MeganThimmes Breast Implant Illness
Donation protected
In life, we go through seasons...some good and some that we wish we never had to face. The good ones, we love to showcase to the world. Facebook, Instagram, social circles, friends, family...we celebrate our wins, our blessings, and the many challenges we overcome. The lows, however, we often seek to hide in fear of what others might think or say about us. In a world where we all have burdens and struggles, somehow we think we are the only one who has them.
Those of you who know me know the importance I place on living a natural {some may call it “crunchy”} lifestyle, free from toxic ingredients and contaminants. I do all I can to have a body that is a picture of health. This includes what I eat, drink, clean with, bathe with, what I will not allow on or in my body, etc. I truly believe that our bodies are a temple and that God has given us plants as food to consume and use as “natural” medicine, and therefore I strive to live life accordingly. I have not always lived this way. However, despite my efforts to maintain a healthy body in the recent years, during the past year, I have become the very person I described above. The one in the valley. The low season that I try desperately to hide from social media and everyone around me. The sick one.
In December 2017, I began having joint pain in my knees and my hands/fingers. I noticed it the most when I would be doing a lot of getting up and down...usually when playing with the boys, cleaning, exercising, or doing outdoor activities such as hiking. I also developed anxiety that would get increasingly worse with time. Shortly after (right around Christmas), I developed a horrible rash around my mouth. Me being the avid researcher I am, I began trying to figure out what was causing it. Naturally, no pun intended, I sought out non-toxic options to try to rid this rash. It cracked, bled, burned, and itched. NOTHING helped. Within days, I experienced extreme itching and burning all over my body when water (warm or cold) would touch my skin...the most excruciating being on my face. This continued for weeks as I sought to figure out what was going on with my body. Through all of this, I was still breastfeeding our third baby who was born in June 2017. Our breastfeeding journey was difficult, but I was determined to stick it out. I battled round after round of painful blocked milk ducts on a weekly basis. Nevertheless, I chalked it up to hormonal changes, and persevered. Some of you may remember a Facebook post I made back in the spring of this year about a reaction I had to a new mattress we bought. I broke out in hives from head to toe within minutes of the mattress being in our home. In June, I began having sharp shooting pains in my chest, exhaustion, worsened joint pains, and heavy breathing. The rashes around my mouth got to the point where I was embarrassed to be in public and more rashes developed around my eyes. My outward appearance was noticeably different by this time (July-ish), with dark circles and bags under my eyes, as well as red splotches, cracks, and peeling all around my mouth, nose, and eyes. People noticed, and whether they said sometime or not, I could tell what they were thinking. Bruises covered my legs and a bloody nose came frequently. I could no longer put any makeup on my face. Taking a shower was unbearable. Eating came with its own anxiety, knowing the pain and itching that would inevitably come within minutes of finishing a meal. GI issues, stomach pains, back pain, chest pain, joint pain...the list seemed and seems to grow every day.
I questioned, prayed, researched...what could possibly be wrong?? I do everything “right”, but, somehow, nothing I was eating or doing was helping. I was getting worse by the day. This whole time, I had an idea of what could be causing all of this, but I didn’t want to believe it. I had heard of this happening to people, but was this supposed “fake illness” (referred to by most of the medical community) really what I was experiencing?
Flash back to 2014. Many of you know my story; many others don’t. In 2014, my husband and I were divorced. ((Hallelujah- we were remarried in 2015!)) Through emotional highs and lows and a pregnancy early in our first marriage, I was left with a negative self-image. Unfortunately, the world we live in profits off of insecurities in women like me. It displays picture “perfect” women at every store front, in every magazine, and (lets be honest) on every social media news feed. We sit in traffic next to billboards displaying these “enhanced” women and words like “FREE consultation” or “Get the body you’ve always dreamed of” draw us in. Ladies, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Instead of seeing ourselves through the eyes of our Creator, we view ourselves through a distorted lens filled with lies and deception. I could make myself happy again. Right? So, I went and did the one thing that I had control over. I got breast implants, free consultation and all.
