SILICONE IMMUNE TOXICITY SYNDROME

February 4, 2011 at 9:29 am (Uncategorized)

*here’s an interesting article I got from my support group.  The funny thing is, I have/had ALL those symptoms and have done many of the detox treatments…  I hope this helps others..

It is estimated that since 1962, between one and two million women have had silicone breast implants to enhance their physical appearance. Some 30 years later, hundreds of thousands of women are second-guessing the wisdom of this choice because they are now suffering with a new illness, silicone toxicity and immune dysfunction syndrome. This major health problem arose because of failure at many levels to protect the well being of humans in our world. It is important to understand a little bit about the silicone implant itself, which is covered by a shell or envelope, which is made of silicone in the form of a semi-permeable membrane.

 The big problem here was that it was thought that this membrane would keep the silicone inside the bag. It does not and the silicone leaves the bag and is found outside of the silicone implant. As a matter of fact, it has been found all over the body, not just in the capsules surrounding the implant. The silicone is picked up by scavenger cells (macrophages) of our immune system and carried around the body. Various things happen where the exact mechanisms are unknown, but there is definite immune system dysregulation that occurs leading to a new syndrome. This is an important point.Note:

Until now, researchers have been trying to link this silicone disaster with old diseases of the autoimmune type like scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and Lupus. In fact, they will never be able to link this problem to those diseases because we have the new disease and they are not looking at it in that way. We’ll go on to describe the characteristics of the new disease, but to try and link them to the old disease will get you nowhere. We don’t know why researchers think that this is the direction to follow.

We believe that in addition to the immune system being dysregulated, there is the onset of molecular damage called free radical or oxidant injury that occurs from the silicone being in the body. This causes another set of symptoms that are part of the syndrome.

There are many possible symptoms that the patient experiences.

We will mention only the major ones. They are:

As before stated, these are the major symptoms and there are others. When a patient suffers with the above type symptomatology and also has a history of breast implants, one should do a thorough evaluation looking at the comprehensiveness of an environmental history and physical examination. One should rule out diseases such as Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.

Studies of the immune system includes T-cell silicone immune study, silicone antibodies, complete auto immunity studies, immunoglobulin investigation, immune complex studies, biochemical profiles, fungal and bacteriological studies and skin testing. In addition, more complex studies might include PET, SPECT, beam, and EMG studies of the nervous system, as well as pulmonary function tests, MRIs of the breasts, and comprehensive digestive, and pancreatic studies if so indicated. The therapy for these patients needs to be directed at the flaws that are found in the patient’s biochemistry and immune systems. Just to mention a few of the areas that should be looked into as far as therapy, one would include:

Dietary management

Exercise advice

Intravenous nutritional therapy for detoxification and anti-oxidation

Oral nutritional supplementation

Immunotherapy to chemicals, foods, inhalants, and silicone if necessary

Environmental and chemical controls of the individual’s home and place of business

Varied immune modulation techniques including:

This is a very complicated illness and should only be taken care of by people with the comprehensive background in dealing with toxic environmental materials and their effects on the human organism. With this knowledge, these patients can be helped greatly in achieving a normal life again. It just takes time, patience, and hard work.

The answer to this disease is not the use of drugs for the symptoms that occur. Continue reading for more information on the impact of Silicone Toxicity on system functioning.

Cause

There is slow leakage (“bleeding”) of the silicone gel from the implants through the semi-permeable membrane envelope and also into and through the capsule that surrounds the implants. This is picked up by the microphages (scavenger cells) of our immune system and is broken down inside these cells which travel all over the body. The gel breaks down inside these cells, which travel all over the body. The gel breaks down into Silica and Silicon which causes an immune system dysregulation. Thus, there are antibodies produced against the silicon and also against the silicon and protein complex (organ systems) so that you get autoimmune illness.

As well, there is also damage that is not related to the immune system, because the silicone gel causes oxidants (damaging molecules) to be produced that directly damage our cell walls, DNA, and enzyme systems. All of this adds up to slowly-developing chronic debilitating illness affecting every organ system of the body.

Symptomatology

Peripheral Neuropathy (weakness, tingling, numbness, etc.)

Central Neurotoxic Neuropathy (cognitive difficulties, memory problems, hyperactivity, attention deficits)

Cervical and axillary enlarged or painful lymph nodes

Fibromyalgia (multiple tender areas)

Myositis (painful inflamed muscles)

Fatigue

Night sweats

Hair loss

Abdominal pain
Pulmonary hypersensitivity (shortness of breath, etc.)

