My name is Susan and I received silicone breast implants Dec. 23rd 1988 and this is my testimony that I hope will help at least one person in life. All of my life I was very flat chested and was very embarrassed about it in my teenage years but as I got older and married it did not seem to matter to much anymore. During the pregnancy of my second child I developed a large knot under where my left breast should have been and after going to several doctors I think it was about seven different ones before getting properly diagnosed as to having Polands Syndrome. My left pectoral muscle had given way and fell down through my left breast taking with it all breast tissue and muscle forming a large mass. I was sent to a top PS at a big university and was told he was the best. Anyhow the PS told me that he would have to put in silicone breast implants in both of my breast in order to repair my problem since my breast were so small anyway that is the only way to make them symmetrical with each other. I asked several questions about their safety and he told me that they would last me a lifetime and would never rupture or leak and made a joke that when I get old and everything else wrinkles up that my breast would still look like they are firm and beautiful. I was only 24 at that time and was full of energy and very athletic, never had even been to a doctor for illnesses. Only three days after getting implanted my long incision that runs from the center of my chest under my left breast and under my arm pit started leaking this clear looking liquid. I called my PS and he told me to get there immediately, after arriving he took me in his office not a operating room and numbed the area as I watched he reopened the incision and took out the breast implant and held it up, looked at it and told me to look at my heart beating, to my amazement I actually saw my heart beating away then he laid the implant back in a sewed me up and sent me on my way with no explanation as to what was leaking. Since I do not have any breast tissue or muscle on the left side my implant is lying directly on top of my heart which is not to reassuring. Within one month both of my hands broke out in a rash I went back to my PS and he told me that it could be an allergic reaction to the silicone implants but there was no test to be sure. He sent me to a dermatologists and he tested me for several allergy's and did allergy testing to chemicals of course nothing showed up but he put me on a steroid ointment and Benadryl. I had to get the strongest ointment available for it to do any good and I built up an immunity to the Benadryl so now I am taking Atarax.

To this day my hands stay broken out with red blisters that burst and bleed and they itch intensely. Within 6 months my energy had completely diminished and the joint and muscle pain started. At first it was worse in my left shoulder my family doctor gave me muscle relaxers and inflammation medicine that did not help finally he had to do cortisone shots in my shoulder. It helped and the pain completely went away, then my back went out and I couldn't get out of bed I then went to a neurologists that could not find anything wrong, then my legs started hurting and became numb again I was given muscle relaxers and inflammation medications that did not help that pain in my legs and back never went away only became more severe. I cannot walk for 5 minutes before my legs go numb and I have to sit down and the pain in my legs has gotten so bad I lay in bed and cry, which is something I normally do not do. Then I started with pain on my right side and I started with irritable bowel syndrome. I went in for test with a gastrointestinal doctor. He did several test and came up with nothing he checked my colon, liver, and kidneys and gallbladder. The pain on my side comes and goes. I also experience burning in my left breast and in both shoulder blades. I went to my family doctor and talked with him about concerns that my breast implants may be leaking he ordered an MRI and sure enough it showed that my implants or leaking silicone. He advised me to get them out and sent me to a PS which turned out to be the biggest jerk. He told me that because of my Polands Syndrome that if he took out my implants that it would look like someone dug a hole in my chest and that I would have very loose hanging skin and that he wonted to put in Saline implants, when I refused anymore implants of any kind he looked at me and said well the silicone can't hurt me so I should leave them in until they go completely flat and by then maybe I would let him put in the Saline. I don't have to say I never went back, but went to another neurologists for my pain. The latest problem was that my left hand went numb and the feeling never returned and I had pain in my arm. He sent me to have these nerve conduction test using needles that was very painful and nothing showed up. He then ordered an MRI and again put on muscle relaxers and Oruvail for inflammation the MRI showed that my spinal chord is deteriorating and bloodwork showed a vitamin B12 deficiency that I now have to take injections for the rest of my life and I tested positive for Lupus. I am only 35 but feel like someone that is about 100. I am presently looking for a good PS to remove my leaking implants in North Carolina where my husbands insurance will pay for the explant because otherwise I could not afford the surgery. I need to find one that will do enbloc and capsulectomy and I have not had any luck yet. I have two beautiful girls and won't so much to be able to enjoy life with them and doing the things that I once could and I have been praying for that to happen but I know I must get these implants out in order to hopefully make that a reality. This has really been a nightmare for so many of us women, I had much rather be deformed due to the Polands syndrome instead of getting one illness after another in order to have normal looking breast. I know that it will be very emotional getting them out but maybe I can regain some of my health back. If anyone reads this that is thinking of breast implants of any kind, keep what god has given you not what implants will do to make you sick and possibly death it is not worth it. I also would like to say if it was not for Kathynye I would not have even known about this support group where I have met so many wonderful people that have given me so much love, support and information. And Ilena rose is one of a kind sharing all different kinds of helpful information and the kind and sincere heart that she has is just unbelievable. I now know that I am not in this alone and that has definitely lifted a heavy burden off of my shoulders that I once had. If there is anything that I could do to help someone, I will do the best that I can. And if anyone knows of a good doctor in North Carolina I would be very appreciative if you would send that information to me. Keep praying, God will hear and answer our prayers if we keep our faith, it may not come when we would like for it to but it will happen and we can be healed through the power of God.

God Bless To All,