Re: e

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

Thanks for the welcome!! I am glad to be a part of this group. I feel it is so vital for women to have support groups as well as educated women to help them make informed decisions about their implants. I know that I can help many women out there with medical questions, insurance questions, and just being a support to women who need someone who has been there.

I'm glad you're having your implants out soon. Who is removing them? Just be sure to have them removed en bloc, especially since they are silicone. If there is anything I can tell you about the surgery and what to expect, just let me know. I'm sure that you've gotten plenty of information about explantation, but I will be more than happy to provide you with any additional info if you need it.

Yes, I am able to work, although for many months last yr I wasn't. From about June through November last yr, I was rarely able to work, and when I did, I was only able to do 4-6 hrs. I was on so many meds, including pain meds and Soma, both of which are so addicting. I don't think I ever was addicted to the narcotics, but I was addicted to the Soma. Many people don't realize how nasty a drug Soma is, and that it is a frequently abused drug.

It is similar to Ultram (a pain med) in the sense that it is not a controlled substance, but yet its metabolite is a controlled substance.

Soma breaks down to a benzodiazepine, and when people take Soma on a regular basis, their body becomes addicted or at the very least, tolerant to benzos.

So, when someone stops taking Soma after being on it for a while, they go through benzo withdrawal, and it is hell. I went through it when I stopped the Soma, and it was not fun. Needless to say, studies are now being done on Ultram, which is classified as a non-narcotic analgesic. Because it's not a controlled substance, docs prescribe it readily, often with many refills.

Yet more and more docs and pharmacists are seeing pts becoming addicted to it, and when they stop it abruptly, they go through acute narcotic withdrawal. The reason is because Ultram breaks down into an opiate. I have heard that there is discussion of making Ultram a controlled substance. I recently spoke to a doc who refused to prescribe Ultram for one of his pts because he said that he was seeing more pts addicted to Ultram and going through awful withdrawal, that he'd rather prescribe Vicodin or Percocet. I thought, "good for him." Finally a doc who isn't afraid to speak his mind and voice his opinion! Anyway, I got off on a tangent, but this info may be helpful for anyone on either one of these meds.

Getting back to me, I had a difficult time working, especially since I am a RN and I was working in the open heart ICU and the recovery room at the time. I had to do a lot of heavy lifting and long shifts. Physically, I just couldn't do it. So, I was always calling in sick. I'm amazed I didn't lose my job!! A few times I had to get money from community centers to help pay for my rent. And once I had to have the CO Lupus Foundation help me with my rent as well. What an embarrassing time. I have always been self supportive, and to go from being a healthy, vivacious woman to someone who could rarely work and needed financial assistance from the community, was one of the most humiliating things that's ever happened to me.

Last November, I found SalineInfo, and subscribed to it. That is when I began to do research on implants, and found other websites. I had long suspected that my deteriorating health was related to my implants, but never had anyone to talk to, or never knew that there was info available out there on implants. Of course what I found scared the hell out of me, and I became obsessed with educating myself and others about the dangers of implants.

Prior to my implants, I was healthy, rarely saw a doc, and had no health problems. I was modeling, skinny, had a beautiful complexion, and exercised constantly. About 6-8 months after I had my implants, I began to have bizarre health problems. I developed numbness/tingling in my arms and legs, weakness, dizziness, forgetfulness, I developed a horrible rash on my chest, and my complexion went to hell, I gained weight, I became short of breath, unable to exercise, had chest pains, palpitations, developed migraines, muscle and joint aches and pains, fatigue, and a host of other problems. I saw 9 docs in less than 1 yr ,and was pretty much told it was all in my head. Finally, a savvy neurologist who was working me up for MS, thought that I had lupus instead, and referred me for a special MRI of the brain. This is when it was discovered I had had a stroke in the left cerebellum. From there, I had a cardiac workup, which showed a hole in my heart, which required urgent open heart surgery. When that surgery failed to "fix" my problems, I knew it was my implants. After my heart surgery, I failed to heal, developed sepsis, and had to have my chest reopened 4x, and had several granulomas excised. Just last December I began to heal up from the original surgery which was August 6, 1999!!

Since I've had the implants removed, my health has greatly improved, although I'm still testing + for lupus. But my symptoms are much better, and I've just had one lupus flare since my explantation. I'm able to exercise now, and immediately after my surgery, I had increased energy, and the rash on my chest went away within 48 hrs, and my complexion cleared up completely within a wk!! It was absolutely amazing!! So there is no doubt in my mind that implants are related to health problems. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go with convincing the FDA, ps, and many women that implants are dangerous.

And since the FDA just approved the new silicone gel for breast implants, our concerns, letters, testimonies, and court hearings obviously have fallen on deaf ears. And unfortunately, breast augmentation is on the rise. It is so unfortunate that women are going to have to learn the hard way about implants. But my goal is to lobby and ban all breast implants, and I will continue to fight for this cause as long as I'm alive.