I’ve never had issues with my implants. I was happy with them. They gave me back what I thought I was lacking after having a baby and breastfeeding. I was so happy with them, I (now regretfully) recommended many people to the surgeon I had at the time. At the time of the consultation, pre-op appointment, or post-op appointment, I was never advised of potential side effects. I was never given any information regarding previous lawsuits, diseases, cancers, or illnesses that commonly presented in women who elected to have these implants, including specifically those who had my exact brand and type of implant. Nonetheless, I was the proud new owner of Mentor silicone breast implants. What I did not know was that these “safe” implants contain a plethora of neurotoxins, hormone disrupters, heavy metals, or to put it simply- death in silicone. I was told that these implants were SAFE to have if pregnant or nursing, when the truth is that the very own 42 page package insert for my implants (that I was never given nor do patients ever receive or hear about) says that they are, in fact, CONTRAINDICATED in BOTH *pregnancy* and *nursing*. The package insert also states that ruptures are LIKELY to happen and that these ruptures are initially silent and therefore routine MRI’s are advised beginning at 3 years post-op (I’m now almost 5 years & two pregnancies/breastfed babies post-op) and continued every two years thereafter. Furthermore, I was not told that these implants were associated with documented, likely & increased risk of developing lymphadenopathy, granulomas, connective tissue diseases such as RA, fibromyalgia and lupus, brain cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, infertility, neurological diseases, lymphoma, leukemia, or a laundry list of other autoimmune and hypersensitivity issues.
Breast. Implant. Illness. Say it with me. This is not fake. It’s not something women make up. It’s not something to joke about or make a live video criticizing the women who have it. I thought it wasn’t real too. Until it happened to me. I had heard of Facebook groups specifically for these crazy women with the supposed “Breast Implant Illness”. For the 55,000+ women in those groups, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for thinking it was a joke. I’m sorry I was too prideful of the fact that “I was healthy” to recognize the likely potential detrimental health consequences that accompany implants. No one should ever have to go through this.
Many days, I’d rather sleep until I can wake up free from the pain, itching, and burning that consumes my face, head, and other parts of my body. I wish I could eat without fear of the reaction I’m going to have afterword. I long for the day I can get in the shower and actually let water touch my face, instead of having to hold a towel over my face with one hand while I wash my hair with the other. I look forward to the day I’m able to hold my boys again without getting completely winded...or be able to jump up and down without feeling like my knees are going to give out. I pray for the day I’m actually able to kiss my husband on the lips again...because I haven’t been able to do that without horrendous pain in months.
By the grace of God, I was able to meet with a surgeon who is a believer in Breast Implant Illness. Through our exams and discussions, it’s been concluded that I am indeed suffering from silicone toxicity due to capsular contracture and ruptured “leaking” implants. I’ve been told that MANY women begin to have similar issues that I am having along with other illnesses or diseases mentioned above after having babies. My surgeon says I am a “textbook” case of Breast Implant Illness based on my history, timeline of symptom occurrence, and the fact that I carried, delivered, and breastfed two babies back to back. My immune system, having been all but destroyed from these TOXIC death bags on top of providing for two babies through pregnancies and breastfeeding, has crashed. I’m showing markers for multiple connective tissue diseases and autoimmune disorders and am having uncontrollable hypersensitivity reactions daily.
So, what does this mean? First, I have to have surgery. Quickly. The procedure I need to have is a total (en bloc) capsulectomy which means he will remove both the implants and the surrounding scar tissue. It is a rather lengthy and invasive surgery, as my implants are under the muscle and the scar capsule has multiple critical points of attachment. After surgery, the tissue will then be sent to pathology to test for irregular cell growth as well as mold. The Mentor implants I have have been yielding disturbingly highly lymphoma rates which is a concern explant surgeons have with patients like myself who have this brand. He does believe that the silicone has leaked outside of the scar tissue capsule given the severity of my symptoms, so after surgery I will begin a rather intense detox regimen to rid my body of any leftover silicone or other heavy metals. Unfortunately, we have been unable to get this covered by insurance thus far, and I am unable to have the surgery unless the entire cost is paid in full PRIOR to the procedure. The cosmetic surgery industry is a BIG BUSINESS. Because of that, explanting due to Breast Implant Illness is very difficult to get coverage for. The cost of surgery is $7,000.
