After the birth of my daughter in 1982, i had complications from anesthesia and after all was said and done, a month later my previously B+ breasts were just like golf balls hanging 9" lower and swinging. I could throw them over my shoulder. Broken by this, i sought out a plastic surgeon who demonstrated the strength of the Dow Corning implants by stomping on them with her high heeled shoe. Within two months of having my normal breast size back I started having fevers and chills and the tissue around the implants hardened severely. Doctors told me that they could 'squeeze them' to break up the capsulation, but i had heard that it may just create more scar tissue. I lived with them like that until 2005. From 1982 to 2005 I suffered from severe depression, dry mouth and eyes, fingers and toes that turned white, blue and then bright red and blistered and bled. Fatique so severe that referred to it as 'wearing chain-mail pajamas' and my bed was a 'magnet'. Severe weakness in limbs and big time pain in shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles. Cannot feel my toes, so i have broken many of them. Over the years i have been diagnosed with depression, and arthritis, also a 'general autoimmune disease'.
I am a registered claimant in the Dow Corning Class action lawsuit. However, whatever settlement i get will be less the lawyers fees (30%) and will not begin to cover the medical bills I have incurred because of the implants, much less future treatments. I have macular degeneration in both eyes and so cannot take Plavequel (sp) because it speeds up the lose of my sight by three times.

However, My firm faith in God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ has kept me from killing myself. I like to tell people that as a believer, this life is but a drop compared to the endless ocean of eternity.

My heart goes out to everyone on this site who in their pain have chosen to share their stories and offer support and loving kindness that is so necessary in keeping hurting and damaged people from despair.

I especially have enjoyed remarks from EarthPhoenix!

I have done some extensive research concerning breast implant & a probable connection to Autoimmune disorder. There is currently a lawsuit that came about in the 90's against several makers of breast implant. It started with a focus primary on "Silicone Implants" and over the course of lawsuit/time, it also included "Saline Implants". The Breast implant companies were recently found liable & ordered to pay a GREAT DEAL OF MONEY OUT!

I also just recently read (this is not verbatim) any women who still have implants & "REGARDLESS" of MANUFACTURER, if you have been diagnosed with an Autoimmune Disorder and have NOT BEEN EXPLANTED you ENTITLED TO BE COMPENSATED. There is a breakdown of the different autoimmune disorder & depending upon your disorder the payment can be different. A website has been created for women to put in their claim, I do know there is a cutoff period, I think 2017... (don't quote me) but it has actually been extended several times.
I read some of the original women who embarked on the lawsuit journey together had die before the judgement was given. There is also said to be a large amount of unclaimed checks, mostly from the ones who applied afterwards.

I have breast implant & after my own research, I truly do believe there is a connection between my implants & Lupus.

My mother who is a Breast Cancer survivor had silicone implants put in after her Breast Cancer treatment. She kept the silicone implants for a year & explanted 1yr later & then she had saline implants put in.

Afterwards my mother started having s/s of lupus and was later diagnosed. She decided to explanted once again, she became very adamant her implants were the cause of her Lupus.
After a year and not soon after her Lupus went into remission & where it continues to remain.

I hope this helps & if you haven't already heard about the above...just Google. If I find the link I'll be sure to attach for anyone who's possibly interested.

Mine all started after an appendectomy. Never recovered from the surgery. Mixed Connective Tissue Disease diagnosis 13 months later.

In my research over the years, I have not found anything that directly proves cause and effect when it come to breast implants and the development of lupus. That does not mean that a connection does not exist. There is plenty of anecdotal (stories) evidence, but not clinical evidence. Your insurance will not even consider paying unless you can establish a cause and effect relationship.

Overall, the cause of lupus is not fully understood. There are over one hundred different autoantibodies that we lupus people might make. Each of us is different. There are some autoantibodies that are more common than others. Lupus also affects different body parts or organs in each patient. These are some of the reasons that establishing a cause and effect relationship between lupus and implants is, at this time, close to impossible.

All the best,
Linda

I have a question..so having lupus would my insurance pay to have my implants removed?