Anyway, thanks for the welcome. Keep in touch.

e

[Guest guest]

e,

Good God, woman, I had no idea that you had been through all of this! You are so young! Thank you for joining our group and sharing your experiences. I do hope that your healing continues.

I don't know if you have had time to review some of our recent messages, but I wanted to encourage you to share your story with the contacts I listed for the Nevada legislature within the past few days. There is going to be a hearing on silicone induced illness on Thursday, April 26th in Carson City, NV, with video teleconferencing from Las Vegas for those who wish to testify. I will be testifying, however, we are individually limited to 5 minutes. I have encouraged any and all women who wish to have their voices heard to write out their story and send this information to these important people. They need to hear our stories!

It sounds like you already have a great testimony--please write and share it, even if you don't live in Nevada. As I said, these people need to hear from us and our silicone induced illness.

Here are the addresses again, for the benefit of all:

Assemblywoman Kathy McClain at kmcclain@...

Claudette (Attache to Assemblywoman Kathy McClain)cthompson@...

Dennis Nolan, (Assemblyman) dnolan@...

Your letter below tells the story in detail. I don't know how anyone couldn't be moved by this. God help us, and help them to listen to us.

Hugs,

Patty

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

From: cvrn8@...

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 9:04 PM

Subject: Re: e

Jackie, Thanks for the welcome!! I am glad to be a part of this group. I feel it is so vital for women to have support groups as well as educated women to help them make informed decisions about their implants. I know that I can help many women out there with medical questions, insurance questions, and just being a support to women who need someone who has been there. I'm glad you're having your implants out soon. Who is removing them? Just be sure to have them removed en bloc, especially since they are silicone. If there is anything I can tell you about the surgery and what to expect, just let me know. I'm sure that you've gotten plenty of information about explantation, but I will be more than happy to provide you with any additional info if you need it. Yes, I am able to work, although for many months last yr I wasn't. From about June through November last yr, I was rarely able to work, and when I did, I was only able to do 4-6 hrs. I was on so many meds, including pain meds and Soma, both of which are so addicting. I don't think I ever was addicted to the narcotics, but I was addicted to the Soma. Many people don't realize how nasty a drug Soma is, and that it is a frequently abused drug. It is similar to Ultram (a pain med) in the sense that it is not a controlled substance, but yet its metabolite is a controlled substance. Soma breaks down to a benzodiazepine, and when people take Soma on a regular basis, their body becomes addicted or at the very least, tolerant to benzos. So, when someone stops taking Soma after being on it for a while, they go through benzo withdrawal, and it is hell. I went through it when I stopped the Soma, and it was not fun. Needless to say, studies are now being done on Ultram, which is classified as a non-narcotic analgesic. Because it's not a controlled substance, docs prescribe it readily, often with many refills. Yet more and more docs and pharmacists are seeing pts becoming addicted to it, and when they stop it abruptly, they go through acute narcotic withdrawal. The reason is because Ultram breaks down into an opiate. I have heard that there is discussion of making Ultram a controlled substance. I recently spoke to a doc who refused to prescribe Ultram for one of his pts because he said that he was seeing more pts addicted to Ultram and going through awful withdrawal, that he'd rather prescribe Vicodin or Percocet. I thought, "good for him." Finally a doc who isn't afraid to speak his mind and voice his opinion! Anyway, I got off on a tangent, but this info may be helpful for anyone on either one of these meds. Getting back to me, I had a difficult time working, especially since I am a RN and I was working in the open heart ICU and the recovery room at the time. I had to do a lot of heavy lifting and long shifts. Physically, I just couldn't do it. So, I was always calling in sick. I'm amazed I didn't lose my job!! A few times I had to get money from community centers to help pay for my rent. And once I had to have the CO Lupus Foundation help me with my rent as well. What an embarrassing time. I have always been self supportive, and to go from being a healthy, vivacious woman to someone who could rarely work and needed financial assistance from the community, was one of the most humiliating things that's ever happened to me. Last November, I found SalineInfo, and subscribed to it. That is when I began to do research on implants, and found other websites. I had long suspected that my deteriorating health was related to my implants, but never had anyone to talk to, or never knew that there was info available out there on implants. Of course what I found scared the hell out of me, and I became obsessed with educating myself and others about the dangers of implants. Prior to my implants, I was healthy, rarely saw a doc, and had no health problems. I was modeling, skinny, had a beautiful complexion, and exercised constantly. About 6-8 months after I had my implants, I began to have bizarre health problems. I developed numbness/tingling in my arms and legs, weakness, dizziness, forgetfulness, I developed a horrible rash on my chest, and my complexion went to hell, I gained weight, I became short of breath, unable to exercise, had chest pains, palpitations, developed migraines, muscle and joint aches and pains, fatigue, and a host of other problems. I saw 9 docs in less than 1 yr ,and was pretty much told it was all in my head. Finally, a savvy neurologist who was working me up for MS, thought that I had lupus instead, and referred me for a special MRI of the brain. This is when it was discovered I had had a stroke in the left cerebellum. From there, I had a cardiac workup, which showed a hole in my heart, which required urgent open heart surgery. When that surgery failed to "fix" my problems, I knew it was my implants. After my heart surgery, I failed to heal, developed sepsis, and had to have my chest reopened 4x, and had several granulomas excised. Just last December I began to heal up from the original surgery which was August 6, 1999!! Since I've had the implants removed, my health has greatly improved, although I'm still testing + for lupus. But my symptoms are much better, and I've just had one lupus flare since my explantation. I'm able to exercise now, and immediately after my surgery, I had increased energy, and the rash on my chest went away within 48 hrs, and my complexion cleared up completely within a wk!! It was absolutely amazing!! So there is no doubt in my mind that implants are related to health problems. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go with convincing the FDA, ps, and many women that implants are dangerous. And since the FDA just approved the new silicone gel for breast implants, our concerns, letters, testimonies, and court hearings obviously have fallen on deaf ears. And unfortunately, breast augmentation is on the rise. It is so unfortunate that women are going to have to learn the hard way about implants. But my goal is to lobby and ban all breast implants, and I will continue to fight for this cause as long as I'm alive. Anyway, thanks for the welcome. Keep in touch. e

