Re: Plastic Surgery Article

[Guest guest]

Hi Nayomee,

I am replying to your post on the support site I belong to about wanting to

talk to women with negative plastic surgery stories. Here is my story:

My name is Colleen. I am an artist and I live in Memphis, Tennessee. This is

my story about my experience with my illnesses caused by my breast implants.

I wanted breast implants since I was a young teenager. I was average weight

with an athletic build, but my breasts were nearly non-existent. When I

turned 18, I decided it was time to do something about it. Hearing about

saline breast implants, which were supposed to be safe, seemed like an

answer to my prayers. At my consultation with the surgeon, I was told that

the worst that could happen was that the implants could rupture (which he

said would take the impact of a car crash) and I would just have them

replaced. Also, the implant rupture may cause a small infection that could

be quickly cured with antibiotics. I signed the release papers and scheduled

my surgery that same day. I was elated! I knew that I had made a decision

that would change my life...I just thought the change would be a positive

one, but I was wrong. I was implanted in 1997, a few months after my 19th

birthday, with McGhan Biocell style 168 saline implants.

I never recovered from the surgery. Months post-op I felt like I had

the flu constantly. The desire to get back to my normal life forced me to

return to my job, where I worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, and

try to ignore the way I was feeling. I started having extreme fatigue where

I could barely get out of bed and I would fall asleep at work. When I was

awake, I was very dizzy and too much activity would cause me to pass out. I

couldn't focus or think and I could barely read. I was put through all the

tests and was diagnosed with depression. I saw a psychologist once a week

and was put on two anti-depressants and an anxiety medication. I laid in bed

every day and cried. I was distraut and suicidal. A member of my family was

with me almost all the time taking care of me...they were afraid to leave me

alone. I couldn't even function. I was barely 21 years old.

It was a daily struggle to do my best to concentrate with this fog in my

head and work the best I could. I was constantly sick, taking days off for

flu or sinus infections. It was so hard not being able to tell my employer

why I was so sick all the time, because I really didn't know myself. Then,

the pain started. My joints, muscles and bones ached all over my body. I

couldn't drive, read or do anything that required focus and my body was

racked with constant pain. Sometimes, I couldn't even have a conversation or

form thoughts. After a long time of doing the very best I could possibly do,

I couldn't

take it anymore. I told my employer that I needed to take a medical leave of

absence. A couple of days later, I was called into the boss's office and

fired.

After countless visits to specialists, and too many tests to list, I was

diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Epstein Barr

Syndrome. The medicine I was put on did not help my symptoms, and I

continued to get even sicker.

One day, my mom brought up the subject of my implants. I guess the thought

that my implants were making me sick was always there in the back of my

mind, but I thought that SURELY the doctors I had seen would have told me if

it was indeed my implants. My mom and I did some research on the internet

and found my symptoms congruent with women's who had silicone poisoning. But

I had saline implants, not silicone. Further research told me that, yes, my

implants contained saline, but the shell was made of silicone.

I contacted an online support group and asked about tests or some way to

know if my implants were to blame for my sickness. The email I received back

from the support group said that there was a doctor who had developed a test

for silicone poisoning. His name is Dr. R. Shanklin. They went on to

list his contact information. I was shocked and happy to see that his

office was in Memphis! I contacted Dr. Shanklin who sent me to a pathology

lab and had me tested. The results came back positive. He informed me that I

had the highest levels of silicone poisoning he had seen in years. Finally,

I had an answer!!! I was happy that I now knew what was making me so sick,

but at the same time, so devastated, that something I had chosen to do to

improve my appearance was the cause. I felt so selfish. My family and I had

been through so much suffering because I

wanted " normal " breasts.

I had a bilateral capsulectomy with removal of implants on August 22, 2003.

Since my surgery, my symptoms have improved greatly, but I have a very long

way to go before I am well. Through talks with Dr. Shanklin, who I truly

believe to be my guardian angel, I know that I may or may not recover fully.

The thought of living the rest of my life like this and having to be on

disability at the age of 25 is very hard.

Here is a list of my greatest symptoms:

depression/anxiety

extreme fatigue (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

fainting

nausea

fazes of extreme sleepiness and insomnia

constant joint, muscle, bone pain (Fibromyalgia)

swollen, sore lymph nodes

easy bruising with hematomas

extreme nose bleeds resulting in trips to the ER

extreme cognitive difficulties including memory loss

blurred vision and temporary vision loss in one eye

swollen abdomen, face and hands

rashes

daily low grade fever

low body temp

heat and cold intolerance

failing thyroid

" flu feeling " constantly

hair loss

difficulty breathing resulting in trip to the ER

weight gain

It is difficult for me to put into words how much my family and I have

suffered. I'll never get back the years I lost that should have been some of

the best of my life.

Thank you for taking time to read my story! Please feel free to contact me

if you would like to.

Thanks,

Colleen Fortner

cfortner@...

901-309-9609

From: " nay " <nayomee415@...>

Reply-

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 15:31:08 -0000

Subject: Student Reporter Looking To Talk To Women Who Have

Had Plastic Surgery

Hello Everyone,

My name is Nayomee and I am a News Writing Student at San Francisco

State University. I am currently working on an article about the

popularity of plastic surgery. I became interested in the idea

because of all these reality tv shows that have been showing up on

the air waves. So far, I only have people willing to talk to me who

have had very positive experiences. I'd like to get all sides of

the story in order for the article to be fair.

I am looking to talk to the following:

-People who have had plastic surgery and are happy with the results

-People who have had plastic surgery and are still not happy with

the way they look

-People who have had plastic surgery and their health is suffering

as a direct result from the surgery.

I am looking to interview people next week. The interview should

take about 20 minutes. After I turn in the article, my professor

may (most likely) contact you to make sure the interview took place.

I understand busy schedules, I'm trying to deal with one myself, so

the interview can take place by phone or email.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences.

Nayomee

nayomee415@...