Anyone have Implants after 2006?
 

I wanted to know if anyone has had silicone after 2006 when the FDA approved them for use? I am curious if anyone has new implants and had problems shortly after. I had read that some people with other implants, nose, knees,etc. had problems a few months later. It seems that all the people that reply are people who had them years ago. Now days they say that the silicone won't run out and the platnum level is so low and the implant is three layers thick so you really don't have to worry about gel bleed or it migrating to any part of the body. If these "new" implants are still bad for your health than I would rather not do the surgery. It is just hard to decide because I am hearing what the people with the "old implants" are saying and I hear what people are saying about how great the "new" implants are. I have a allergic reation to something on my hands. Happens mostly in winter. I have to put a steroid cream on it to go away. It doesn't get bad really because I catch it right away. I don't know what I am allergic to. I had a skin biopsy to make sure it wasn't cancer and it was confirmed a reaction. Now if I had implants I probably would have blamed it on them. I think a doctor told me once that I have allergy cells in my blood. So I bet this isn't a good thing for someone considering implants to have.

There was some talk on that right around New Year,check the PN
forum a little bit ago. You should check with your dr.,but i'll bet
he will say everthing is ok,hmmm I wouldn't know..Sue

Yes, there are women that are getting the 'newer' implants and are getting sick. Not everyone gets sick but a great deal of women do.

These implants are no different than the implants of before. They are just as dangerous. If you received your information about the platinum and the silicone not migrating, that is not correct. They all break down and if you are prone to allergic reactions, then I would highly suggest that you do not even think about getting these implants.

I had saline implants for 8 years and became totally disabled after 5 years. I was diagnosed with silicone poisoning. In my opinion there are no safe implants and the silicone that has been put back on the market is no different from before. They might be a little bit more cohesive but that is the only difference. When it comes to your health, please don't play russian roulette. I know that it is just not worth it.

You can meet women that have the newer implants here at . Also, this lady became ill immediately from the new implants.

Please do your research before having implants.

beth taylor

Beth may I ask what your
 

implant/neuropathy connections/complications are? I surely would be interested to know about them, as would others who have not only breast implants but other implants...Also, the degree to which you feel that the implants have impacted your disabilities...HOW were these diagnosed? And what prompted all the diagnoses?
We all here, try to share our pain. That is a given, but, if one says IT's BAD with out any additional information....well it can be scary at the least, and, to reply is to reply in a VACUUM. There are many here who DO have a multitude of very 'scary' issues. I am one [and, my issues are minor compared to many], and I would like to know more about both your and 'Undecided's' conditions, vis-a-vis neuropathies, autoimmine and implants in a better coherent context. I cannot clearly plug you into papers, resources or papers that either support or discount any of your problems if I don't know the problems? I am not a doc...But I can tell you- and others here as well that there is a heap of research out there...The MINDS here -collective minds that is...are totally awesome...Folks here will go waay out of their own way to find the resources, info and help you need!
We just have to know what to look for? In more specifics?
Undecided, I do hope my PM helped you to some degree - let me know, please? If that resource isn't for you, I'm sure I can find another... - j

Beth
 

Ok I would like to know and i'm curious as well,but agree there are a lot of very sick people who may get scared. Remember there are many ways to get
PN and many different kinds.

I'm not judging anyone,I have been thinking about getting my nose fixed,
why to many sports when younger and do to PN I have fallen,it has nothing
to do with the way I look,just having a hard time breathing..

If you have a dignosis from your Dr.it might help make it clearer,,I not sure
I totally understand. For anybody who wants them,do it for yourself
after a lot of research,not because a man and or woman tell's you would
look better..If you have good research print it,those of you who would be afraid please ignorge..Me Has anybody had a serious problem with nose
surgery. I am not trying to be funny,ther's nothing funny about surgery.
Thanks J. Thanks to all Sue

Bethtaylor
 

In Mentors information they say that they had no cases of migrated gel in their studies. They say that some gel stayed in the implant and some came out but stayed in the capsule. They will tell you that it is a possiblity but if you read their info. it seems that they contradict a lot of things and I take it as they just have to cover their butts so they don't end up getting sued like Dow-Cornning. This is why it is so hard to get the truth about these things. Just like I read somewhere that implants may affect the neurological pathways ways. When I search the interenet for more info. I can't find it. All I can find is the phrase "implants may affect the neurological pathways". I try to find out how and why but I can't. I want to try to understand all of this and find out more about neurological pathways. Just like PN, what exactly is it.