Throughout this journey, this dark season of life, I’ve come to realize just how much of a prideful person I am. It’s not pretty admitting your faults, but going through the process of the Refiner’s Fire is where true beauty is found. Not only did I take pride in my looks (its amazing how humble a face rash that resembles leprosy will make you) but I also realized just how prideful I am when it comes to having to ask others for help. It’s easy to judge someone’s situation from the outside, but when you are on the other side crying out to God for help, your whole perspective changes. The truth is, a few years ago, we would have had no problem coming up with the $7,000 for surgery. Three kids, multiple heart surgeries for Luke, chiropractic school, and downsizing life to minimize monthly bills later and we truthfully have no way to pay for it. We’ve prayed, day after day, and we keep hearing the same answer. “Ask for help.” But- my pride. “Ask for help.” So, as one of the most difficult, humbling things I’ve ever had to do in my life, I’m asking all of you...my family, friends, school friends, Facebook friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, acquaintances, fellow crunchy/awareness raising mamas, or anyone who is a past Breast Implant Illness survivor ...if you would consider contributing even a small amount to help me get these ridiculous implants out...no words could ever express my gratitude. I’ve set up a GoFundMe with the help of my mom that I will link in the comments and in my bio if you feel led to help. I plan to pay for and schedule surgery immediately upon having the needed funds. If you are not able to support financially, we serve a good Father, who I am fully trusting for complete financial provision and healing of which we would also be incredibly grateful for your joined prayers.
Lastly, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It’s no debate that many women today get breast implants following having had this terrible disease. I’m blessed to not have had this as the underlying reason for my implants. Nonetheless, I, like many others, got breast implants to enhance my physical appearance. I pray that my words have been helpful to someone out there contemplating getting implants. My hope and prayer is that all women will see themselves as beautiful, regardless of size, shape, appearance, or rash-covered face, and that we stop believing the lies that we need to implant toxic garbage bags under our skin to make us beautiful or desirable. Had I known then what I know now, I NEVER...N E V E R would have gotten breast implants.
Please share this message with your loved ones!!! I wish I would have known the truth about breast implants before I made the decision to get them. Knowledge is power! Share this with your friends, moms, daughters, aunts, grandmas, nieces, sisters, wives, girlfriends.
This has been a very long, tiring process. I’ve learned so much, and am a completely open book. If you have any questions about implants, the explant process, or breast implant illness, please reach out! I’d love to help in any way I can! And from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for any help you can give.
Those of you who know me know the importance I place on living a natural {some may call it “crunchy”} lifestyle, free from toxic ingredients and contaminants. I do all I can to have a body that is a picture of health. This includes what I eat, drink, clean with, bathe with, what I will not allow on or in my body, etc. I truly believe that our bodies are a temple and that God has given us plants as food to consume and use as “natural” medicine, and therefore I strive to live life accordingly. I have not always lived this way. However, despite my efforts to maintain a healthy body in the recent years, during the past year, I have become the very person I described above. The one in the valley. The low season that I try desperately to hide from social media and everyone around me. The sick one.
In December 2017, I began having joint pain in my knees and my hands/fingers. I noticed it the most when I would be doing a lot of getting up and down...usually when playing with the boys, cleaning, exercising, or doing outdoor activities such as hiking. I also developed anxiety that would get increasingly worse with time. Shortly after (right around Christmas), I developed a horrible rash around my mouth. Me being the avid researcher I am, I began trying to figure out what was causing it. Naturally, no pun intended, I sought out non-toxic options to try to rid this rash. It cracked, bled, burned, and itched. NOTHING helped. Within days, I experienced extreme itching and burning all over my body when water (warm or cold) would touch my skin...the most excruciating being on my face. This continued for weeks as I sought to figure out what was going on with my body. Through all of this, I was still breastfeeding our third baby who was born in June 2017. Our breastfeeding journey was difficult, but I was determined to stick it out. I battled round after round of painful blocked milk ducts on a weekly basis. Nevertheless, I chalked it up to hormonal changes, and persevered. Some of you may remember a Facebook post I made back in the spring of this year about a reaction I had to a new mattress we bought. I broke out in hives from head to toe within minutes of the mattress being in our home. In June, I began having sharp shooting pains in my chest, exhaustion, worsened joint pains, and heavy breathing. The rashes around my mouth got to the point where I was embarrassed to be in public and more rashes developed around my eyes. My outward appearance was noticeably different by this time (July-ish), with dark circles and bags under my eyes, as well as red splotches, cracks, and peeling all around my mouth, nose, and eyes. People noticed, and whether they said sometime or not, I could tell what they were thinking. Bruises covered my legs and a bloody nose came frequently. I could no longer put any makeup on my face. Taking a shower was unbearable. Eating came with its own anxiety, knowing the pain and itching that would inevitably come within minutes of finishing a meal. GI issues, stomach pains, back pain, chest pain, joint pain...the list seemed and seems to grow every day.
