So nervous about explant...

[Guest guest]

I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went for a consultation

yesterday and he was wonderful and said basically he had no problems

that the surgery would be smooth, my implants are over muscle, and he

would take out the capsules...the only disadvantage to me would be

that I would be completely flat, I don't have much breast tissue but

he would do an internal lift and try to make them as nice as possible

but I shouldn't have great expectations in that area. I was ok up til

then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous if I am making the

right decision. My implants are very small, 150cc, and have never

given me any problems since 98 when they were put in. But I developed

hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up up up and there is

hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago had an adrenal fatigue

attack and I said I had to do something before I really got something

worse like lupus or who knows what and that was when I made the

appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way you will know if it is

the implants that caused the problems is by removing them and seeing

if the symptoms abate, which in his experience in most cases, it does.

But I keep thinking now what if I have complications from the

surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what, and my husband frankly

is not so supportive, he says he feels I am rushing into this and

should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said is that I can see if

the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if I don't like how I

look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them back in (but he says

he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do that, most are

estatic about having them removed).

[Guest guest]

Hi there, Don't believe we've chatted before, but everyone else here

pretty much knows my story. Anyway, I am in exactly the same boat as

you. I went to see Dr. Kolb in Feb. for a consult and it was at that

point that the whole prospect of explant became VERY REAL. Like you,

she told me that I have little to no breast tissue of my own once the

implant and (very large) capsules are removed. Well, ever since my

consult, I've been very depressed (haven't really even been posting

much). This is the only post of yours that I've read, but it sounds

like I may be alot sicker (is that even a word,lol?) than you, which

really doesn't even make the decision to explant any easier, knowing

that post op I'll be flat maybe even concave. I have textured, over

muscle, salines put in in '94, approx. 300cc. I was told the same

thing, after 6-12 months, I could reimplant, what, if I still have

symptoms,then it wasn't the implants making me ill?, sounds kinda

nuts to me. It is true, from all the message boards I'm on, I've only

met about 4 other women willing to admit that they are very unhappy

post explant and are considering reimplanting.

Lately, I've been trying to boost my immune system and have been

fighting chronic systemic (scalp,mouth,nose,skin & vaginal) yeast

infections. I was hoping to get well enough to be reimplanted (in

diff. site, under muscle) at explant, but Dr. Kolb thinks my implants

and site/capsules are so contaminated that she will not consider

reimplanting at time of explant. She's planning on a lift for me,

also. Guess that's pretty much where I'm at; have Dermatology &

Endocrinology appts. this month, kind of last ditch attempts to see

what else could be going on with me.

I just wanted to let you know, you're def. not alone in the feelings

you are having. Please feel free to email me, if you'd like to chat

further. Take care of yourself and I wish you luck in deciding what

you are going to do.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Honey, please do not listen to your husband, because he has no idea of what

these devices can do to your health. When I knew that I had to have my

ruptured implants removed, my husband did not know anything about the

dangers of breast implants. He got involved when he saw me being abused by

the medical/legal system. Now he is an advocate for all women, because he

has done so much research with me. I was far too sick to look through the

shelves at the University of Alberta's medical library, so he would sit me

down and ask me what I wanted. I love references, so I would mark all the

important articles, and then he would be my runner. Because he had to

photocopy the articles for me, this gave him a chance to see that these

devices were really deadly. He became really angry--and still is--and when

husbands would say " Do not fix it if it is not broken, " he would become

furious with them as well.

Back in 1979, he always wondered why I had to sit in warm baths. This is

when my problems were becoming worse. At that time, I had no idea that my

problems were being caused by the implants. I had chronic bladder

infections, and the warm baths would help to relieve the cramping. We did

not realize that this was the beginning of the medical problems, but the

worst was yet to come.

I'm so happy that you are being explanted. You might be flat; however, you

will get your health back...and that is the most important result of this

surgery! The surgery will be much easier because your implants are not under

the muscle.

Love you....Lea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``````````````````

So nervous about explant...

