KAREN's TESTIMONY

Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 16:58:03 -0700

Hi:

I am new to this support group & I have written once & have appreciated all that have written me back. It literally brought tears to my eyes to know after 10 years I am not alone!! I am sure so many of you have felt that way, plus I have had very little support with all of this. Some of my family members still think I'm having a nervous breakdown because my husband left me 2 years ago with a 8 year old & brand new home to take care of. I had my moments but since my crisis in August I have suffered terribly physically & emotionally & no one is giving me any answers yet & others are not taking it seriously.

One of you told me it was okay to tell my story & to go into details about my symptoms so here goes. I do need support & any positive help from any one of you out there. My love & prayers go to you all.

My name is Karen & I live in Wilmington, Delaware, when I was 27 years old (1989), like some of you, CHOOSE to put silicone breast implants into my body for cosmetic reasons, convinced they were safe & nothing bad would happen to me. Immediately my body rejected them & I was hospitalised & could have probably died if I had not been in the hospital. Once I was stable they sent me home & I slowly recovered. 1 year later, I was married had a child & moved. After a year I was ill very much & had no idea it could have been the implants. by 1992 one had ruptured & I was in severe pain & scared stiff. I could not ever go without a bra, sleep on my stomach etc. I was ill off & on. My life was unmanageable but I at least had a husband whom supported me & helped out. I tried to take the ps to court, but unsuccessful, I had no choice but to go with the Mentor class action suit & settled for peanuts. An attorney told me to get them out, put this behind me & go on with my life. By this time, 1993, I stared a very strict nutritional program, studied, researched etc. changed my diet and got my implants removed by a surgeon who finally agreed to do it in Phila. The one who implanted me stopped taking my calls & ignored me. He told me he would replace them but never did anything. Now, I say thank GOD!!!! The one in Phila removed them in 1993 & confirmed one had ruptured. Before then I had a biopsy, mamo etc. and everyone was in denial about the rupture. I knew it though. I have the report of the explantation in 1993 but am sure he did not do it correctly because he said he did the best he could & now I know there is still some silicone in my right breast. Which was confirmed by mamo, mri etc a year ago.

My frustration is why after all this time am I the sickest ever & I do not know what happened. One day my left (not right where the silicone is oh & by the way they told me it was safe to leave it in there it is a small amount) breast started having an enormous pain worse than any breast infection & a spot in my breast was so sore & the pain shot down my arm & leg & shoulder. From that day on, 8/20/99, I have not hardly slept, even with sleeping medication. I had a severe yeast infection worse ever I had gotten them under control with nutrition. I am trying to stay off medication during the day and go alternative, but I am not sure exactly which avenue to go. I am not able to work & barely to take care of house and child. The traditional doctors have been no help. But I took their tests & medicines which only got me worse. I started going to a clinic which took a hair analyisis & will possibly start me on chelation IV treatments. There is another homeopathic women whom does a meridian test with a computer & sets you up a complete program etc & you have to follow it strictly nothing else. That sounds good, but it is so controlling & very expensive. I am doing so much for myself & I seem to only get better to get worse. I am trying to keep a positive attitude but I find it so difficult especially at night and when the pain worsens & I'm in sleep depravation. I have tried everything for sleep. My heart throbs & the burning pain is so bad in chest & arms.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments on what I have said or to guess why this is happening to me 6 YEARS AFTER EXPLANTATION! and also as to suggestions on the small piece of silicone in my left breast, please write me. Your support is a God send to me & I will always keep you all in my heart & prayers. When I get well, in whatever way God wants to use me to help others, I'm there.

Caring & hopeful,

Karen