Re: RA and Breast Implants??

[Guest guest]

Robin,

I just had to congratulate you on losing the 130 pounds in the first place.

Amazing. I stand in awe.

Sorry but I don't know anything about AS, I'm sure someone here will post.

I hope you get your condition under control soon.

in PA

On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 1:15 AM, RobinG <jkrdrmom@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi, I lost 130 pounds in 2004 and I told myself that if I kept it off for 5

> years I would have the extra skin lifted!

>

> In January of 2010 I had a lowerbody lift, thigh lift and a breast lift.

> When they " lifted " the breasts they told me I should get an implant to help

> it keep its shape since they were taking away skin. So...I had a small

> implant placed in each breast.

>

> By June 2010 I developed an encapsulated implant on each side (a risk all

> implants have). I had them replaced in August. Later in August is when most

> of my symptoms of RA started I think. I had periods of back pain, hips pain

> etc... for a few years but it would only last a few days and go away. I only

> had to take ibuprofen for the pain.

>

> Since Aug, my symptoms had spread to my feet, ankles, hips and mid/lower

> back. I was told I had a " slightly raised " RA factor in my labs in October

> when I saw the doctor. We than started me on RA meds which " kind of " helped

> for a while. I have gone through a series of different RA meds to find

> something that would help. At this point I am on Sulfasalazine and I am

> still in constant pain. The pain is now in my upper/back shoulder and arms.

> My feet, hips and legs also hurt. The pain is to the point where I can NOT

> do any of my normal daily functions. I can't even lift my arms over my

> shoulders to take off a shirt! I can't bend etc....

>

> I have also noted that BOTH of my breasts are firm and uncomfortable which

> means there is another encapsulation. I am thinking of just having the

> implants removed. I am wondering if there is a REAL link between RA and

> silacone breast implants??? Could they have irritated my immune system

> enough to cause these RA symptoms?

>

> I am seeing a plastic surgeon tomorrow but I bet he will say there is no

> evidence of a link.

>

> I also have Ankylosing Spongeolytis (sp?) which the doc told me about last

> week. That is why we switched my meds to Sulfasalazine. I am trying to be

> patient and see how the meds work, but so far, I am in so much pain, I can't

> sleep or even function. He said it takes time for the meds to really help. I

> take 800mg Ibuprofen on top of this medication at least 2 times a day. I

> know my liver and kidneys are NOT going to like all these meds. I am

> seriously anemic and have been for years. I know I am at high risk of

> bleeding already and adding so much ibuprofen is risky. I just don't know

> what else to do.

>

> I am only 47 and I feel so old and feeble! I can't do anything with my kids

> and I am on FMLA for work right now. FMLA is only good for a short time, so

> I really need to get back to work! I hate this!!! I am facing years of this

> RA ahead and I am so frustrated that I can't find anything to help the pain.

> I know many here are having the same issues with finding pain medication

> that works. I don't know how anyone could deal with this for years!!!!! I

> have such a short fuze and I am always wanting to just lay around and cry.

>

> Anyhow, I know I am just rambling now....I am just really looking for

> information about having breast implants and than getting sick from them. I

> don't think they are ruptured. My body just does not like them. I would

> rather have flat breasts that do not hurt than have these implants causing

> more pain and problems.

>

> Thanks for listening. I am really enjoying reading everyones posts. I have

> gotten some good tips and information from them.

>

> Robin in St. Louis

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Robin,

Great job on the weight loss!

I'm not sure about the implants and RA, but you should really see you doctor to

see about getting something stronger for the pain than ibuprofen. Taking too

much of that can cause other problems with your stomach and possibly develop an

allergy to it (I did after living on ibuprofen for pain. There are many drugs

currently on the market that will effectively deal with the pain you are

currently experiencing. Pain in itself can cause other issues as well. If your

pain is really bad, you may want to look in to seeing a pain management

specialist.

Feel better soon.

Betsy in the VI

>

> Hi, I lost 130 pounds in 2004 and I told myself that if I kept it off for 5

years I would have the extra skin lifted!

>

> In January of 2010 I had a lowerbody lift, thigh lift and a breast lift. When

they " lifted " the breasts they told me I should get an implant to help it keep

its shape since they were taking away skin. So...I had a small implant placed in

each breast.

>

> By June 2010 I developed an encapsulated implant on each side (a risk all

implants have). I had them replaced in August. Later in August is when most of

my symptoms of RA started I think. I had periods of back pain, hips pain etc...

for a few years but it would only last a few days and go away. I only had to

take ibuprofen for the pain.

>

> Since Aug, my symptoms had spread to my feet, ankles, hips and mid/lower back.

I was told I had a " slightly raised " RA factor in my labs in October when I saw

the doctor. We than started me on RA meds which " kind of " helped for a while. I

have gone through a series of different RA meds to find something that would

help. At this point I am on Sulfasalazine and I am still in constant pain. The

pain is now in my upper/back shoulder and arms. My feet, hips and legs also

hurt. The pain is to the point where I can NOT do any of my normal daily

functions. I can't even lift my arms over my shoulders to take off a shirt! I

can't bend etc....

>

> I have also noted that BOTH of my breasts are firm and uncomfortable which

means there is another encapsulation. I am thinking of just having the implants

removed. I am wondering if there is a REAL link between RA and silacone breast

implants??? Could they have irritated my immune system enough to cause these RA

symptoms?

>

> I am seeing a plastic surgeon tomorrow but I bet he will say there is no

evidence of a link.

>

> I also have Ankylosing Spongeolytis (sp?) which the doc told me about last

week. That is why we switched my meds to Sulfasalazine. I am trying to be

patient and see how the meds work, but so far, I am in so much pain, I can't

sleep or even function. He said it takes time for the meds to really help. I

take 800mg Ibuprofen on top of this medication at least 2 times a day. I know my

liver and kidneys are NOT going to like all these meds. I am seriously anemic

and have been for years. I know I am at high risk of bleeding already and adding

so much ibuprofen is risky. I just don't know what else to do.

>

> I am only 47 and I feel so old and feeble! I can't do anything with my kids

and I am on FMLA for work right now. FMLA is only good for a short time, so I

really need to get back to work! I hate this!!! I am facing years of this RA

ahead and I am so frustrated that I can't find anything to help the pain. I know

many here are having the same issues with finding pain medication that works. I

don't know how anyone could deal with this for years!!!!! I have such a short

fuze and I am always wanting to just lay around and cry.

>

> Anyhow, I know I am just rambling now....I am just really looking for

information about having breast implants and than getting sick from them. I

don't think they are ruptured. My body just does not like them. I would rather

have flat breasts that do not hurt than have these implants causing more pain

and problems.

>

> Thanks for listening. I am really enjoying reading everyones posts. I have

gotten some good tips and information from them.

>

> Robin in St. Louis

>