Guest guest Posted February 2, 2002 Report Share Posted February 2, 2002 I'm a 29-year-old woman who got McGhan textured saline implants in 1996 for cosmetic reasons. About a year later, the problems started. Although I'd not had health problems in the past, in 1997 I caught bronchitis and developed a number of allergies. In January of 1999 I was rushed to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. At the time they diagnosed me with urinary and vaginal infections and sent me home. But the pain never got better and the infections never went away. So over the next four months I went to two gastrointestinal specialists, two ob/gyns, and a urologist. They found polyps and infections. In April of last year my body all over started to burn, my muscles began spasming badly and my joints were tremendously painful. Although I went to three different internists, two rheumatologists, and a neurologist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, my blood work all came back as normal. In May I went for a mammogram, which came back fine. But within three days of the mammogram, I felt horrible. I had extreme burning and a sense of strong pressure in my chest, particularly around and behind my implants. My eyes and mouth were extremely dry and soon after I noticed my hair falling out in clumps. I was so fatigued that I couldn't even get myself something to eat and soon found myself out of work. Emotionally, this was difficult for me to deal with because I've always been a healthy and active person. I rarely even had a cold, even in the middle of flu season! Now, at 28, my body was falling apart. It got worse. My primary care physician noticed that my blood pressure kept dropping (to around 85 over 55). In June I started getting night sweats. Even during the day I felt like I was stumbling around in a fog all the time. Come July I was so weak that I could barely get up to use the bathroom or get a drink. My ears were ringing constantly and I was seeing spots in front of my eyes. I was diagnosed with extremely dry eyes. Since 1998, my eyeglass prescription has changed three times. Before that my prescription changed only once in 4 years. It seemed like I couldn't remember anything anymore. I would get up from the couch to go get a tissue and by the time I got to the bathroom door, I would have no idea what I was doing or getting. I would often become cold and nothing seemed to be able to warm me up. For instance, I remember feeling like my feet were freezing and deciding to put on a pair of socks and wrap a blanket around them. Two hours later, they still felt cold. Even a heating blanket wouldn't warm me up. My aches and pains were so awful. Finally, I started having dental problems. I'd never had any problems before the implants and now I have infections and a need to have root canals. In August of 1999, I came to the decision to remove my implants. I just wanted to feel better. When I was explanted in September, I noticed some of my symptoms going away. My hands weren't swelling anymore, all my chest pains were gone, and although I am still really tired all the time, I began to be able to do more things for myself. I still suffer from bursitis, tendonitis, bone spurs, fibromyalgia, arthralgia, low blood pressure, IBS, PID, dental problems, and dry eyes. I still can't work and at the age of 29, find myself with no income and no way to take care of myself. I thank God for my family, friends and my boyfriend who have been supporting me through this, both financially and emotionally. It has drained me financially and emotionally. Without their help, I would be homeless. I'm glad I'm getting better, but it's just not quickly enough. Thank you Shirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 2, 2002 Report Share Posted February 2, 2002 You can put it in both places -Shirl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 2, 2002 Report Share Posted February 2, 2002 Thanks Pearl -Shirl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2002 Report Share Posted February 4, 2002 e, I can relate to you on the family thing.... I'm sorry you're going at this without family support. I know how that feels. Pearl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Thanks e, wow, that is so weird. I'll be 32 in July. I can't believe how similar we are. What symptoms do you have that I have? Do you have a list? I do have the style, I'll have to look it up to see what they were. I know what you mean about your credit, mine is crap now too. I had such good credit and a good job. I owned my own house and had 2 cars. Now I wonder were I'm going to get money to get underwear. I guess I feel lucky to still have a vehicle and a roof over my head. I really shouldn't complain even if I can't do for myself anymore. I still get depressed though. I'll try and find my paperwork tonight or tomorrow to let you know what mine were. Thanks Shirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Ok, thanks e. Could you tell me what symptoms improved and which ones are still progressing? Good night all.... Shirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Shirl, What a powerful story!! Interesting, I had my McGhan textured saline implants placed in 1996 also. Pierre Blais said (when he analyzed mine) that he was seeing more and more faulty implants and ill women who had been implanted with McGhan textured salines in the yrs 1995-1997. He was finding that approximately 97% of the implants he analyzed (which were placed in the above yrs) were McGhan textured salines and that he strongly felt that because of the # of problems women were having from these implants that he thought that there would definately be a class action in the future. Do you know what style yours were? You also have a lot of the health problems that I have. And you are even younger than me (I'm 32). I just have to wonder if there is a connection with our health problems and the lot #'s of the implants we had. Your financial situation is also similar to mine. I became so ill and experienced