I certainly didn't mean to scare anyone nor say that everyone on this forum that has implants with problems are related to the implants. I'm only saying that I had saline implants and had many problems.

I do think that the problem is that I posted again and added a few links but they were removed. If you google my name and breast implants, you will find my story and the forum I founded to help women with implant related disease. So I'm not a fake or some radical here trying to cause problems. This is very real and you will find the proof you need. The proof is not on the website of the manufacturers as they refuse to admit to problems but many of us are sick from these damn things.

As for my pain? That has improved quite a bit since I had the implants removed. However, I'm still ill. When I say ill, I have debilitating fatigue and I also have Fibro flares. The weather seems to make my lower legs ache and yes, it feels like bone pain. I have this in my lower legs although I was diagnosed by a two neurologists with PN in all extremeties. Prior to having the implants removed, I was in alot of pain. I used to sleep with my feet hanging off the side of the bed because the sheets alone hurt my feet. Walking was very difficult and at times I was in a wheelchair. The pain can be terrible. I'm very familiar with it but I have improved.

The proof I guess is that all this improved after having the implants removed. I'm still ill but have had some improvement. Great improvement with my PN and Fibro.

I know that MY problems were related to the implants because alot of my symptoms either improved or went away after I had the implants removed.

I cannot post links but like I said, if you do some googling, you will find the chemical list and the many stories from women that have become ill from implants.

Also, I'm not here to scare anyone. I am here because I came across this thread about implants and since I have been researching this issue for the last 3 years, I thought that I would be able to add some information here. Helpful information. Something that came too late for me.

You can't believe everything that Mentor is saying. They are making millions and millions of dollars on these implants. Do you really think they would come out and say that the silicone will migrate? If they did, they would go out of business.

OMG, if you have seen the implants that I have. They are just completely disentegrated. I know women that have died from implants. I know women that have silicone in their brain and other organs. Mentor is not going to tell you that.

OK 'Neuro implants can affect....
 

Neruro Pathways...' Well, DUH? Excuse me, but that is implant 101? They have to cut nerves to put in the implant? Any BC surgeon will tell you that there can/likely/will be some nerve/sensitivity damage to that surgery site..Hey! They gotta cut!
Me? after having the PN pains all over for years told my surgeons to SEVER those nerves! Plain and simple, I did NOT want more pain related to nerves regrowing in such a 'tender' spot. My surgeon and PS are top notch, but those danged nerves are trying to 'regrow' as I write this...The pain of nerves regrowing is very similar to that of them dying...PAINFUL! Enuf, no more replies from me. - j

Yes, that is right but I was one that had no breast pain at all. NONE. So that is why I did not know the implants were making me ill. Everything hurt but my breasts. I kind of doubt that my implants could make my feet and shins ache because of a cut nerve in the breast but I do believe the chemicals affect us and can cause the other problems.

Some people are very sensitive to chemicals and that is why so many eat an organic diet. Those are the people that will most likely be affected by breast implants.

ok i never thought i would be responding to a breast implant thread but.....it is not just with implants that what to some people seems like there should be an obvious definite connection made between cause and effect, but is not yet accepted by the medical and scientific community. It takes years and years, sometimes decades of controlled studies of people thus affected and those not affected and other possible causes ruled out before a cause is accepted by the scientific community. Other suspected causes of PN such as quinolone antibiotics, statins and many others that are discussed here are not yet accepted scientifically as causes of PN. Even with accepted causes there are many in the medical community who will not draw a connection between a cause and a particular person unless it is something medically evident such as diabetes or chemotherapy. Toxins are an accepted cause of PN but not many doctors will make the connection between particular toxins and you the person who has pn, even if you were exposed.

I also have come to believe that you and I could be in the same place at the same time have the same exposure but have significantly different medical outcomes. Just as people respond differently to the same treatments, i think that people are not affected in the same way with exposures.

I also realize that there is a ton of money involved in these suspected causes and that the waters are muddied purposefully to make the connection controversial. Many doctors and scientists who conduct studies are bought and paid for by those whose interests the studies would affect.