>I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went for a consultation

> yesterday and he was wonderful and said basically he had no problems

> that the surgery would be smooth, my implants are over muscle, and he

> would take out the capsules...the only disadvantage to me would be

> that I would be completely flat, I don't have much breast tissue but

> he would do an internal lift and try to make them as nice as possible

> but I shouldn't have great expectations in that area. I was ok up til

> then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous if I am making the

> right decision. My implants are very small, 150cc, and have never

> given me any problems since 98 when they were put in. But I developed

> hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up up up and there is

> hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago had an adrenal fatigue

> attack and I said I had to do something before I really got something

> worse like lupus or who knows what and that was when I made the

> appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way you will know if it is

> the implants that caused the problems is by removing them and seeing

> if the symptoms abate, which in his experience in most cases, it does.

> But I keep thinking now what if I have complications from the

> surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what, and my husband frankly

> is not so supportive, he says he feels I am rushing into this and

> should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said is that I can see if

> the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if I don't like how I

> look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them back in (but he says

> he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do that, most are

> estatic about having them removed).

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by

> licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or licensed

> health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

>

> " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you.

> Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live

> a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus ing,

> two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

>

>

[Guest guest]

It sounds like you have a lot to gain if the implants are in fact causing your problems and as Dr. Melmed said, the only way you’ll know for certain is by removing them and seeing if your health improves. Some of the women here are so sick from the damage their implants have caused. If yours are the cause of your problems, you have more sickness to look forward to in your future.

Kenda

I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went for a consultation

yesterday and he was wonderful and said basically he had no problems

that the surgery would be smooth, my implants are over muscle, and he

would take out the capsules...the only disadvantage to me would be

that I would be completely flat, I don't have much breast tissue but

he would do an internal lift and try to make them as nice as possible

but I shouldn't have great expectations in that area. I was ok up til

then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous if I am making the

right decision. My implants are very small, 150cc, and have never

given me any problems since 98 when they were put in. But I developed

hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up up up and there is

hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago had an adrenal fatigue

attack and I said I had to do something before I really got something

worse like lupus or who knows what and that was when I made the

appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way you will know if it is

the implants that caused the problems is by removing them and seeing

if the symptoms abate, which in his experience in most cases, it does.

But I keep thinking now what if I have complications from the

surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what, and my husband frankly

is not so supportive, he says he feels I am rushing into this and

should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said is that I can see if

the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if I don't like how I

look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them back in (but he says

he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do that, most are

estatic about having them removed).

Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or licensed health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

" Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus ing, two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your support, although I'm still unable to sleep now

thinking about it, I am really nervous. I don't think I will cancel,

I just hope I'm making the right decision...I keep thinking that the

implants themselves have not given me any problems, I don't even feel

them, and if something goes wrong during surgery, i.e. nerve damage or

if I come out looking distorted or something, I'll tell myself why did

I do this to myself causing myself more problems.......it's not my

husband so much, I don't even think he understands my problems because

I never like to talk to my family about my health problems, I keep it

all inside (except for this board), so in a way he doesn't understand

about the thyroid, or that adrenal thing I passed through, and dry

eyes etc.....but I want to be sure I'm making the right decision.

> Honey, please do not listen to your husband, because he has no idea

of what

> these devices can do to your health. When I knew that I had to have my

> ruptured implants removed, my husband did not know anything about the

> dangers of breast implants. He got involved when he saw me being

abused by

> the medical/legal system. Now he is an advocate for all women,

because he

> has done so much research with me. I was far too sick to look

through the

> shelves at the University of Alberta's medical library, so he would

sit me

> down and ask me what I wanted. I love references, so I would mark

all the

> important articles, and then he would be my runner. Because he had to

> photocopy the articles for me, this gave him a chance to see that these

> devices were really deadly. He became really angry--and still

is--and when

> husbands would say " Do not fix it if it is not broken, " he would become

> furious with them as well.