I questioned, prayed, researched...what could possibly be wrong?? I do everything “right”, but, somehow, nothing I was eating or doing was helping. I was getting worse by the day. This whole time, I had an idea of what could be causing all of this, but I didn’t want to believe it. I had heard of this happening to people, but was this supposed “fake illness” (referred to by most of the medical community) really what I was experiencing?
Flash back to 2014. Many of you know my story; many others don’t. In 2014, my husband and I were divorced. ((Hallelujah- we were remarried in 2015!)) Through emotional highs and lows and a pregnancy early in our first marriage, I was left with a negative self-image. Unfortunately, the world we live in profits off of insecurities in women like me. It displays picture “perfect” women at every store front, in every magazine, and (lets be honest) on every social media news feed. We sit in traffic next to billboards displaying these “enhanced” women and words like “FREE consultation” or “Get the body you’ve always dreamed of” draw us in. Ladies, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Instead of seeing ourselves through the eyes of our Creator, we view ourselves through a distorted lens filled with lies and deception. I could make myself happy again. Right? So, I went and did the one thing that I had control over. I got breast implants, free consultation and all.
I’ve never had issues with my implants. I was happy with them. They gave me back what I thought I was lacking after having a baby and breastfeeding. I was so happy with them, I (now regretfully) recommended many people to the surgeon I had at the time. At the time of the consultation, pre-op appointment, or post-op appointment, I was never advised of potential side effects. I was never given any information regarding previous lawsuits, diseases, cancers, or illnesses that commonly presented in women who elected to have these implants, including specifically those who had my exact brand and type of implant. Nonetheless, I was the proud new owner of Mentor silicone breast implants. What I did not know was that these “safe” implants contain a plethora of neurotoxins, hormone disrupters, heavy metals, or to put it simply- death in silicone. I was told that these implants were SAFE to have if pregnant or nursing, when the truth is that the very own 42 page package insert for my implants (that I was never given nor do patients ever receive or hear about) says that they are, in fact, CONTRAINDICATED in BOTH *pregnancy* and *nursing*. The package insert also states that ruptures are LIKELY to happen and that these ruptures are initially silent and therefore routine MRI’s are advised beginning at 3 years post-op (I’m now almost 5 years & two pregnancies/breastfed babies post-op) and continued every two years thereafter. Furthermore, I was not told that these implants were associated with documented, likely & increased risk of developing lymphadenopathy, granulomas, connective tissue diseases such as RA, fibromyalgia and lupus, brain cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, infertility, neurological diseases, lymphoma, leukemia, or a laundry list of other autoimmune and hypersensitivity issues.
Breast. Implant. Illness. Say it with me. This is not fake. It’s not something women make up. It’s not something to joke about or make a live video criticizing the women who have it. I thought it wasn’t real too. Until it happened to me. I had heard of Facebook groups specifically for these crazy women with the supposed “Breast Implant Illness”. For the 55,000+ women in those groups, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for thinking it was a joke. I’m sorry I was too prideful of the fact that “I was healthy” to recognize the likely potential detrimental health consequences that accompany implants. No one should ever have to go through this.
Many days, I’d rather sleep until I can wake up free from the pain, itching, and burning that consumes my face, head, and other parts of my body. I wish I could eat without fear of the reaction I’m going to have afterword. I long for the day I can get in the shower and actually let water touch my face, instead of having to hold a towel over my face with one hand while I wash my hair with the other. I look forward to the day I’m able to hold my boys again without getting completely winded...or be able to jump up and down without feeling like my knees are going to give out. I pray for the day I’m actually able to kiss my husband on the lips again...because I haven’t been able to do that without horrendous pain in months.