Joe, Thank you for your REASON...
 

even tho you are still sick...I was hoping you'd be better by now.. Not fun at all! Yes! Joe, those toxins and treatments for same are two-edged swords aren't they?
As all here have read, via the 'stickies' at the top of this forum's page or thru all posts...OR doing a forum search on the 'top blue bar'... Implants have lots of impact and implications for whatever reason on either immune or neuropathy issues.. What has been escaping me tho has been Undecided's and BethTaylors' posts with out any relationship to those Neuropathy issues. It somehow seems as if we are a vehicle for some other previous conversation from other place?
...Or to the issues relating to Breast Cancers...If one has gone thru various chemo or rad's treatments, well some PN is to be expected...IF it somes as a surprise, blast out your docs, goodness knows THEY should know a heck of a sight better-that you were not informed: shame on them and on you for not learning from other sources!..But, to wrestle out the pros and/or cons of implants here on the PN boards may not...exactly be the right place or forum for your discussions. Do your homework! IF you need resources, please contact me via PM...I've a whole slew of them!
Goodness knows I am/have been the most sympathetic of people to those who experience neuropathies due to chemo and rads...Tho I was lucky to escape both 'therapies', I did go thru the whole diagnostic and surgery route[angst and all], and have Good friends and family who have done the whole spectrum as well.. I think that the question here in relation to the answer really being sought is lost here somewhere....Without basic context of info regarding the need or desire for the implant...and if it's cancer related all have bearing on whether to 'do it' or not...I find basic context lacking here. I mean no offense, far from it....I just cannot comment and refer to good resources that could be useful on such limited informations. Maybe this should be addressed under the BC/other cancers forums? - I feel useless about this all anymore. - j

dahlek, I currently am suffering from peripheral neuropathy. I also showed problems when I had a VEP test. I'm not sure what more you want me to say.

I ran into this forum and saw a thread regarding breast implants. What I am trying to say is that YES, I've had breast implants and because of those implants, I now suffer from neuropathy problems.

I'm not saying that everyone with implants will get sick but many do. I am saying that perhaps some of the people on this forum that are sick might be sick because of their implants.

If I am not welcome on a forum because I had implants and now have peripheral neuropathy then what i see is a forum that will only help people if they don't have any negative things to say about implants and/or questions regarding them and the possibility of implants causing neuropathy.

I was perfectly healthy until I had breast augmentation. I'm only throwing all possible reasons for these problems on the table.

It is sad to think that someone can not think outside the box. I joined to answer a question and that is all. I guess that undecided is not welcome here as well. Implants can and do cause neuropathy problems. I'm living proof of that.

I run a forum to help people and I surely don't turn anyone away because they join and say that they are not sure what has caused their problems and ask questions that might be in your opinion unrelated to the forum.

Bethtaylor
 

I did not mean, in any way or form to 'blast' you for any of your opinions.. far from it. I simply did not know of, or have any clue about your prior circumstances regarding how you came to your current opinions. You have been very brave and astute in the 'putting it out there'!
We all arrive here from a variety of circumstances. In my case it was the development of an auto-immune disease following an pneumonia attack that lasted months. IN the years following that, the long road to a diagnosis and subsequent therapy was a long and painful one. Never during the process nor after, was the cancer issue raised, nor was any 'cancer' testing done until the initial diagnosis of cancer. The point I mean to make here is that...testing isn't done...unless the docs beleive there IS a connection....Hindsight, being why not? and the whole IF ONLY scenario just doesn't do any good.
I can and DO think outside the box...daily. I just wish all my docs did? IF you read my plethora of posts trying to help others, as well as myself, you would learn that. I do try to find answers, even if there aren't any, if they can be found, because...in those answers, there mite be one clue for me!
As for Implants, I did heaps and heaps of research, got lots of feed back from all sorts regarding my own implant circumstances and went the way I did after all the reading to the point my mind was overcluttered with FACTS, with that heap of opinions that colored and put dimension to my OWN decision. I have stated in many posts that my implant decision was a 'practical' one...being that those few key ounces of weight in that key place was throwing my already compromised balance off soo much, that it HAD to be remedied. Please do a member search of my posts of March-July '06 and you will see what all I'd searched and went thru..
I also suggest that you use that 'search' bar at the top and look up 'Lizajane' and see that her opinons, are different from mine.. Different opinions are what make a community. What I have found tho is that your opinion appears to be formed, mine, believe it or not is not yet formed...the medical and practial jury still seems to be 'out' on the whole issue. I realize that many feel the jury is IN to one way or the other....but I'm not seeing HEAPS one way or the other, aside from what LizaJane's put forth...and definitely nothing new. I have a definite self-preservation desire to keep up on this stuff...and believe me I do! Much respect - j

I just ran into one of LizaJane's posts.