>

> Back in 1979, he always wondered why I had to sit in warm baths.

This is

> when my problems were becoming worse. At that time, I had no idea

that my

> problems were being caused by the implants. I had chronic bladder

> infections, and the warm baths would help to relieve the cramping.

We did

> not realize that this was the beginning of the medical problems, but

the

> worst was yet to come.

>

> I'm so happy that you are being explanted. You might be flat;

however, you

> will get your health back...and that is the most important result of

this

> surgery! The surgery will be much easier because your implants are

not under

> the muscle.

>

> Love you....Lea

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``````````````````

> So nervous about explant...

>

>

> >I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went for a consultation

> > yesterday and he was wonderful and said basically he had no problems

> > that the surgery would be smooth, my implants are over muscle, and he

> > would take out the capsules...the only disadvantage to me would be

> > that I would be completely flat, I don't have much breast tissue but

> > he would do an internal lift and try to make them as nice as possible

> > but I shouldn't have great expectations in that area. I was ok up til

> > then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous if I am making the

> > right decision. My implants are very small, 150cc, and have never

> > given me any problems since 98 when they were put in. But I developed

> > hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up up up and there is

> > hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago had an adrenal fatigue

> > attack and I said I had to do something before I really got something

> > worse like lupus or who knows what and that was when I made the

> > appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way you will know if it is

> > the implants that caused the problems is by removing them and seeing

> > if the symptoms abate, which in his experience in most cases, it does.

> > But I keep thinking now what if I have complications from the

> > surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what, and my husband frankly

> > is not so supportive, he says he feels I am rushing into this and

> > should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said is that I can see if

> > the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if I don't like how I

> > look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them back in (but he says

> > he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do that, most are

> > estatic about having them removed).

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by

> > licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or

licensed

> > health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

> >

> > " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians

mislead you.

> > Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how

to live

> > a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus ing,

> > two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hello there

You are making the right decision - you were brought here for a reason. I had a total of 4 breast operations including removal of my implants in 2003 and I suffered no feeling loss or deformity at all and I DID NOT have a lift... You are just getting cold feet. my husband likes my breasts much better natural.... these health issues that you are having are so very similar to all the ones everyone else here has had - I wouldn't think that you have had no problems with the implants themselves.... I would say they are making you sick and the faster they come out the faster you can try to heal and recover.

I would also try to ease your mind by saying that this surgery was inevitable.... meaning they do not last a lifetime and you would have eventually had to have them removed anyways due to a complication - the rates are pretty high, so why not remove them on your schedule and not take a chance and have a rupture while on vacation or at work, etc. I went through a rupture and it was no fun having to schedule emergency surgery and tell your employers about it with little or no notice.... not to mention the time my family had to take off, etc. I think you have made the right decision and I applaud you for it!!

shari

[Guest guest]

I felt the same way about..wanting to be sure I made

the right decision... but.. again, I had to go with my

gut because there are no guarantees. I am much happier

just KNOWING that the poison bags are out... Just

knowing that it is highly unlikely that I will ever

progress to an auto immune disease like lupus, etc.

You are making the right decision. Like Dr. M said, if

after 18 mos. you don't recover.. you could always do

what he said... but like he said, he never sees anyone

do that.

Think of the regret you will have if you don't do it

and your illness progresses... how do you turn back

then, right? That's what I thought of. I don't miss

the darn things even one ounce. Never even think about

them.

Dawn

> > Honey, please do not listen to your husband,

> because he has no idea

> of what

> > these devices can do to your health. When I knew

> that I had to have my

> > ruptured implants removed, my husband did not know

> anything about the

> > dangers of breast implants. He got involved when

> he saw me being

> abused by

> > the medical/legal system. Now he is an advocate

> for all women,

> because he

> > has done so much research with me. I was far too

> sick to look

> through the

> > shelves at the University of Alberta's medical

> library, so he would

> sit me

> > down and ask me what I wanted. I love references,

> so I would mark

> all the

> > important articles, and then he would be my

> runner. Because he had to

> > photocopy the articles for me, this gave him a

> chance to see that these

> > devices were really deadly. He became really

> angry--and still

> is--and when

> > husbands would say " Do not fix it if it is not

> broken, " he would become

> > furious with them as well.

