(unknown)

[Guest guest]

That is an awesome poem...you are pretty creative!!

Taryn and

Indiana

(unknown)

Ode to a HelmetHelmet, helmet on my head,Making it round when it wants to be flat instead.If I ever lost you in trouble I would be,With a price tag ranging from $300-$3,000 can you blame me?Kid friendly you look with stickers and paint,Smelling like flowers is something you ain't."Why are you there?" I've heard said,To make this baby have a rounder head!A helmet I am A helmet I will beSitting on the heads of the cutest babiesYou ever did see!A.J. U of M helmetFor more plagio info

[Guest guest]

----- Oorspronkelijk bericht -----

Van: Annemie

Aan: hypothyroidism

Verzonden: zaterdag 8 maart 2003 15:14

Onderwerp: Re: (unknown)

Thank you

I wanted to ask is there anybody that has a list of medication they use for

hypothyroidism that has names they use for example in europe to names they have

for meds in the us??? It is confusing to see all those names and having no clue

what type of meds that is other then for the thyroid, can anybody tell me about

the ingredients in the meds and the names??

liefs

Annemie

----- Oorspronkelijk bericht -----

Van: jezebel56@...

Aan: hypothyroidism

Verzonden: donderdag 20 februari 2003 23:30

Onderwerp: Re: (unknown)

Annemie..what a beautiful name!!!:)

Ok,I have been on Thyrolar for 3months now and I just went to see my Dr.

and asked that he put me on Armour to see if there is a difference in

the two.I will keep all posted!!!

Deneen:)

[Guest guest]

Hi! Just wanted to tell you that this sounds like my story.

My ped told me my daughter's head would fix itself, and I also believed it.

My mom called me crying one day because other people were telling her how

obviously flat 's head looked in pictures. She got me so upset,

that I called the ped and went to see him. He also just gave me a

referral " to make me feel better.... "

has been in her helmet for a month now, and her head looks

fabulous!

I can relate to how your daughter feels. I didn't want to admit how flat

's head looked. As a first time mom, I wanted to believe I was

doing everything right.

Hopefully the neurosurgeon will help you all out!

Keep us posted!

Tammy, Mom to (9 months)

Starband 2/13/03

Orlando, FL

(unknown)

> My 3 month old grandson has this very obvious condition and the

> doctors continuously tell my daughter (as of today) that it will heal

> itself. My daughter, a first time mother, believes the doctor and

> everyone else who tells her that " they know others who had it and it

> got fixed all by itself " ...she listens to everyone except me. Maybe

> that is because I am taking this so seriously and she is not..because

> she listens to everyone else. I shamed her into making an

> appointment for a consultation and her doctor gave her the name of a

> neurosurgeon " just to make her feel better " . Please--anyone out

> there--help..because I am so stressed and going crazy thnking that I

> am the only one who sees this for what it is. I need support!!! I

> need help!!! Thanks.

> Donna

>

>

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Mom, is that you? Just kidding, Donna, when I read your post, I thought of my mom. I am your daughter, well, I thought just like her. My mother kept telling us from the day that Jeffry, my son, was born, that his head was not right. I kept telling her that the doctors were telling me that is would round out. It never did. Finally, I told my Ped that this was becoming quite serious and everyone was mentioning it to us, we got an appointment to see the Nero. A day later, we came home with a helmet. It was the best thing that I have ever done, and I thank my mother for bugging me about it. You stay on your daughter. Tell her about it. Get her in here. Best wishes, Heidi, mom to Jeffry, local helmet, MN (unknown) My 3 month old grandson has this very obvious condition and the doctors continuously tell my daughter (as of today) that it will heal itself. My daughter, a first time mother, believes the doctor and everyone else who tells her that "they know others who had it and it got fixed all by itself"...she listens to everyone except me. Maybe that is because I am taking this so seriously and she is not..because she listens to everyone else. I shamed her into making an appointment for a consultation and her doctor gave her the name of a neurosurgeon "just to make her feel better". Please--anyone out there--help..because I am so stressed and going crazy thnking that I am the only one who sees this for what it is. I need support!!! I need help!!! Thanks.Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen & welcome to our group:Thank you for a great introduction. WISE idea to find a new ped., your current ped. sounds like a real jerk!!! How could he laugh at you like he did? WOW!!!!!