I did misread your post. I guess that I'm so used to people arguing with me that implants are safe, I just assumed you were as well. This is a very difficult topic.

I do believe that anything made from silicone can possibly make you ill. I have met people that have had implants for years and seem fine and have met women that have only had them for a few months and are sick. We are all different and I think alot of us have pre-genetic factors that cause our illnesses and implants really help that along. Any and all toxins can help that along.

I've been researching this for 3 years and I have to tell you that I do not believe the studies. What I believe is the women and how they come to me with the same damn symptoms time and time again. Neuropathy is one of them.

I'm strong with my opinions and I'm just trying to raise awareness. I have my own support group where I help women find a good doctor for explant and help them to detox from the chemicals afterwards. Some have improved a great deal. I know that my PN has improved a great deal but I still struggle with it. I feel like a walking barometer at times. I know when its going to rain because that is when the arthritis kicks in with the PN. I occassionally get the fibro flares as well.

And, of course--
 

--this is not an issue limited to breast implants--or even to cosmetic implants, which are a large fraction of, but not all of (as Dahlek notes) breast implants.

There are a number of people with reconstructed knees who have had similar symptoms/troubles. I don't know as much about people who have had (cosmetic and non-cosmetic) nose work done, but I imagine someone can enlighten me.

From what I've seen so far, if the issue is purely aesthetic/self-esteem, the burden of proof would not rise to the level of getting implants done--too many risks. If it's done for reconstructive or other biomechanical reasons, the decision to go or no would come from a more nuanced calculation.

Yes, I agree this isn't an issue limited to breast implants. Any implants made from silicone can cause problems. I feel very bad for the people out there that have had to have knee, hip replacements and the like and are now ill because they are reacting to the silicone that these medical devices are made from. However, this thread was asking specifically about breast implants after 2006 so that is what my reply was based on.

I have often wondered how many people are ill out there from knee replacements. I rarely hear about it until I joined this forum. My heart goes out to each and every one of you. I suffer with PN and although it has improved greatly since explant, it can still be very painful at times. It feels as though someone is chipping away at your bones and the pain in the feet is terrible and prevents me from standing for any length of time.

Well Beth....
 

I certainly think you are generous to come here.

And I agree with you. Your posts are a great asset to this forum.
I know you are busy, but you know, we have a women's health forum here too.
A copy of your posts would be a tremendous asset there.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum41.html

No one likes to hear scary stuff. And when that happens some tend to attack the messenger. I've had reams of those responses myself, not so much here, but elsewhere! ;)

One thing about knee and hip replacement is that typically they are done in older people. Doctors will hesitate to do them in people under 50, unless it is a huge emergency--like major trauma. Older people have weaker immune systems on average, and since it takes TIME to develop autoimmune responses, they may die before any really awful symptoms occur. Then there is the factoid that older people get PN anyway and so this development may not be associated with the knee/hip replacements. A very vigilant person may keep track and notice that after the surgery is when problems came. But if 5 yrs pass, then it becomes harder to attribute.

What is happening with implants is similar to the smoke and mirrors drug companies use to hide negative studies of their drugs they are promoting.
For example Lipitor may affect memory. So if an older patient develops memory issues on it, they might be diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the drug is ignored. This is Dr. Graveline's message:
http://www.spacedoc.net/lipitor.htm

With time however, the data does "will out". Only many may be damaged before that is recognized.

I think women who absolutely want implants should get some counseling before it decided upon. If the reasons are poor self image, that can be corrected. But for others who need implants for their occupation, like actresses, and the like, they may have financial reasons that will drive this decision. I think for example that the tragic life of Anna Nicole Smith --her drug use, pain issues, etc all revolved around the huge implants she had put in. But that is just my opinion. Here we have a person with low self esteem, who made the decision, and what benefits she reaped were short lived for her.
Her implants caused severe back pain, and who know what else, to lead her into drug abuse and other poor decisions. Her own son died as a result of methadone as well. (drug interaction). She is extreme, but she did an extreme thing, and the dominoes fell badly for her.

Right now in my area, are TV commericals advertising breast augmentation.
This really hooks young women, who may think this is a totally easy, affordable benign procedure, and they may not even research it. That bothers me.

Thanks for coming on here. I hope you decide to stay.

