I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in May 1988, after which I have had a modified radical mastectomy. In July 1989, doctors (including a cancer researcher) determined to be high risk of a second primary tumor in the other breast, and I made the decision to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with implants. I opted for saline-filled, because then there is talk of some silicone gel-filled implants leak.
Two of Mentor saline reservoir good road valve implants were surgically implanted in my chest cavity, in July 1989. The right a deflated in the recovery room. My left side had difficulty healing and there’s a lot of swelling, including a swollen lymph node on the left side. I experienced a dizzy spell that required a scan of the brain. The results of the scan of the brain were normal, despite my “breasts” is extremely painful after the implant surgery.
In January 1990, the Dow right implant was replaced with a tissue expander, only saline implants. Is filled with saline weekly for a period of about 8 weeks, which was a very painful process that requires Valium and / or Tylenol with codeine. Then, a 3 surgery replaced both my right and left with Mentor implants Siltex saline implants, textured shell. It was tightened almost immediately, and again I have had difficulty healing. There was a lot of swelling and oozing. Increased the left side all the way up to my collarbone, and remained until the swollen implant saline was explanted. At one point the implant could be seen even through my wound.
In less than a month, suddenly became ill with symptoms of generalized joint and muscle pain, stomach cramps and diarrhea, overwhelming fatigue, hair loss, in the morning “rigidity” so severe I could barely get out of bed , And a sleep disorder that I learned later called “fragmented sleep.”
My plastic surgeon told me that my symptoms were similar to those of silicone gel implants for patients. She also told me, for the first time that the tanks of my saline implants were silicone. I decided I wanted implants, but by then I had different doctors at the military hospital (my husband was in the army), and they refused. I waited for six months until he finally was explanted in May 1991. Small incisions are used to deflate saline implants, and then the tanks withdrew. At the moment I have removed the implants, I could not even do stretching exercises, and as a result, the photograph of my business was almost at a standstill.
I had a brief respite, but the disease continued. The pain was relentless and sometimes so unbearable that I was in bed and disoriented. My doctors shrugged his shoulders. They had no idea what to do for me.
In 1993, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and secure my rheumatologist that some medications for sleep, followed by increasing amounts of exercise easily manage the disease. Having been very active and athletic all my life, I was ecstatic.
But it did not work out that way. The medication made me so sleepy that even one quarter of the dose made me too sleepy to work the next day. I was forced to stop taking after a couple of weeks. Aerobic exercise is a distant memory. My rheumatologist has no suggestions for a different medication at the time.
In April 1994, I had extreme fatigue, pain, incredible, and was suffering from memory loss. I was forced to close my photography business. I realized that I was having difficulty remembering the multitude of details that require the photograph.
At some point in 1994, I learned that in order to ensure maximum removal of silicone, the scar tissue capsules must be removed. Unfortunately, mine were not. Since the capsules are under my muscles, I am told that to remove them now could do more harm than good. There is no guarantee that they can be removed completely intact. There is a possibility that doctors would have to scrape the capsules out of my ribs.
In 1997, duodenal ulcers were added to the myriad problems that already had. Therefore, most of the drugs (pharmaceuticals, OTC medicines, and alternatives) and food are now off limits. I tried to sleep medications 5, 6 for ulcers, and 7 for the pain. Now, I can only take Klonopin (chewed), for sleep or pain.
I have all the symptoms that are listed as associated with fibromyalgia in the ACR classification. Irritable bowel, Raynaud’s, cognitive dysfunction and, together with other symptoms I have described.
My marriage ended in divorce. I’m on disability and live with my mother in his attic bedroom. I have a friend who has just returned to work after they are equally bad for the implants. For its cost: $ 40,000 – $ 50,000 in treatments not covered by insurance. I have little hope of being able to do those things, and I have no money. Not expecting much from Dow. I have received very little mentor.
I had saline implants 5. It is supposed to be safe. I try to tell myself that maybe I would have become ill anyway, but I have no family history of such disease. And if not residual silicone that makes my chest burns constantly, then what?
Many of us pray that our government and the medical community finally recognize what makes us evil, and do something to help. I can not tell you what a relief it would be.
Most of my doctors are not yet in a position to help me, and not silicone recognize diseases. I have even been laughed at by a rheumatologist, because it suggests that the implants I had done wrong. Another doctor told me it was strictly a lawyer-driven, hysterical woman, greed issue. That, of course, is why I live on $ 560 a month, and why I gave my profession dream of living this way!
I just want to get well. I just want my life to stop being such a hell without end in sight.