> >

> > Back in 1979, he always wondered why I had to sit

> in warm baths.

> This is

> > when my problems were becoming worse. At that

> time, I had no idea

> that my

> > problems were being caused by the implants. I had

> chronic bladder

> > infections, and the warm baths would help to

> relieve the cramping.

> We did

> > not realize that this was the beginning of the

> medical problems, but

> the

> > worst was yet to come.

> >

> > I'm so happy that you are being explanted. You

> might be flat;

> however, you

> > will get your health back...and that is the most

> important result of

> this

> > surgery! The surgery will be much easier because

> your implants are

> not under

> > the muscle.

> >

> > Love you....Lea

> >

>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``````````````````

> > So nervous about

> explant...

> >

> >

> > >I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went

> for a consultation

> > > yesterday and he was wonderful and said

> basically he had no problems

> > > that the surgery would be smooth, my implants

> are over muscle, and he

> > > would take out the capsules...the only

> disadvantage to me would be

> > > that I would be completely flat, I don't have

> much breast tissue but

> > > he would do an internal lift and try to make

> them as nice as possible

> > > but I shouldn't have great expectations in that

> area. I was ok up til

> > > then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous

> if I am making the

> > > right decision. My implants are very small,

> 150cc, and have never

> > > given me any problems since 98 when they were

> put in. But I developed

> > > hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up

> up up and there is

> > > hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago

> had an adrenal fatigue

> > > attack and I said I had to do something before I

> really got something

> > > worse like lupus or who knows what and that was

> when I made the

> > > appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way

> you will know if it is

> > > the implants that caused the problems is by

> removing them and seeing

> > > if the symptoms abate, which in his experience

> in most cases, it does.

> > > But I keep thinking now what if I have

> complications from the

> > > surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what,

> and my husband frankly

> > > is not so supportive, he says he feels I am

> rushing into this and

> > > should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said

> is that I can see if

> > > the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if

> I don't like how I

> > > look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them

> back in (but he says

> > > he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do

> that, most are

> > > estatic about having them removed).

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the

> place of advice given by

> > > licensed health care professionals. Consult your

> physician or

> licensed

> > > health care professional before commencing any

> medical treatment.

> > >

> > > " Do not let either the medical authorities or

> the politicians

> mislead you.

> > > Find out what the facts are, and make your own

> decisions about how

> to live

> > > a happy life and how to work for a better

> world. " - Linus ing,

> > > two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry;

> 1963, Peace)

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I would listen to Dr. Melmed. He makes very good sense. Everything

he said is true. He just doesn't want to give you an unrealistic

impression of how big your breasts might be. I can tell you that of

all the women I have known who had the surgery, none of them have

seemed to regret it. And the vast majority are pleased enough with

the outcome. Even those who were not as pleased still were very

glad to have them out. I am one of those very flat people and I am

so glad to have the implants out. When you are sick, nothing else

matters. I was also told by Dr.Feng that she could put them back in

when I was crying after she showed me my breasts after the surgery.

I would have NEVER put them back in. Three weeks later my breasts

fluffed back out to the size they were before implants--flat, but

that was the way they were before. but no more hard implants that

looked like balls on my chest. No more discomfort and I improved

rapidly. Sure, maybe I am flat but I don't care. I wear really

padded bras and I look like I have a little something. I can't wear

most sexy nightgowns, but so what. We all have things that aren't

perfect. If it isn't our breasts it will be something else.

Besides, my husband still thinks I am attractive and our personal

life if very very good. It was with my first husband before the

implants too. So I don't think that it should be a problem. It is

natural for your husband to feel anxious. He isn't the one who is

sick, therefore it easier for him to take a wait and see attitude.