Specific to Breast Implants
 

I know this question was specific to breast implants, but I can't miss a chance to tell this story. My immune system was shakey, on and off again high sed rates with the HLA-B27 gene. Then in March 2003, I had bi-lateral knee replacements. In May 2003, I developed Sjogren's Syndrome along with Peripheral Neuropathy. Yes, that fast.

My body hates these knees. I have been very ill since all of this started. I have brief periods where the immune system tries to straighten out, but never does it completely. I strongly advise anyone contemplating implants to think about it hard! Consider what your health is currently like and what you can do to enhance it before jumping in and letting a surgeon talk you into this. Mine did. I regret it every day.

Billye

Thank you and I will surely check the women's forum.

I agree with everything you had to say here. I do believe that women should not only have therapy but they should have silicone hypersensitivity testing and testing for other genetic factors before making a decision on breast aug. Not only are doctors hiding the truth about possible autoimmune related diseases and disorders from us but they are not testing us properly before doing this procedure. I think that every women should know all the facts before deciding on this. They should have the chemical list in front of them. I had none of that. I wasn't even told that the outer shell was silicone as my goal was to stay away from silicone! Many women are not told.

I can tell you that I had been through therapy most of my life due to depression and self esteem issues. It really didn't help me. When this is bred in you, it is difficult to change the mind set. I can tell you what made me want implants more than anything.....this isn't something that came to mind when I was young like the girls of today. It was something that I started to think about later in life because the magazines and tv blasted me with pictures of what the perfect woman should look like and I can tell you that none of them were flat chested. I do believe that had a huge impact on me. That and hearing over and over again, the term 'safe saline implants'. As many women know, there is nothing safe about them.

As for Anna Nicole Smith...I have heard that she had Lupus from her implants and she knew it. They were her status symbol and she was not willing to get rid of them. That is a tragic story. I have heard many stories about her. At one time I had no time for her but when all this developed and I started reading about her and her life, watching some older interviews, I realized this was a very troubled young lady that would rather die at a young age than get rid of the toxic bags that were really making her ill. She had commented many times that she knew she was going to die young. I don't believe that is a coincidence. I believe she knew she had Lupus from the implants and as you mentioned above about the old people with the hip and knee replacements, in the case of ANS again, there was not a correlation made between her death and the implants. This happens many times.

Another tragic story is that of PJ Brent. All you need to do is google her name. No, she was not famous but she suffered a great deal because of implants. She was not informed and her children also suffered. In her case though, the medical examiner found very high levels of platinum in her brain. I believe this is a big reason why women commit suicide. The chemicals in implants are a contributing factor and can cause severe depression. I already had been suffering with depression most of my life so when the implants made me ill, the depression became so severe, it was very difficult for me and my thoughts started to become erratic. I was not myself at all. I might have suffered from depression but I never had thoughts of suicide. The implants I believe did that.

So sorry for my long posts and spelling errors. I'm very passionate about this issue and try to educate as many women on the dangers as I possibly can.

Thank you and I'll check out the women's forum. ;)

Beth
 

I decided to have a look so I went to see you site. You have been doing
a lot of work and helped many as many who have been brought or
wondered on you site..I like Mrs D. think you would be a help to our womwn's
concern site..

Im one of the one's who asked for more details on what Drs. You might of
seen,what test's so forth..My mom had a rare form of brest cancer,and
she was in her 80's. Since she felt no pain and even through she lived
by a older sister who had a brest removed,in her 80's.. (they felt my Aunt
didn't need chemo,or radiation.) By the time Mom Cancer was found,she
had as much of the brest removed as they could,she passed away
3 yrs. later,Mom had been diagnosed with PN first..her sister 91 just 2 years
ago was diagnosed and has a third in a nursing home has PN she's in her
80's but was in her 70's when Diagnosed..I'm 61, had major truma sugery
on both legs among other surgery's. I believe it was Mrs.D.who said they
don't like to do reconstructive on people unless truly needed before 50.
They just don't last and you may end up with repeats..

I feel there has to be genetic problems in my family,there's why i'm so courious. I have a 61 year old cousin who had knee surgery young,we
both stared dance lessens at the age of 4. And she had breaast Surgery
20 years ago and had them removed not long ago,she's ill very much like
Yorkiemom. I could write a book on why dance lessons at 4 is just wrong.

