For Heidi in Chicago

[Guest guest]

I have a letter in my private inbox that I neglected to answer and the reply got sent back to me. So I will post it here in hopes that the sender will see it.Hello Patty,

My name is Heidi and I live in Chicago. I am 31 years old and have had saline implants since I was 18. I was born with "defective breasts" due to a drug my mother took during her pregnancy to reduce morning sickness. I have had a deflated implant in my right breast since about 2001. I went to my original surgeon about it. But, because we didn't have insurance at the time, he suggested that it wouldn't be harmful to let it be for a while. I went on to have 2 more children since then. Over the last couple years I have had discomfort and even pain, particularly in that breast. I have never had any nipple sensation other than that of pain. It also feels lumpy and hard, and just this week I think I found a hard knot. That is when I started to do some research. I am overwhelmed and distraught with the information that I have found. I now think I possibly am suffering other symptoms, but didn't even think to link them to my implants. I often feel very tired, even when I first get up. I am young yet I feel like my body is that of an old woman. My right heel has been giving me trouble to the point where it hurts too bad to stand on it once in a while. I have an OB appt for Oct. 5, and an appt with my original surgeon for Oct. 12. But the more I read I am almost afraid to let him do the explant. Yet, he has all my pre-op photos and records and even encouraged the insurance company back then to cover it as it was a birth defect and not soley for cosmetic reasons. I have insurance now, so that was my first reason for going to him. Now I am so confused and don't know what to think. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much for posting such valuable information.

Sincerely,

Heidi

Heidi,I apologize for not answering sooner...I just found your message in my inbox.I

am from Illinois...Chicago is an interesting place, but unfortunately

we do not have any recommendations for a good plastic surgeon in that

huge city! However, for a great doctor knowledgeable about the

illnesses associated with implants, Dr. ph Mercola is wonderful.I

am shocked that a plastic surgeon would recommend that you leave your

deflated implant in your body all these years. I can't imagine it.

It's time to do something about that. There's no telling what is going

on in there.It surely sounds like you are having an immune

system reaction to your implants or the materials in your body. Most

of the women who are sick complain of all of these same symptoms that

you are, and more.I see you are about to have

an appt with your original surgeon. Do you know what you are going to ask him? Please

do not be afraid of explant. It is a very important surgery and many

thousands of women have had it done. There is nothing to fear...what

concerns you about it?If you are ill, getting a proper explant

will be the first step in getting better and getting your energy back

again. Proper explant means having a total capsulectomy....that is, a

TOTAL CAPSULE REMOVAL. The capsule is what your body forms around the

implant to wall it off from the rest of the body. Surely you have some

type of scar capsule around that lump in your breast from the deflated

implant. The other side will have scar tissue around the whole

implant. The closest doctor to you that we've encountered

that does a fantastic job of explant is Dr. Lu Feng in Cleveland

Ohio. She knows that women are getting ill from implants and she has a

worldwide reputation for being one of the best. She has dealt with alot

of women who had the silicone gel that ruptured, and she was expert at

getting all that loose silicone out. She recommends complete capsule

removal for anyone who has had implants. You

may find that your plastic surgeon will discount these concerns

greatly. Most plastic surgeons will not admit that implants make you

ill, and therefore even if they do explant surgery, they will not show

enough concern about the scar tissue to be careful to remove it all.

It does NOT dissolve in the body, contrary to what some doctors claim.

There is no evidence to support this.My suggestion is to see

what your doctor says. Then depending on what he/she says and how you

are received, you may wish to go forward with explant, or you may wish

to find another, more qualified doctor such as Dr. Feng to do the

explant properly. This is definitely a surgery you want to ensure is

done correctly.I wish you well, keep me posted on your outcome, ok?Patty