It sounds like Max is doing very well thus far into his treatment, happy to hear it. And hats off to you for being so persistent w/your ped. to give you a referral and doing all this basically on your own!!

Welcome again, we look forward to hearing more from you & of Max's rounding head.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MItbell_pickens <dtrapp2000@...> wrote:

Hi everyone!I am new to the message board...for the past couple of weeks I have been reading posts and learning so much. However, this is the first time I have posted something. My son Max has a dx of brachy (severe). He is now 9 1/2 months old. He has been in the DOC band for four weeks. Many of the posts I have read stated that peds are not very supportive...in 25 years Max is the first patient our ped has had in a band. I had to insist he give us a referral. Today I took Max in for his nine month check up and the ped laughed and said "I see no change at all." He really shot me down. This was after I had explained that we were following everything to a tee in hopes of really helping our son. My husband and I do see improvement. His negativity should not have surprised me but, to be honest, it felt like a slap in the face. Going through this has been so difficult...there are days when I worry that we will not see the progress that we are hoping for. I'm angry with the ped for telling us to "wait it out." Max should have been in his band months ago...truth is, I'm angry at myself too. I should have questioned our ped months earlier. Does anyone on the board have a success story for a dx of brachy (severe) with the baby banded around 8 months of age?? I want all of you to know that I appreciate being able to read the message board...I don't feel so alone in all of this. Thank you for your honesty and encouragement during a time that has been truly difficult. I am going to change peds. Our ped doesn't like that I insisted on a referral and didn't take his advice and wait it out. I would like to find a ped who is an advocate of the band and who supports our decision. My husband and I are Max's only voice. I refuse to look back when he is two or three and know that we could have helped him. He is too precious to us. I respect all of you who are advocates for your children. They're the best, huh?! Kathleen, mom to Max (DOC band 4 weeks and doing great!) For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I also think it is wise to find another ped. We are opposite-our ped

is the one who recommended we go to see a specialist with doc band and

he said he would do anything to help us as far as insurance covering

it but it doesnt look like that will happen. My daughter is 7 1/2 mon

and was doc banded Wed this week so we will see how fast results are.

She has mild brachy. Flat through entire back. Good Luck and hope

you see more results soon!!!! I think its great you are looking out

for you kids best interest--I wish everyone would!!!!

- In Plagiocephaly , Debbie <dj2kirby@s...> wrote:

> Hi Kathleen & welcome to our group:

> Thank you for a great introduction. WISE idea to find a new ped.,

your current ped. sounds like a real jerk!!! How could he laugh at

you like he did? WOW!!!!!It sounds like Max is doing very well thus

far into his treatment, happy to hear it. And hats off to you for

being so persistent w/your ped. to give you a referral and doing all

this basically on your own!!Welcome again, we look forward to hearing

more from you & of Max's rounding head.Debbie Abby's mom DOCGradMI

>

> tbell_pickens <dtrapp2000@y...> wrote:

>

> Hi everyone!

>

> I am new to the message board...for the past couple of weeks I have

> been reading posts and learning so much. However, this is the first

> time I have posted something. My son Max has a dx of brachy

> (severe). He is now 9 1/2 months old. He has been in the DOC band

> for four weeks. Many of the posts I have read stated that peds are

> not very supportive...in 25 years Max is the first patient our ped

> has had in a band. I had to insist he give us a referral. Today I

> took Max in for his nine month check up and the ped laughed and

> said " I see no change at all. " He really shot me down. This was

> after I had explained that we were following everything to a tee in

> hopes of really helping our son. My husband and I do see

> improvement. His negativity should not have

> surprised me but, to be honest, it felt like a slap in the face.