I'm not that computer savy as we all know,but how could I have gotten the
music off when the other women were talking..We are all so different and
I have just really messed up my nose falling..But I think after some research
I may have to do it to breath. I noticed you have had a great deal of trouble falling,perhaps a cane..I hope you do come back,but your busy be proud of
what your doing ,just don't over do. And another LTI thing like our Kmeb.
Billye I was disg. with my SS just before my leg problems,but wow..And Mrs d
somebody fussed at ya naaa...J. Sorry about all that adding to falling...
Hugs and blessings to all.. Beth I must say your a lovely young woman...Sue

Cut Nerves?
 

My PS did't say anything about cutting nerves. He said the nerves will get streched. I can't remember if it was a lift or reconstruction but the PS said this is when you have to worry more about problems with the nerves. I didn't get the same "implant 101" like you did.

Undecided
 

I hope people who have had them will PM you if you are concered about PN
Mrs.d left good advice on women's health..Good luck honey. Sue

Sorry to put in my 2 cents, but I feel that its necessary fo all of us
to be aware of possible complications with anything that we
put into our bodies, orally, IV, or surgically.

Implants are foreign bodies, not part of our anatomy.
Our bodies do not take to them lightly. Teflon, steel rods, silicone, etc-
tend to be impacted in some way. Silicone or saline breast implants
are encapsulated in a bag made of what...silicone? Other material?
It doesn't matter, its foreign & probably will affect our system in some way.

Surgery is cutting. Things don't always get 'bent', they get severed.
Any surgery is a good probability for PN of some type.
To me, its a logistical problem.
LOGIC !
True, there are false logic situations that are very convincing, but
plain, simple logic says to me-
'if it doesn't belong, it will be either rejected or cause some type of problem'.
Then it becomes a situation of pros & cons.
Trade-offs for a better quality of life.
Those considerations must be evaluated and a conclusion must be made for the well being of the individual.
Concessions have to be made.
I'm almost 64, and probably will have to have CTS surgery soon, and maybe a hip replacement in 5 or so years. I'll take my chances on the hip & will probably not be around for any long term complications.
Hell, I already have PN !
But when one of the cons is life threatening,
to me- its a logical "no-brainer"!
Don't do it !

Its a shame (& a crime) that so many have had to suffer, and are suffering because of a lack of proper information- and have gone thru procedures naively and without adequate information prior to having these things done. My sympathies go out to all who suffer.
But for those who are contemplating...... be informed, be aware!

Nicely explain to me about PN
 

Can someone NICELY explain to me how you develop PN after ten years? A few of you ladies said that your problems started ten years after you had your implants. Well if nerves get severed during this surgery they will regenerate. So I don't understand why after ten years people get PN? The nerves should be long healed by then. I noticed some other, I think it was a gentlemen, posted something to the effect that people are getting an "attitude" on this website. I noticed this right away. People tend to give nasty comments and I thought this website was supposed to help people?

undecided, that "attitude" is a minority not the majority. also the written word can be taken the wrong way. you can't "hear" the person.

this is a very supportive site. this a site where people have health issues, so you will get the replies based on their health experiences.

nerves can take years and years to regenerate..if ever. so pn may not come on right away.

any and all surgery involves cutting. cutting involves severing nerves and tissue...muscle. your surgeon should explain this. if not, i suggest you find another.

i am neither for nor against breast augmentation.

my sister who was MAYBE an A cup had an augementation. in her mid 40's. she is now full B..small C. she didn't do it just for vanity, she did it because she couldn't get shirts and dresses to fit. they would bag and sag.

me...i would gladley get rid of some. i can't find shirts that fit right and i think it makes me look heavier than i am. plus i have severe back problems and i'm a belly sleeper.

Hi Sue,

Thanks for checking out my site. It is alot of work but I feel as though I'm doing what I have to do. I was not informed about these dangers. I also at that time back in the early nineties could not find anything on saline filled implants. Everything was about silicone and all I knew was to stay away from silicone. Believe it or not, my first PS consultation was in 1992. Shortly after that, they banned silicone gel implants and that completely changed my mind about the entire breast implant thing. It scared the hell out of me. Then the damn breast implant manufacturer's started promoting what they called 'safe saline' implants. That combined with the media, magazine photos of what the perfect women should look like, I started my research again. I searched for a long time and finally became confident that this was the answer for me. How foolish I was. My PS basically told me what he knew I wanted to hear. It wasn't until 1996 that I actually felt that I did enough research to go through with it.