By the grace of God, I was able to meet with a surgeon who is a believer in Breast Implant Illness. Through our exams and discussions, it’s been concluded that I am indeed suffering from silicone toxicity due to capsular contracture and ruptured “leaking” implants. I’ve been told that MANY women begin to have similar issues that I am having along with other illnesses or diseases mentioned above after having babies. My surgeon says I am a “textbook” case of Breast Implant Illness based on my history, timeline of symptom occurrence, and the fact that I carried, delivered, and breastfed two babies back to back. My immune system, having been all but destroyed from these TOXIC death bags on top of providing for two babies through pregnancies and breastfeeding, has crashed. I’m showing markers for multiple connective tissue diseases and autoimmune disorders and am having uncontrollable hypersensitivity reactions daily.
So, what does this mean? First, I have to have surgery. Quickly. The procedure I need to have is a total (en bloc) capsulectomy which means he will remove both the implants and the surrounding scar tissue. It is a rather lengthy and invasive surgery, as my implants are under the muscle and the scar capsule has multiple critical points of attachment. After surgery, the tissue will then be sent to pathology to test for irregular cell growth as well as mold. The Mentor implants I have have been yielding disturbingly highly lymphoma rates which is a concern explant surgeons have with patients like myself who have this brand. He does believe that the silicone has leaked outside of the scar tissue capsule given the severity of my symptoms, so after surgery I will begin a rather intense detox regimen to rid my body of any leftover silicone or other heavy metals. Unfortunately, we have been unable to get this covered by insurance thus far, and I am unable to have the surgery unless the entire cost is paid in full PRIOR to the procedure. The cosmetic surgery industry is a BIG BUSINESS. Because of that, explanting due to Breast Implant Illness is very difficult to get coverage for. The cost of surgery is $7,000.
Throughout this journey, this dark season of life, I’ve come to realize just how much of a prideful person I am. It’s not pretty admitting your faults, but going through the process of the Refiner’s Fire is where true beauty is found. Not only did I take pride in my looks (its amazing how humble a face rash that resembles leprosy will make you) but I also realized just how prideful I am when it comes to having to ask others for help. It’s easy to judge someone’s situation from the outside, but when you are on the other side crying out to God for help, your whole perspective changes. The truth is, a few years ago, we would have had no problem coming up with the $7,000 for surgery. Three kids, multiple heart surgeries for Luke, chiropractic school, and downsizing life to minimize monthly bills later and we truthfully have no way to pay for it. We’ve prayed, day after day, and we keep hearing the same answer. “Ask for help.” But- my pride. “Ask for help.” So, as one of the most difficult, humbling things I’ve ever had to do in my life, I’m asking all of you...my family, friends, school friends, Facebook friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, acquaintances, fellow crunchy/awareness raising mamas, or anyone who is a past Breast Implant Illness survivor ...if you would consider contributing even a small amount to help me get these ridiculous implants out...no words could ever express my gratitude. I’ve set up a GoFundMe with the help of my mom that I will link in the comments and in my bio if you feel led to help. I plan to pay for and schedule surgery immediately upon having the needed funds. If you are not able to support financially, we serve a good Father, who I am fully trusting for complete financial provision and healing of which we would also be incredibly grateful for your joined prayers.
Lastly, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It’s no debate that many women today get breast implants following having had this terrible disease. I’m blessed to not have had this as the underlying reason for my implants. Nonetheless, I, like many others, got breast implants to enhance my physical appearance. I pray that my words have been helpful to someone out there contemplating getting implants. My hope and prayer is that all women will see themselves as beautiful, regardless of size, shape, appearance, or rash-covered face, and that we stop believing the lies that we need to implant toxic garbage bags under our skin to make us beautiful or desirable. Had I known then what I know now, I NEVER...N E V E R would have gotten breast implants.
Please share this message with your loved ones!!! I wish I would have known the truth about breast implants before I made the decision to get them. Knowledge is power! Share this with your friends, moms, daughters, aunts, grandmas, nieces, sisters, wives, girlfriends.
This has been a very long, tiring process. I’ve learned so much, and am a completely open book. If you have any questions about implants, the explant process, or breast implant illness, please reach out! I’d love to help in any way I can! And from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for any help you can give.
Organizer
Megan Thimmes
Organizer
Lancaster, OH