> Going through this has been so difficult...there are days when I

> worry that we will not see the progress that we are hoping for. I'm

> angry with the ped for telling us to " wait it out. " Max should have

> been in his band months ago...truth is, I'm angry at myself too. I

> should have questioned our ped months earlier. Does anyone on the

> board have a success story for a dx of brachy (severe) with the baby

> banded around 8 months of age??

>

> I want all of you to know that I appreciate being able to read the

> message board...I don't feel so alone in all of this. Thank you for

> your honesty and encouragement during a time that has been truly

> difficult.

>

> I am going to change peds. Our ped doesn't like that I insisted on a

> referral and didn't take his advice and wait it out. I would like to

> find a ped who is an advocate of the band and who supports our

> decision.

>

> My husband and I are Max's only voice. I refuse to look back when he

> is two or three and know that we could have helped him. He is too

> precious to us. I respect all of you who are advocates for your

> children. They're the best, huh?!

>

> Kathleen, mom to Max (DOC band 4 weeks and doing great!)

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI welcome to the board we are so glad you have found us! And COngrats on getting Ethan treatment so early you are very fortunate. His correction will depend largely on his severity and the amount of head growth he has while wearing his helmet. Can you give us more info where are you from and what type of helmet are you using and how severe is his plagio? I hope we have another Mom who has used the same company as you and can share their exp. as well. The younger babies are when they start treatment the better success rate you have and 5 months is awesome so you should see great results. Again we are glad you have found us please share more about you and little Ethan.

beck

Mom to doc grad

successful repositioner

Memphis TN

[Guest guest]

commonplagioquestions

head shapes

files

I thought these might be helpful for you to take a look at.

beck

[Guest guest]

Hi, my son Max was diagnosed at 5 mos (though we knew at every dr visit that his head was misshapen). Until we went to see the pediatric neurosurgeon, we were told by the ped to put things on the other side of the crib to get him to turn his head the other way. That was the extent of our "repositioning". Well otherwise you are ahead of us! We are going on Friday to have him "scanned" for the Star helmet. We are being told now that if we didn't point this out to others they would not notice. But we totally do.I know they are young enough to have growth spurts and see improvement! But even our neurosurgeon was not certain how effective this would be.

Anne

Central NJ, mom to Lindsey (4) and Max (5 mos)mommy10222003 <mommy10222003@...> wrote:

My son Ethan, % months, was just diagnosed with plagiocephaly. He's already been casted and will begin wearing the helmet in a few weeks. Has anyone been diagnosed at 5 months and can tell me what kind of results they experienced. The plastic surgeon couldn't be certain what we would achieve?For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION!! I REALLY ENJOYED LOOKING AT IT. WE HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH DOCTORS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS TRYING TO GET A CT DONE ON MY SON. HE IS NOW 8 MONTHS OLD AND WE ARE USING THE HELMET. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME WITH THIS. THE DR SAYS THAT HE WILL HAVE TO WEAR THIS FOR 12 TO 16 WEEKS. AND SINCE HE IS AN OLDER CHILD, HE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND HELMET FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF IT. AT FIRST WE WERE TOLD THAT HE HAD CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS. IT TOOK US 5 MONTHS TO GET A DR. TO GIVE US A CT SCAN. THEY REFUSED STATING THAT THIS WAS CAUSED FROM MY SON SLLEPING ON HIS BACK... WHICH WAS NOT TRUE. MY SON HAS SLEPT ON HIM STOMACH FROM DAY 1. HE REFUSED TO SLLEP ON HIS BELLY. SO, WE KEPT FIGHTING AND WE FINALLY GOT A DR WHO FELT THIAT THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST A JOB TO HIM, AND HE GOT US THE CT SCAN DONE. HE STATED THAT THEY WERE UNSBLE TO RULE THIS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WITHOUT THE SCAN. BUT NOW HERE WE ARE PRAYING FOR THE BEST OUTCOME. THANKS AGAIN,

NINA FOUST

In a message dated 4/19/03 10:44:53 PM Central Daylight Time, bbbhand@... writes:

commonplagioquestions head shapes files I thought these might be helpful for you to take a look at.

beck

[Guest guest]

Nina:

Well I'm certainly hoping for the best outcome with the helmet as well. Please be sure to keep us posted, I hope things go well for him. How frustrating & sad what the medical community has put you guys thru.