Biggest mistake of my life and I would do anything to go back in time. I now do not like fake boobs and think they are just too much for most people. Too hard looking and too round.

Anyway, I'm very sorry to hear about your Mother. It does sound like you have some genetic factors in your family that would make you more likely to have problems. My uncle just had knee replacement surgery a few months ago. He is very active at 83 years old and found that he couldn't play golf because of his knee so he decided to have it done. He had no idea about me and what I've gone through. He knows I'm sick but he doesn't know why. Should I have told him? I don't know. He is thrilled now and back to playing golf. He is a bit stubborn and set in his ways of thinking so I doubt that he would really have listened anyway.

My forum becomes very busy at times so I will stop by and contribute when I can. It seems to get so busy at times that I can't keep up and then it will slow down and that is when I like to catch up and post info on other websites and blogs to raise awareness.

BTW.....my PN was killing me last night. I was thinking of this website. I normally don't complain about the pain on my own forum. LOL Last night was a killer. I haven't had it that bad in a while but we had a front moving in and it gets me everytime. The fall is usually a bad time for me because the temperature changes frequently. I'm not sure if anyone else experiences PN like this. It really feels like someone is chipping away at the bones on my shins.

Have a great day everyone!

Bob B
 

Well said and I agree!!!

Cut Nerves - Undecided
 

I didn't have any nerves cut either. I had no pain in my breasts at all. I have heard of women having pain in the breasts because the implant is sitting on top of a nerve. This can cause alot of pain. In a way, I wish I would have had this from the beginning because then I would have known it was my implants and would have had them taken out before the damage was done.

My PN is in my lower legs and arms. I was told it was caused by a b12 deficiency. I know that the many women with implants end up experiencing vitamin deficiencies. I'm not sure why. I have noticed that B12 shots help with the pain but I can't get my doctor to approve it any longer. Makes alot of sense, doesn't it?

perhaps...
 

The PN people have here, is in the feet/hands/and some full body.

The local damage potential at the breast site, is really dependent on the skill of the surgeon. (we are NOT talking about neuropathy in your breasts or adjacent areas). We are talking about a full body reaction, that is painful and hard to treat. Some people can no longer walk, and the drugs do not cure anything or get rid of all the pain. The nerves may be affected that control your stomach and
blood pressure. Neuropathy of the stomach is called gastroparesis and you can no longer eat normally. If blood pressure control
is affected you may faint unexpectedly or not be able to move around normally. (autonomic neuropathy). If it affects your eyes, it is optic neuritis and can cause blindness.
The word neuropathy means disease of nerves.

The neuropathies that may develop are toxic/autoimmune ones and as such are systemic and take time to manifest. Like I explained before some people are genetically very sensitive and have very reactive immune systems.
In these people over time, antibodies will be made which may then move on to attack the nerves causing neuropathies.

Neuropathies occur very slowly as a rule. Many years pass before significant pain or impairment can be measured.
The only exceptions to this are infectious viral infections or vaccines that induce Guillain Barre syndrome, which is acute. Neuropathies can be toxic, (from poisons like arsenic, or pesticides or solvents), metabolic (hypothyroid and diabetes), from hidden cancers (paraneoplasia), from drugs (like statins), from vitamin deficiencies (B12, thiamine B6) from autoimmune attacks, from many things.

With all due respect to you Undecided, I don't think you understand what neuropathies really are. They are complex, hard to diagnose, and treat.
The risks of breast implants are basically~~1) the not well understood reactions of the body to silicone,2) and the induction of autoimmune complexes which lead to the destruction of nerve tissue by antibodies the body makes.

We don't have in medicine the little wand thingys that you see on SciFi shows like Star Trek. No one can wave a sensor over your body and predict what will happen to you in the future, or even what is happening now, but just not yet visible.

The bare bones facts about neuropathy is that as you age, Undecided, you might get a neuropathy from any one or more of the causes I listed above, even if you DON'T get the implants. No one knows what your future holds.
The members of this board suffer daily, with pain, loss of mobility and dealing with a disease that doctors do not understand fully, and cannot treat. This is very frustrating, and I see people who are concerned about you, and don't want to see you hurt.

nerves being cut doesn't mean you had pain. it can mean the inscion is numb. many of the woman i have contact with had said they have the numbness and at time pickly pains when the nerves are healing.

i had an emergancy c-section with my son. 18 years later...the line is still numb. the only pain i had was no anesthea during the operation. :eek:

:hug: i'm glad you decided to join here beth.