No one can guarantee you that your implants are making you sick, but

chances are that they are. Dr. Melmed is right in saying most women

improve after explant. Go with your gut instinct. I think that

still small voice inside us is from God. I think you already know

in your heart that now that you know what you know, that you would

always wonder if the implants are making you sick if you keep them

in. If you went with statistics, the statistics on this site are

that overwhelmingly, women are glad they got the explants and that

they improved afterward. We will be here to support you as you go

through this trying time.

Hugs

kathy

, " interart81 " <interart81@y...> wrote:

> I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went for a consultation

> yesterday and he was wonderful and said basically he had no

problems

> that the surgery would be smooth, my implants are over muscle, and

he

> would take out the capsules...the only disadvantage to me would be

> that I would be completely flat, I don't have much breast tissue

but

> he would do an internal lift and try to make them as nice as

possible

> but I shouldn't have great expectations in that area. I was ok up

til

> then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous if I am making the

> right decision. My implants are very small, 150cc, and have never

> given me any problems since 98 when they were put in. But I

developed

> hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up up up and there is

> hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago had an adrenal

fatigue

> attack and I said I had to do something before I really got

something

> worse like lupus or who knows what and that was when I made the

> appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way you will know if

it is

> the implants that caused the problems is by removing them and

seeing

> if the symptoms abate, which in his experience in most cases, it

does.

> But I keep thinking now what if I have complications from the

> surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what, and my husband

frankly

> is not so supportive, he says he feels I am rushing into this and

> should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said is that I can see

if

> the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if I don't like how I

> look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them back in (but he

says

> he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do that, most are

> estatic about having them removed).

[Guest guest]

Dear cheryl

I hate to hear that you are depressed. I know how awful that can

be. It is something I have fought for a long time. I can relate to

how you feel because I think I have to be one of the flattest people

out there. In fact, I KNOW I am. But it really isn't an issue. I

went the route you did--dermatologist, rheumatologist, regular dr.,

etc. None of them were able to tell me what was wrong. I was sure

that I had scleroderma. A dr. in chicago thought I had lyme, and a

dr. in Iowa diagnosed me with mixed connective tissue disease. I

had alot of lupus and scleroderma symptoms. I also had

fibromyalgia. Now almost all of my fibromyalgia symptoms are better

and most of my other symptoms are too. I think you could very well

be saving your life by having the implants out. And I think that

you won't be as unhappy with the outcome as you are afraid that you

will be. And I absolutely don't believe that you will be concave.

I was extremely flat before implant, and I am not concave. In fact

I look the same as I did before. Almost exactly, if not just the

teensiest bit bigger. And I had implants in for eleven years. I

can tell you this. The smaller your breasts, the more uncomfortable

and unreal looking the implants are. I could always so easily feel

the implant in my breast. I will always pushing it around because I

had pain underneath my right breast that I was always trying to get

to. Now I am so glad to be free of those artificial sacks. I may

be small, but they are soft and natural and don't ever hurt like

they did when I had implants in. And I worked so hard to get well,

I would never ever think of being reimplanted. The day I was

explanted with Dr. Feng, she shared with me that one of her patients

that day had gotten sick from her first implant. She got explanted

and completely recovered. Then a year or so later, she opted for

implants again. Now she was back with Dr.Feng getting this pair

removed, because she had gotten sick again. To me, that is playing

with fire. I felt that God gave me a chance to get well, and since

that proved the implants caused it, why would I take that chance

again? I might not be so lucky next time. For me, asking God for

His guidance led me to this site, and I knew what I needed to do. I

will pray that God will give you His guidance and a peace about the

right decision for you in your heart.