so many complications and set backs with my surgeries, that I wasn't able to work much from 1999-2001. As a result, I was barely able to pay rent and/or pay my other bills. And of course, this wasn't anything I'd planned for (nor did anyone else who was made so ill by their implants) so I didn't have any money saved up. All I had was my retirement money and I ended up cashing in every dime of my retirement money so that I could pay bills. And I still was behind. Now my credit is ruined and I can't even get a job because of my credit history. I am so glad you have a supportive family and a boyfriend. That can make all the difference in the world. I sincerely hope that you continue to feel better and that many good, wonderful things are down the road for you! e ----- Original Message ----- From: Heer Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 4:03 PM Subject: Re: My story can I put this in the story section? Also can I put it up on the explantation site? Let me know it is very powerful. Thank you Shirl Love ----- Original Message ----- From: shg713@... Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 3:47 PM Subject: My story I'm a 29-year-old woman who got McGhan textured saline implants in 1996 for cosmetic reasons. About a year later, the problems started. Although I'd not had health problems in the past, in 1997 I caught bronchitis and developed a number of allergies. In January of 1999 I was rushed to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. At the time they diagnosed me with urinary and vaginal infections and sent me home. But the pain never got better and the infections never went away. So over the next four months I went to two gastrointestinal specialists, two ob/gyns, and a urologist. They found polyps and infections. In April of last year my body all over started to burn, my muscles began spasming badly and my joints were tremendously painful. Although I went to three different internists, two rheumatologists, and a neurologist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, my blood work all came back as normal. In May I went for a mammogram, which came back fine. But within three days of the mammogram, I felt horrible. I had extreme burning and a sense of strong pressure in my chest, particularly around and behind my implants. My eyes and mouth were extremely dry and soon after I noticed my hair falling out in clumps. I was so fatigued that I couldn't even get myself something to eat and soon found myself out of work. Emotionally, this was difficult for me to deal with because I've always been a healthy and active person. I rarely even had a cold, even in the middle of flu season! Now, at 28, my body was falling apart.It got worse. My primary care physician noticed that my blood pressure kept dropping (to around 85 over 55). In June I started getting night sweats. Even during the day I felt like I was stumbling around in a fog all the time. Come July I was so weak that I could barely get up to use the bathroom or get a drink. My ears were ringing constantly and I was seeing spots in front of my eyes. I was diagnosed with extremely dry eyes. Since 1998, my eyeglass prescription has changed three times. Before that my prescription changed only once in 4 years. It seemed like I couldn't remember anything anymore. I would get up from the couch to go get a tissue and by the time I got to the bathroom door, I would have no idea what I was doing or getting. I would often become cold and nothing seemed to be able to warm me up. For instance, I remember feeling like my feet were freezing and deciding to put on a pair of socks and wrap a blanket around them. Two hours later, they still felt cold. Even a heating blanket wouldn't warm me up. My aches and pains were so awful. Finally, I started having dental problems. I'd never had any problems before the implants and now I have infections and a need to have root canals. In August of 1999, I came to the decision to remove my implants. I just wanted to feel better. When I was explanted in September, I noticed some of my symptoms going away. My hands weren't swelling anymore, all my chest pains were gone, and although I am still really tired all the time, I began to be able to do more things for myself. I still suffer from bursitis, tendonitis, bone spurs, fibromyalgia, arthralgia, low blood pressure, IBS, PID, dental problems, and dry eyes. I still can't work and at the age of 29, find myself with no income and no way to take care of myself. I thank God for my family, friends and my boyfriend who have been supporting me through this, both financially and emotionally. It has drained me financially and emotionally. Without their help, I would be homeless. I'm glad I'm getting better, but it's just not quickly enough. Thank you Shirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Shirl, I could list for you my symptoms. I will also dig out my info from Pierre to see exactly what style the implants were. You do have a lot more GI problems than I ever did, but other things are similar. I will write to you tomorrow, as it is after MN here and I have to be up at 430am for this bx. e ----- Original Message ----- From: blksvr@... Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 11:55 PM Subject: Re: My story Thanks e, wow, that is so weird. I'll be 32 in July. I can't believe how similar we are. What symptoms do you have that I have? Do you have a list? I do have the style, I'll have to look it up to see what they were. I know what you mean about your credit, mine is crap now too. I had such good credit and a good job. I owned my own house and had 2 cars. Now I wonder were I'm going to get money to get underwear. I guess I feel lucky to still have a vehicle and a roof over my head. I really shouldn't complain even if I can't do for myself anymore. I still get depressed though.I'll try and find my paperwork tonight or tomorrow to let you know what mine were.ThanksShirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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