Yes, nerves, cut and heal, nerves 'stretched' can
 

also protest. I will dig up and PM you some info about this issue. When I'd had my cancer surgery [being all sort of informed as I could have been] I deliberately asked the Cancer surgeon and plastic surgeon to sever those nerves- numb they are. To be candid, my legs and arms are totally to partially numb [with total to 20% loss in sensory feel- what feeling I have is distorted, and truly not normal in any sense of the word]. Having read about others who have had similar surgeries as mine, I did not want extra 'zeeps and zaps' [as I call them] of nerves healing in an especially sensitive place? Call me chicken...I admit it. Also, if anyone tells you that you can't 'feel' an implant? Ask them if they have one! I know I have a 'not natural' aspect with it, and am aware of it constantly.
As for my decision regarding implant or not? It was purely practical. I knew I was beginning to acquire a habit of 'listing' to compensate. Since my balance was, and still is, precarious enough- it was the most pragmatic solution. Further I feel that as long as I continue immune therapy for my neuropathy condition, that any normal expected side effects would be mitigated. Should that therapy cease tho, I expect new and less fun immune complications to develop.
One key thing to consider, and this I did prior to my implant surgery is really, truly check with your insurance plan to see if any 'immune' issues, should they develop are going to be covered. This is key if your surgery is 'elective' or not.. I have to think that should a person develop such issues and they aren't covered by insurance well, you could be up a creek! This is insurance company's way 'out' for either elective or experimental surgeries or therapies...and they gotta know something we do not if that's the case. I always expect the worst and hope for the best in all and everything. I wish it were different for sure! :hug:'s - j

I don't understand what neuropathies are!
 

This is why I am asking these questions. At first I was ripped on because I was considering getting implants. Now finally after a few rude comments, and some nice posts, I finally get the information I was after. No, the PS never explained any of this to me. Thank you for the information.

Hi Undecided:

Don't know if you have discovered Private Messages yet or not, but sent you one last night.
Cathie

Curious
 

I had a hysterectomy last year and I'm still numb from the belly button down. Very annoying! :confused:

Undecided
 

Please keep asking those questions. Be as informed as possible before making your decision. It is so important. I think these people are giving you alot of great information.

Someone said that we read things wrong because you can't hear the tone of the voice in an email. I have experienced that myself. I have mistaken many emails as being nasty when they are not and people have done the same with my posts.

I do see that alot of people tend to want to judge us for wanting implants. Don't worry about it because believe it or not, most people here understand where you are coming from. I'm one of them.

I do hope you get the info you need and realize that these devices aren't always the best for our health. They can be dangerous. Not everyone gets sick but who wants to take a chance?

I had a minor surgery on my kneecap and the scar area was numb for about a year and a half.

Neuropathy
 

Well, let me see how the best way to explain at least part of what some of us experience or have experienced with PN. Others on this site may add information (please do); there are many different aspects.

Numbness, tingling, burning-feels like you are on fire (all over in my case), pins and needles feeling-can be all over, strange neurological symptoms-like limbs jerking, muscle twitches, strange sensations running up and down the spine, face goes to sleep and sometimes the area moves from under the nose to the mouth, gums and nerves to teeth can hurt, burning mouth, blood pressure can be crazy up, down, up down, pain/strange GI symptoms because the tract doesn't work right or at all, urinary incontinency, breasts burn like fire in my case. I am drawing a blank on what else to list here, but I know there are many people here who can add information and will be happy to do so.

Neuropathies are a disease/dysfunction of the nerves which can be due to various reasons. See MrsD's post above for a better explantation...

People on our site just don't want to see you join the ranks of our unfortunate club here. Feeling miserable and not being able to work is just the pits.

Hope this will help.
Cathie

After scanning through this thread, I wondered if maybe I was mean-sounding on the other thread she originally posted. If so, I sure didn't mean to be. I try to help people on this site if I can and sure wouldn't want her to go away when she needs some help.

Also, Beth, if you are reading this, do you have a copy of Patten's letter on your site? I have not had a chance to visit there, but as a Neurologist, he saw many of the women who first reported implant issues, maybe this would be helpful to her...

Cathie

Patten's letter
 

I found a link where I had posted Dr. Patten's letter some time back. Forgot I did that... :) See below for link...

Cathie

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ghlight=Patten