Emotional instability

Joint and tendon pain

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

Food and inhalant sensitivities

How Is This Syndrome Evaluated?

 

Physical examination

 

Studies to rule out other conditions such as Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.

 

Various laboratory studies:

Immune studies (Complex)

T-Cell Silicone Immune Study

Fungal or Bacteriological Studies (if indicated)

Biochemical profile

Skin testing (if needed)

Address each organ system damage individually depending on patient’s complaints

Immunological And Non-Immunological Damage

Therapy

 

Exercise: Moderate low-impact (daily)

 

Intravenous nutritional therapy: Detoxification Antioxidant

 

Nutritional supplementation (oral)

 

Immunotherapy Chemicals Foods Silicon Inhalants

 

Envvironmental and chemical controls

 

Immune modulation Transfer factor DHEA Immune stimulants: Thymus, herbals, etc. and Intravenous Gamma Globulin

Diet: Organic, High alkaline, semi-vegetarian, moderately high protein
Damage to the immune system leads to various autoimmune situations. Direct damage from free radical oxidant molecules leads to diffuse organ system damaging effectsBrain: PET, SPECT, BEAM, EMG, etc.

Pulmonary: PFT

Rheumatological: Snyovial Fluid

Breast: MRI, Xeromammography

GI: Digestive studies, pancreatic malfunction

Immunological: Chemical Antibodies

Silicone

Antibodies, T-Lymphocyte

subpopulation, Activated

Lymphocytes, Lymphocyte Immune

Function, Natural

Killer Cells and Activity, Immune

Complexes

Complement Levels, ANA, Autoantibody Analysis (Myelin, Striated Muscle, Thyroid Skin Antibody Collagen Antibody)

Skin Testing (chemicals, foods, etc.)

In-depth history (including details of implant problems)
There are so many possible symptoms that the patient may experience. I shall only mention the major ones here. Almost any symptom can be related to this syndrome, either directly or indirectly;
There are several forms of the chemical in breast implants that can cause a problem in the human organism. Silicon (Si) is the basic element and probably causes immune system changes. Silica or SiO2 (chemical formula) is the form it is mined from the earth. Silicone gel is a synthetic material containing 38% silicon. The silica is 45% silicon.Thymus therapy

Intravenous gamma globulin

DHEA

Peripheral neuropathy

Central neural toxic neuropathy

Cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy

Fibromyalgia

Myocytis

Fatigue

Night sweats

Hair loss

Abdominal pain

Pulmonary hypersensitivity with dyspnea

Emotional instability

Joint and tendon pain

Multiple chemical sensitivities

Food and inhalant sensitivities

Skin problems

Something to keep in mind about saline breast implants is that they too contain silicone. Manufacturers of saline breast implants use silicone in the outside shell of the implant that contains the saline liquid. The silicone shell can break down over time leaving a toxic sludge in the breasts making it very hard for doctors to remove completely. The removal surgery is costly and very painful, and in many cases, not all the silicone can be removed.

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I’m including a link that a woman fought very hard for to have this issue taken seriously because her kids were damaged as products of being born to a mom with implants and doctors were ignoring it:  The kids are so allergic to silicone because of it, they have anaphalatic reactions and end up hospitalized.  This test PROVES that you are having a reaction to silicone, if your doctors are telling you “implants are totally safe”…again, this is just one of the many issues of implants.  Mine was more the microbial illness. 

http://betterlabtestsnow.com/silicone-hypersensitivity-panel.aspx

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I was raised by an amazing mom and dad.  They taught me great morals and work ethics and showered me with love and support always.    When I was 28 I decided to ask my obgyn who I so loved and trusted, what she thought about me getting breast implants.   She said, “sure, why not? many of my patients have them..”  To me that was the green light.  I had friends who had them done so I asked one who had hers done a month prior who she went to.   Well I was making decent money and thought, yea!  I’ll fill out my clothes better.  I worked in the beauty industry and it all seemed right.  I didn’t want to go crazy because i have a small frame, I just wanted to not have to wear a push up bra anymore.  

As  a side note, none of my friends with implants live without one health condition or another.  Sometimes people just have to have the lightbulb go on their own though…  So anyway, when I got the spheal from the ps (plastic surgeon) saying how ‘happy’ I’ll be, I did it, with mom and dad by my side.  Mom’s support and dad’s support but more out of worry because he didn’t really want me to have this surgery.  This is how un-researched I was.  I didn’t think twice about the huge Dow Corning suit in the 90’s because it was about silicone, and I was getting the Saline implants.   