Debbie Abby' smom DOCGrad

MIHappy EasterMNSFOUST@... wrote:

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION!! I REALLY ENJOYED LOOKING AT IT. WE HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH DOCTORS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS TRYING TO GET A CT DONE ON MY SON. HE IS NOW 8 MONTHS OLD AND WE ARE USING THE HELMET. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME WITH THIS. THE DR SAYS THAT HE WILL HAVE TO WEAR THIS FOR 12 TO 16 WEEKS. AND SINCE HE IS AN OLDER CHILD, HE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND HELMET FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF IT. AT FIRST WE WERE TOLD THAT HE HAD CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS. IT TOOK US 5 MONTHS TO GET A DR. TO GIVE US A CT SCAN. THEY REFUSED STATING THAT THIS WAS CAUSED FROM MY SON SLLEPING ON HIS BACK... WHICH WAS NOT TRUE. MY SON HAS SLEPT ON HIM STOMACH FROM DAY 1. HE REFUSED TO SLLEP ON HIS BELLY. SO, WE KEPT FIGHTING AND WE FINALLY GOT A DR WHO FELT THIAT THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST A JOB TO HIM, AND HE GOT US THE CT SCAN DONE. HE STATED THAT THEY WERE UNSBLE TO RULE THIS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WITHOUT THE SCAN. BUT NOW HERE WE ARE PRAYING FOR THE BEST OUTCOME. THANKS AGAIN, NINA FOUST In a message dated 4/19/03 10:44:53 PM Central Daylight Time, bbbhand@... writes:

commonplagioquestions head shapes files I thought these might be helpful for you to take a look at. beckFor more plagio info

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/2003 6:21:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rowwith@... writes:

Dr.'s have the

biggest egos I've ever seen! There are some good ones, but most

I've encountered in the past few years don't give a hoot about

patients, they just want to be "God" so to speak. They don't want

to be questioned. They're right, and don't you dare question them

Caro,

I know exactly what your saying- luckily in our case once we did push, she got moving and wrote our rx, but I have dealt with Doctors and know of family situations where they do get very upset when you question anything. My first OB was upset that I asked if I should take an extra vitamin, aside from the prenatal, and then gave me more of an attitude for asking what I had been tested for, and the results. Needless to say, I was asking for a copy of all my records the next day, and moved on to a great place. Those good Docs are out there, but sadly, it may take a few morons before you find a good one! And I totally agree on the thrush, got that from antiobiotics as well, sad that a Doctor doesn't know that! I read an article about black tongue, apparently you can get this from using Pepto Bismol alot- the Doc had this guy's gallbladder removed, and he later learned that it was the Pepto after the gallbladder was out and he still got it!!!!! This is why I will research everything in conjunction to what a Doc is telling me- you just never know.

' mom

[Guest guest]

awesome news on the appeal good luck let us know how it goes.

beck

[Guest guest]

wow they are precious!

beck

[Guest guest]

Hi Susie,

I am glad you found us too! Welcome. Please tell us more about yourself! Do you have any specific concerns?

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: Susie

Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 7:45 PM

Subject: (unknown)Hi everybody, I just wanted to say hi and that I'm real glad to find this place.