[Guest guest]

Debe,

Have you been explanted or do you still have your implants? It sounds like you've been explanted.

I will ask my rheumy if he knows any good docs in the Sacramento area. I won't be able to ask him until Wed as I will be out of town on business Tues. But I will ask him. Sometimes he can take a few days to get back to me, but hopefully he will know someone. However, I won't promise anything, because as sure as I say he may know someone, he won't. But he is so good and knowledgeable. Too bad you can't fly in to see him every 3 months or so......I guess that would get pretty expensive, though. His name is Dr. Kassan, and he was just interviewed by Cosmo magazine about Sjogrens Syndrome. His article will appear in the July issue. He is one of the worlds experts on Sjogrens.

Thank you for your compliments about my knowledge. I really appreciate it.

I try to help women as much as I can and definately try to keep myself informed on the issues surrounding implants so that I can provide the most up to date medical info. So, thank you very much.

Like I said I will get back to you after I hear from Dr. Kassan. Hopefully he will get back to me before the end of the wk. At any rate, I will keep you posted. It is Sacramento, right?

Take care and I will write to you soon.

e

[Guest guest]

Debe,

Oh, I also have some info to give you about the Soma and other pain med you're on (Vicodin? Lorcet?). I also have info about other options. While I have no problem with pain meds, Soma is a NASTY drug. It is not a controlled substance, but it is in the process of becoming one, and may already be one in some states. It is a muscle relaxant, but it breaks down to a benzodiazepine, and is a very addicting drug. I speak from experience. I was given Soma after my cervical spinal fusion after I tried Flexeril, Valium, and Robaxin. Soma seemed to work well enough, but I also got a little high off it. Before I knew it, I was taking double the prescribed amt. In my head, I was telling myself that my body needed it for the muscle pain, when in truth I was addicted. I stopped it and went through a severe withdrawal. Ultram is the other drug that is a bad drug. It is a pain med which is not a controlled substance. However, similar to Soma, there have been widespread problems of abuse, so it too is in the process of becoming a controlled substance, and already is in some states. Docs prescribe it readily because they think that it's not a controlled substance, so it's not addicting. But studies now show that it is. It breaks down into an opiate, and I've seen and talked to pts who have stopped taking it and their withdrawal is just as bad as withdrawing from an opiate.

But I agree with you that there is a difference between addiction and tolerance, and most people on pain meds are tolerant and not addicted. I believe very strongly in good, adequate pain control, and feel that pts should be able to have whatever pain meds they need to control their pain.

Why is your doc refusing to prescribe the pain med? I can understand the Soma, but if you've been on a pain med for several yrs, why would he be taking you off it? Probably because he's afraid of addiction. Doctors are so damn stupid when it comes to pain meds. It drives me insane!!

Have you tried Neurontin for pain? And as for muscle relaxants, have you tried Skelaxin?

I will give you more info and details about the above when I get back to you with (hopefully) a rheumy in Sacramento. I just really worry about people who take Soma because people don't become tolerant to that, they truly become addicted. And benzo withdrawal is hell. I do belong to the American Society For Pain Management Nurses, so I get updated info on meds and new meds coming out. Like I said, I'll fill you in more later this wk.

