Gel or Saline, still the same in my book

[Guest guest]

Doctors told a Food and Drug Administration committee that many women

with silicone gel breast implants suffer from illnesses ranging from

minor flu-like symptoms to a condition resembling Lou Gehrig's

disease. The doctors, speaking Tuesday to an FDA panel considering

the safety of silicone breast implants, reported on a series of

studies that they said show the devices trigger an immune response in

the bodies of many women and that this response can lead to serious

and even fatal disease. Today the panel is expected to hear testimony

from breast implant manufacturers and from doctors who surgically put

the devices into female patients.

The FDA has placed a moratorium on use of the implants and the panel

of experts is to hear two more days of testimony and then decide if

the implants, now in the bodies of a million American women, pose a

health hazard.

On Tuesday, a number of physicians said they have treated patients

with leaky breast implants for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. These are all autoimmune

diseases that may be caused by an overactive immune response

triggered by the breast implants.

The doctors said most patients experience some form of inflammatory

response to the implants and that fever, fatigue and tender breasts

are common.

For many of the women, the doctors said, the conditions improved or

went away when the silicone gel implants were removed.

Dr. Bernard Patten of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston said

that doctors should have expected that some women would react to the

implants, even if there is no gross leakage from the devices.

" If you introduce a foreign substance into the body, you have to

expect a reaction, " he said. All of the implants leak, said Patten,

noting that " if you put it on a table, it leaves a greasy spot. "

Silicone, he said, " is definitely not inert. "

In five years of study of women with breast implants, Patten said he

has seen patients with mental deficits, gangrene of the fingers,

numbness in the hands and feet, and a loss of strength.

Seven patients, he said, were diagnosed with symptoms of amytrophic

lateral sclerosis, a disorder often called Lou Gehrig's disease and

which always is fatal. Yet, said Patten, three of the MLS patients

improved after their breast implants were removed.

" This is Lou Gehrig's disease or something that looks like Lou

Gehrig's disease, " he said.

Patten said some women who experienced ruptured breast implants

developed mental deficits so severe that they couldn't remember the

names of their children. Others developed an overpowering weakness.

Again, Patten said, most improved or fully recovered after their

implants were removed.

Dr. B. Vasey of the University of South Florida College of

Medicine said that in a study of 50 women with breast implants he

found an unusually high rate of systemic lupus erythematosus, a

disorder that causes inflammation of lung and heart tissues, skin

rashes and nerve disorders.

Others suffered from scleroderma, a thickening of the skin about the

face, he said. This is a major symptom of another autoimmune disease

called systemic sclerosis.

Vasey said he has seen patients whose breast implants were ruptured

by such things as the bite of a 2-year-old, by biopsy needles and in

accidents.

In the woman bitten by a 2-year-old, said Vasey, the silicone

migrated to the arm, crippling its use. He said the patient, along

with 25 others, all improved after their implants were removed.

" We no longer feel comfortable that silicone is inert in the human

body, " Vasey said.

[Guest guest]

can anyone help me here I do not even remember posting this? Did I infact

post this, I am confused, need help!

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

From: <jcraig@...>

<cjheer@...>

Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 11:24 AM

Subject: Re: Gel or Saline, still the same in my book

> Hi! I hope you can please help me with some info on this

> article. I'd like to use it as a reference, but can't unless

> I know when & where it was published.

>

> Thanks so very much,

>

> Craig

> TX NOW Silicone Implant Awareness Task Force

>

> ****** Forwarded Message Follows *******

> >BreastImplantNews <BreastImplantNews@...>

> >Wrom: JEXXIMQZUIVOTQNQEMSFDULHPQQWOYIYZUNNYCGPKYLEJGDGVCJVTLBXFGGMEPYO

> >Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2002 00:58:47 -0600

> >============================================================

> >Wrom: QKEDOTWFAOBUZXUW

> >< >

> >Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 3:59 PM

> >Subject: Gel or Saline, still the same in my book

> >

> >

> >> Doctors told a Food and Drug Administration committee that many women

> >> with silicone gel breast implants suffer from illnesses ranging from

> >> minor flu-like symptoms to a condition resembling Lou Gehrig's

> >> disease. The doctors, speaking Tuesday to an FDA panel considering

> >> the safety of silicone breast implants, reported on a series of

> >> studies that they said show the devices trigger an immune response in

> >> the bodies of many women and that this response can lead to serious

> >> and even fatal disease. Today the panel is expected to hear testimony

> >> from breast implant manufacturers and from doctors who surgically put

> >> the devices into female patients.

> >>

> >> The FDA has placed a moratorium on use of the implants and the panel

> >> of experts is to hear two more days of testimony and then decide if

> >> the implants, now in the bodies of a million American women, pose a

> >> health hazard.

> >>

> >> On Tuesday, a number of physicians said they have treated patients

> >> with leaky breast implants for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,

> >> lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. These are all autoimmune

> >> diseases that may be caused by an overactive immune response

> >> triggered by the breast implants.

> >>

> >> The doctors said most patients experience some form of inflammatory

> >> response to the implants and that fever, fatigue and tender breasts

> >> are common.

> >>

> >> For many of the women, the doctors said, the conditions improved or

> >> went away when the silicone gel implants were removed.

> >>

> >> Dr. Bernard Patten of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston said

> >> that doctors should have expected that some women would react to the

> >> implants, even if there is no gross leakage from the devices.

> >>

> >> " If you introduce a foreign substance into the body, you have to

> >> expect a reaction, " he said. All of the implants leak, said Patten,

> >> noting that " if you put it on a table, it leaves a greasy spot. "

> >>

> >> Silicone, he said, " is definitely not inert. "

> >>

> >> In five years of study of women with breast implants, Patten said he

> >> has seen patients with mental deficits, gangrene of the fingers,

> >> numbness in the hands and feet, and a loss of strength.

> >>

> >> Seven patients, he said, were diagnosed with symptoms of amytrophic

> >> lateral sclerosis, a disorder often called Lou Gehrig's disease and

> >> which always is fatal. Yet, said Patten, three of the MLS patients

> >> improved after their breast implants were removed.

> >>

> >> " This is Lou Gehrig's disease or something that looks like Lou

> >> Gehrig's disease, " he said.

> >>

> >> Patten said some women who experienced ruptured breast implants

> >> developed mental deficits so severe that they couldn't remember the

> >> names of their children. Others developed an overpowering weakness.

> >>

> >> Again, Patten said, most improved or fully recovered after their

> >> implants were removed.

> >>

> >> Dr. B. Vasey of the University of South Florida College of

> >> Medicine said that in a study of 50 women with breast implants he

> >> found an unusually high rate of systemic lupus erythematosus, a

> >> disorder that causes inflammation of lung and heart tissues, skin

> >> rashes and nerve disorders.

> >>

> >> Others suffered from scleroderma, a thickening of the skin about the

> >> face, he said. This is a major symptom of another autoimmune disease

> >> called systemic sclerosis.

> >>

> >> Vasey said he has seen patients whose breast implants were ruptured

> >> by such things as the bite of a 2-year-old, by biopsy needles and in

> >> accidents.

> >>

> >> In the woman bitten by a 2-year-old, said Vasey, the silicone

> >> migrated to the arm, crippling its use. He said the patient, along

> >> with 25 others, all improved after their implants were removed.

> >>

> >> " We no longer feel comfortable that silicone is inert in the human

> >> body, " Vasey said.

>