[Guest guest]

Hey Patty, I had got saline implants 7 month's ago and was wanting to know more about problems with them and ran across this and wanted to be more informed about what is going on. I had met a lady on my forum who was thinking about getting an explant and was trying to help her find a support group and found you guy's. I also let her know about it to help her more. Thanks bunches and I'm glad to be here. hugz** Susie

>From: "~*Patty*~"

>Reply- >

>Subject: Re: (unknown) >Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 09:57:19 -0700 > >Hi Susie, >I am glad you found us too! Welcome. Please tell us more about yourself! Do you have any specific concerns? >Patty > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Susie > > Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 7:45 PM > Subject: (unknown) > Hi everybody, I just wanted to say hi and that I'm real glad to find this place. > Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

[Guest guest]

A very long time, Wanda. I am sorry you haven't been able to put that part behind you yet.

Wanda, thanks for sharing with us what you've been through. Know that I care and hope you find some measure of comfort--it pains me to know you have lupus, and I do hope the flares are few and far between, and that someday it will be gone. Miracles do happen....

Love,

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: Wanda Simison

Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 11:36 PM

Subject: Re: (unknown)

Thanks for your kind words, Patty. After 11 years, my lawsuit is still pending. ~*Patty*~ wrote:

Wanda, I am really sorry to hear about the full blown lupus and the lesions for both you and your sister. Is your lawsuit over, or are you still in the thick of it?

[Guest guest]

Hi Kellie!

What a nice friend you are to care about your friend so much....I hope you will be able to at least open her eyes to what can happen.

The first place I can direct you to is a list of our links--lots and lots of info on breast implants. I think the best comprehensive site is Dr. Zuckerman's, who heads the National Center for Policy Research for Women and Families.

http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/

Start there, and then also she might want to read some of the stories of women like us who have had implants and suffered. Our stories can be seen in our files section and on Eileen Swanson's excellent website called SOSalines:

http://www.homestead.com/sosalines/index.html

Let us know if that helps, and if you need further info, please ask.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: KELLIE MACDONALD

Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 12:57 PM

Subject: (unknown)

Hi. My name is Kellie Mac. I have a friend who is thinking about getting breast implants. I am trying to talk her out of it! Please help. Any information sent will be forwarded to her. Thanks very much.Sincerely,Kellie Mac

[Guest guest]

Not to mention loss of sensation in the nipple--that is a bummer! And the scars....

Wish I had never done it....

----- Original Message -----

From: naturalbeauty38

Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 2:48 PM

Subject: (unknown)

There is tons of info here on this site, and also some other links to sites. There is another board that I really like too, called explantation.com that will be useful to you. THe problem is that girls like your friend see the women on tv,movies and magazines and they all look so nice and have large breasts and it is so tempting to want them too. I don't know how old your friend is but it is safe to say she is young. THere are so many reasons not to get implants, but even more so if you are young. If I am correct in my assumptions about your friend being young, I bet her breasts are really nice and perky and firm, the fact is that illness aside, she will be giving up her soft, firm young breasts for good if she gets implants. Even if they had to come up for some reason other than illness, they will never be the same, they might not look bad and they might bounce back, but young breasts, even if they are small, are just so nice,with nice smooth skin. Implants will change all that.

[Guest guest]

Dear Kim,

It would be wonderful to talk to someone in person about their implants. I know a few girls whove had implants within the last year and they say nothing but how wonderful it is. It is soooo tempting to just do it, especially since even my own doctors say they are safe and "go for it". I mean- If I could look good in low cut shirts and bathing suits, and in the bedroom, why not try it? But for some reason I have this gut feeling telling me that there will be a price to pay in the end. (My husband tells my I worry too much about everything ). I would absolutely love to talk to you, especially since Im scheduled for next Thursday. I live in South Jersey, about 15 minutes from Philadelphia, outside of Deptford, NJ. If you are local, my number is 856-931-7082 and im usually home/settled in around 9:00pm. Otherwise, I would love to have your number to call you when it is convenient for you. I really appreciate all the support the women from the website have so far provided. Thanks so much for responding!

LIsa

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

$450 is a small amount to pay compared to how much you will literally pay later on.

I had Mentor's lovely saline filled implant for 8 years and they made me deathly ill. I had them removed last August and am much improved.