Take care,

e

[Guest guest]

Ahhhh e... See how much knowledge you bring us. *wink* Again

I appreciate your time. I agree what you say about the soma for

some it is a very addicting drug. However for me, I really value

my energy and I only take it at night time, and at the most 2 a

night. I wake up feeling like my tendons and muscles are drawing

up to my neck in my feet and legs. They have been the only drug

that seems to help me, without waking up feeling really groggy. The

Lortab takes away the pain in my joints and muscles which seems to

migrate all the time. And the Lortab gives me the energy to function.

My Glands are always popping up and down in my neck, and in my groin

area. The Red rash is still all up and down my neck and chest area.

And I have continous Hair Loss. And yes to the question as to if I

was explanted. I was implanted in 1973-74 shoot Im not sure anymore I

was 16. I only had one implant due to not developing on one side.

And it was Saline, and a Demo model the Sales Man left, since I only

needed one. I had signs probably 2 months afterwards that it wasnt

agreeing with my body, but at 16 there was No way in Hell they were

going to take away my sexuality now. I had many symptoms in the 21

years of wearing that implant, the heart palputations, hair loss,

nipple secreating a yellow fluid, CC, joint aches, muscle Aches. But

it wasnt until 1993 though that I couldnt walk anymore without hitting

the pavement. I got an MRI and Spinal Tap that showed M.S. And then

the Media Scare about Silicone came out about 3 months after finding

all this stuff out, and that Boob that was so important to me for so

many years just wasn't so important anymore. So it came out. My M.S.

Symptoms have improved so much since being explanted, my balance is

much better, I still need a cane when walking far, and far is about 1

blocks for me. But What an Improvement that is. The Fybromyliga is

still not the best, and the pain in my joints and tendons still hurt.

But with the Lortab it was so much more controlable. The Dr. doesnt

want to prescribe me these drugs because I feel he is scared to death

of the Narco Natzi's pulling his licence. Which really makes me mad,

because I have Such Clinical Proof that these drugs are needed. The

hernaited disks alone are proof. He even referred me to pain

Management, which was fine with me, but Pain Management turned me down

saying they couldn't help Me.. Im So sick of Doctors, and telling my

Story Over and Over and Over Again! And e, thats pretty much My

Story.. It Sucks just like the Rest of Em! Thanks again for

Replying.. Good Health and Happieness * *

God Bless

Sincerely

Debe

In @y..., cvrn8@a... wrote:

> Debe,

>

> Oh, I also have some info to give you about the Soma and other pain

med

> you're on (Vicodin? Lorcet?). I also have info about other options.

While I

> have no problem with pain meds, Soma is a NASTY drug. It is not a

controlled

> substance, but it is in the process of becoming one, and may already

be one

> in some states. It is a muscle relaxant, but it breaks down to a

> benzodiazepine, and is a very addicting drug. I speak from

experience. I

> was given Soma after my cervical spinal fusion after I tried

Flexeril,

> Valium, and Robaxin. Soma seemed to work well enough, but I also

got a

> little high off it. Before I knew it, I was taking double the

prescribed

> amt. In my head, I was telling myself that my body needed it for

the muscle

> pain, when in truth I was addicted. I stopped it and went through a

severe

> withdrawal. Ultram is the other drug that is a bad drug. It is a

pain med

> which is not a controlled substance. However, similar to Soma,

there have

> been widespread problems of abuse, so it too is in the process of

becoming a

> controlled substance, and already is in some states. Docs prescribe

it

> readily because they think that it's not a controlled substance, so

it's not

> addicting. But studies now show that it is. It breaks down into an

opiate,

> and I've seen and talked to pts who have stopped taking it and their

> withdrawal is just as bad as withdrawing from an opiate.

>

> But I agree with you that there is a difference between addiction

and

> tolerance, and most people on pain meds are tolerant and not

addicted. I

> believe very strongly in good, adequate pain control, and feel that

pts

> should be able to have whatever pain meds they need to control their

pain.

> Why is your doc refusing to prescribe the pain med? I can

understand the

> Soma, but if you've been on a pain med for several yrs, why would he

be

> taking you off it? Probably because he's afraid of addiction.

Doctors are

> so damn stupid when it comes to pain meds. It drives me insane!!

>

> Have you tried Neurontin for pain? And as for muscle relaxants,

have you

> tried Skelaxin?

>

> I will give you more info and details about the above when I get

back to you

> with (hopefully) a rheumy in Sacramento. I just really worry about

people

> who take Soma because people don't become tolerant to that, they

truly become

> addicted. And benzo withdrawal is hell. I do belong to the

American Society

> For Pain Management Nurses, so I get updated info on meds and new

meds coming

> out. Like I said, I'll fill you in more later this wk.

>

> Take care,

> e