

> would be my first choice but Dr. Hueng is in Denver where I grew up

> & still have family to " nurse me back to health " . Is there a long

> wait to see these doctors? Reading about your experience helped

> soooo much - thanks!

> God's blessings,

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

Awesome letter! That is how to be your own advocate! Never give up

(and believe that God will make a way where there is no way!) You

are such a testimony to others of the varied and severe symptoms

that implants can cause, and even more so, a testimony to how you

can get better after explant! God bless

kathy

- In , " JOSEPH PALANCA "

<juliejp61@m...> wrote:

>