You said it yourself, why take the RISK. I wear a padded bra now and look great in it. Much better than with those big, matronly, poison filled sacks. You are a nurse so you should know all about how saline is meant to be kept @ 77 degrees and it also has an expiration date on it.

You are smart to research this. Unfortunately, I just dove right in without asking any questions. I hope you make the decision that is right for you.

Take care,

Crystal

[Guest guest]

, I hope you received my letter earlier today about my experience. And that gut feeling about how you are feeling that youll pay in the end- dont ignore it! I also had that gut feeling, and actually cancelled my surgery 2 times! My PS told me if I cancelled it agian, he wouldnt take me as a patient period! God how I wished I would have cancelled. And now, three regular doctors, my MD, my gyne, and my neurologist all agree that they were making me ill, and aggravting my immune system. So for them to finally admit it to me afterwards, you know its true! Ill pray for you, and that your decision will be the right one for you. nna

>From: ltrn449@... >Reply- > >Subject: Re: (unknown) >Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 13:21:32 EDT > >Dear Kim, > It would be wonderful to talk to someone in person about their implants. > I know a few girls whove had implants within the last year and they say >nothing but how wonderful it is. It is soooo tempting to just do it, especially >since even my own doctors say they are safe and "go for it". I mean- If I >could look good in low cut shirts and bathing suits, and in the bedroom, why not >try it? But for some reason I have this gut feeling telling me that there will >be a price to pay in the end. (My husband tells my I worry too much about >everything ). I would absolutely love to talk to you, especially since Im >scheduled for next Thursday. I live in South Jersey, about 15 minutes from >Philadelphia, outside of Deptford, NJ. If you are local, my number is 856-931-7082 >and im usually home/settled in around 9:00pm. Otherwise, I would love to have >your number to call you when it is convenient for you. I really appreciate >all the support the women from the website have so far provided. Thanks so much >for responding! >LIsa Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

[Guest guest]

Hi nna,

(Gosh it feels weird to be calling you that!)

I am so glad your doctors have been shown the proof about how your implants have affected you and that you have been relentless in educating them. You go girl! Your awesome, and you have an awesome testimony. Please keep telling the world about your healing! and that will be a great day when your Hashimoto's goes completely into remission....I have no doubt it is going to happen! (Hopefully for me too!)

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: JOSEPH PALANCA

Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 2:07 PM

Subject: Re: (unknown)

, I hope you received my letter earlier today about my experience. And that gut feeling about how you are feeling that youll pay in the end- dont ignore it! I also had that gut feeling, and actually cancelled my surgery 2 times! My PS told me if I cancelled it agian, he wouldnt take me as a patient period! God how I wished I would have cancelled. And now, three regular doctors, my MD, my gyne, and my neurologist all agree that they were making me ill, and aggravting my immune system. So for them to finally admit it to me afterwards, you know its true! Ill pray for you, and that your decision will be the right one for you. nna

[Guest guest]

Hi, Crystal-

Thank you so much for your response. I am so angry with myself because I feel in my heart that even the saline implants are not safe, yet I am still considering getting them!! (Although I am vrey much leaning towards not). I just dont understand why there is not more talk of women getting sick with the saline implants? Maybe the media is just tired of the implant issue and its old news, or is it that people just dont want to accept that they can be dangerous. I think I lost trust in my doctor after he said that he would go back to silicone implants because theyve never been proven to cause illness, thats what really got me to start researching. It is amazing (sickening, actually) to know what so many of you have been through, yet still have the urge to have surgery. Thank you, again, for your support. I will keep all stories in mind, and I wish you health and happiness.