Blessings

Kathy

--- In , " Cheryl " <sunbum256@a...>

wrote:

> Hi there, Don't believe we've chatted before, but everyone else

here

> pretty much knows my story. Anyway, I am in exactly the same boat

as

> you. I went to see Dr. Kolb in Feb. for a consult and it was at

that

> point that the whole prospect of explant became VERY REAL. Like

you,

> she told me that I have little to no breast tissue of my own once

the

> implant and (very large) capsules are removed. Well, ever since my

> consult, I've been very depressed (haven't really even been

posting

> much). This is the only post of yours that I've read, but it

sounds

> like I may be alot sicker (is that even a word,lol?) than you,

which

> really doesn't even make the decision to explant any easier,

knowing

> that post op I'll be flat maybe even concave. I have textured,

over

> muscle, salines put in in '94, approx. 300cc. I was told the same

> thing, after 6-12 months, I could reimplant, what, if I still have

> symptoms,then it wasn't the implants making me ill?, sounds kinda

> nuts to me. It is true, from all the message boards I'm on, I've

only

> met about 4 other women willing to admit that they are very

unhappy

> post explant and are considering reimplanting.

> Lately, I've been trying to boost my immune system and have been

> fighting chronic systemic (scalp,mouth,nose,skin & vaginal) yeast

> infections. I was hoping to get well enough to be reimplanted (in

> diff. site, under muscle) at explant, but Dr. Kolb thinks my

implants

> and site/capsules are so contaminated that she will not consider

> reimplanting at time of explant. She's planning on a lift for me,

> also. Guess that's pretty much where I'm at; have Dermatology &

> Endocrinology appts. this month, kind of last ditch attempts to

see

> what else could be going on with me.

> I just wanted to let you know, you're def. not alone in the

feelings

> you are having. Please feel free to email me, if you'd like to

chat

> further. Take care of yourself and I wish you luck in deciding

what

> you are going to do.

> Cheryl

[Guest guest]

I know that all I have to do is keep reading these posts every day and

I won't back out...every time I read them I think how could I even

doubt going through with it. I worry only when I read some stories

about some women becoming concave....when and why would that happen?

It is true i was completely and I mean completely flat before,

although it never bothered me at all until after my kids were born,

and also after I had a benign cyst removed and he took out some

additional tissue (he was a jerk), then I became self conscious and

decided to do it. And I haven't been feeling great either these past

couple days, sort of weak and tired again, so you are all right....I

would have to get them out at some point anyway, so just go ahead and

do it now. Well I'm scheduled for June 6th and I made the plane

reservations anyway today. Anyway, thanks for all your

support...this will be a long 5 weeks ahead of me and I hope I keep my

strength and resolve.......S.

> > I am scheduled for June 6 with Dr Melmed. I went for a consultation

> > yesterday and he was wonderful and said basically he had no

> problems

> > that the surgery would be smooth, my implants are over muscle, and

> he

> > would take out the capsules...the only disadvantage to me would be

> > that I would be completely flat, I don't have much breast tissue

> but

> > he would do an internal lift and try to make them as nice as

> possible

> > but I shouldn't have great expectations in that area. I was ok up

> til

> > then but all of a sudden I am getting so nervous if I am making the

> > right decision. My implants are very small, 150cc, and have never

> > given me any problems since 98 when they were put in. But I

> developed

> > hashimotos in 02 and my antibodies keep going up up up and there is

> > hair loss and dry eyes, and about 1 month ago had an adrenal

> fatigue

> > attack and I said I had to do something before I really got

> something

> > worse like lupus or who knows what and that was when I made the

> > appointment. Dr. Melmed said that the only way you will know if

> it is

> > the implants that caused the problems is by removing them and

> seeing

> > if the symptoms abate, which in his experience in most cases, it

> does.

> > But I keep thinking now what if I have complications from the

> > surgery, or nerve damage, or I don't know what, and my husband

> frankly

> > is not so supportive, he says he feels I am rushing into this and

> > should wait a bit longer. One thing Dr. M said is that I can see

> if

> > the symptoms lessen, and if they do not, and if I don't like how I

> > look after say 1 yr or 18 months, I can put them back in (but he

> says

> > he hasn't met any women yet who have opted to do that, most are

> > estatic about having them removed).