[Guest guest]

,

I think I can answer your question about why there is not more talk of women getting sick with saline implants. Remember how the tobacco companies fought the idea that smoking caused lung cancer? (I don't know if you are old enough to remember that...) There was alot of denial, deceit, and confusion going on for many years. (Eventually it all caught up with them, and I am hoping it will for breast implants too.) Basically, when it came to the prospect of losing billions of dollars due to faulty breast implants, the manufacturers had to back pedal very fast. They had to scramble to get their sloppy work in order, and to cover up the damaging evidence that would make them liable. The studies that have been conducted regarding silicone gel focused on the dangers of JUST silicone gel, and the manufacturer's funded studies and fought hard to make sure that the results were in their favor. (Dr. Zuckerman's site at http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/meta82000.html covers many of the problems associated with some of these studies.) The manufacturers hired a huge, expensive public relations firm to make them look like victims, and implanted women look like greedy, slutty, and hysterical idiots. You see, they had to get public opinion on their side. That was crucial for them to win the battle.

Saline was believed to be safe because it is just "salt water", that it would be absorbed by our bodies harmlessly, supposedly an answer to the problems of rupture and gel bleed with silicone gel. However, there was just one problem they overlooked: if women were reacting to silicone, the shell had been entirely bypassed as a potential source of the problem, and it remains the most likely source of our reaction to breast implants. (With saline, you have the added problem of potential contamination of the saline with bacterial organisms and fungus). With textured implants, you have the probability that the macrophages are attacking and gnawing off pieces of silicone and carrying these throughout the body and distributing them to other sites, including major organs. Additionally, you have the breakdown products as an issue, refering to the chemicals and metals used in the manufacture of the implant....it is entirely feasible that these chemicals will leach out and affect the body as well. This will occur with either saline or silicone gel implants, as both have a silicone elastomer shell.

The whole idea that saline is safe is a result of the massive public relations campaign that took place after the silicone gel scare, and made most people believe the idea that saline is harmless. Yes, this is all old news, people are tired of hearing about the controversy around implants, and after all the studies that have been done and media trumpeting that implants are safe, it is hard to get anyone interested in hearing anything more about how sick we are. You have to admit, the idea of saline water getting loose in the body sounds pretty benign doesn't it? I wish it was that simple, but it is not.

Once an idea has been spread by the media to all people, it is very, very difficult to change that opinion around, even if it is entirely wrong. Geritol was a case in point for this. The makers of Geritol put out a marketing gimmick to sell their product that "iron poor blood" is why so many people felt tired all the time. Older women especially bought into this idea without knowing the facts. The problem was, there was no scientific basis for their claims...it was just a marketing gimmick, but they sold millions of dollars of Geritol and the concept of "iron poor blood" became a huge myth. The Federal Trade Commission conducted a 17 year battle with the company to stop their illegal advertising practices, but they were ineffective. The idea of iron deficiency became a hugely distorted truth once leaders and politicians became involved and the rest is history. You can read about the Geritol Scam in the book "Iron and Your Heart".

There are other examples in the medical field of how ideas are accepted as truth when in fact there is no scientific basis for such beliefs....like the idea that mammograms extend life by detecting breast cancer (not true...see http://www.healthyhealing.com/WMN-BreastCancer.html "No study has shown that death rates from breast cancer are reduced by mammogram screening in women under 50. "). Many of the treatments doctors prescribe every day are unproven, but are accepted as valid.

The bottom line is that breast implants are shrouded in controversy. You have to ask yourself "why?" I can guarantee you it is NOT because women are making their stories up. The controvery exists for a good reason: women are being harmed and they are not going to stay silent about it.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: ltrn449@...

Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 5:00 AM

Subject: Re: (unknown)

Hi, Crystal- Thank you so much for your response. I am so angry with myself because I feel in my heart that even the saline implants are not safe, yet I am still considering getting them!! (Although I am vrey much leaning towards not). I just dont understand why there is not more talk of women getting sick with the saline implants? Maybe the media is just tired of the implant issue and its old news, or is it that people just dont want to accept that they can be dangerous. I think I lost trust in my doctor after he said that he would go back to silicone implants because theyve never been proven to cause illness, thats what really got me to start researching. It is amazing (sickening, actually) to know what so many of you have been through, yet still have the urge to have surgery. Thank you, again, for your support. I will keep all stories in mind, and I wish you health and happiness.