 ALL implants are made of

silicone, just filled with different things.  There are

some 40 “KNOWN ” neuro-toxic chemicals that go

into the manufacture of silicone for implantation.

1)Methyl Ethyl Ketone                                   

2)Cyclobexanone

3)Isopropyl Alcohol

4)Denatured Alcohol

5)Acetone

6)Urethane

7)Poly vinyl Chloride

8)Lacquer Thinner

9)Ethyl Acetate

10)Epoxy Resin

11)Epoxy Hardener

12)Amine

13)Printing Ink

14)Toluene

15)Freon

16)Silica

17)Flux

18)Solder

19)Chlorplatinic Acid

20)Metal Cleaning Acid

21)Formaldehyde

22)Talcum Powder

23)Color Pigmentation (Printers Ink)

24)Oakite

25)Cyanoacyrylates

26)Ethylene Oxide

27)Carob Black

28)Xylene

29)Hexone

30)Benzene

31)Hexanone 2

32)Thixon-OSN-2

33)Rubber

34)Acid Stearic

35)Zinc Oxide

36)Naptha

37)Phenol

38)Methylene Chloride

39)Platinum Salt

 

I feel silly when I read this list and think, how could I be someone who eats right,  exercises, takes great care of myself, but paid to have these toxic chemicals surgically placed over my lungs, ribs and heart, damaging perfectly healthy tissue, nerves, and immune system….then I forgive myself because I was just a victim of the FDA.  I’m not the first, and I won’t be the last…

* Here’s something to think about-cancer cells are mutated cells.  Mutated cells can be  caused by things your body doesn’t recognize,  like toxic chemical build up.  Your body tries to attack the foreign objects the best it can until it is defeated and outnumbered and the cells mutate and multiply.  That’s why Anti Oxidants are so important because they are what neutralizes the oxidation of the cells which can lead to cancer.  I’m not saying cancer is black and white by any means, I’m just saying we can be aware and not feed it per say. 

Here’s one of my favorite websites: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com 
I use it all the time.  Plug in any ingredient (try any from that list I just put up) and it will give you a
number 0-10 on how toxic it is and in what way, cancer causing, neuro toxin, etc. 
After really starting to pay attention, it starts making sense why cancer is so prevalent in society today.  Between what we put in and on our bodies , there’s so many man made chemicals found in everything, we completely forgot what ‘natural’ is. 
And the sad part is, just because it says “natural” on the box, you still have to read the ingredients.  And most of the time, you will find ingredients you either can’t say or have never heard of.   So odd. 

 

Here’s another 2 cents – if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Sure my implants looked pretty good I must admit, but now i had complete numbness on both sides of my breasts.   That wasn’t ok and the feeling never came back.  I specifically had asked him that question before hand and he assured me, all would be good.  not true.  I also asked if I would be able to breast feed one day with them in.   “sure no problem” was his response.  That was an opinion coming from a man who will never nurse a baby thru a toxic breast. 

So there’s an amazing Canadian Dr by the name of Dr. Pierre Blais who is a former member of what would be equalivant to the FDA of Canada.  This was part of his interview with the board of our FDA in 2000.  He is a scientist who has done the longest and deepest study of  the impact of breast implants on the human body worldwide.  He started in the 60s.  He has studied hundreds of cases of ‘failed medical devices’.   Here is an excerpt about breast feeding and implants and how implant patients are looked at as dollar figures.  

  “The issue of the so-called selfishly oriented
recommendation against breast feeding is absolute. It
is a cosmetic issue and also one of risk.
Now, the issue of the offspring is secondary, but it’s
just as important in the ethical sense because we now
have implants that are not secure in terms of
integrity, which are known to be colonized by a broad
range of microorganisms which have access to the
breast, and the breast is fully engorged and
responsible for distribution of milk precursor product
to the implant.

Therefore, the implant constitutes a direct channel
for transmission of an infective vector to the
offspring. This concept is so old that you will find
it in European texts in 1965 Contrary to opinions expressed this morning, the
saline implant is not a 1968 discovery. It’s a 1960
discovery, and to make it even more embarrassing, it’s
a Canadian one at that. It is my brethren who has
foisted this on you. It is older than the gel implant.
It’s been known since the beginning that they
constituted a microbiological hazard that would
preclude absolutely any recommendation for breast
feeding.

Finally, to conserve and try to establish a record of
being timely, the issue of radiography must also be
addressed. It is also transparently obvious these
devices, the very shell is structured and is
radiopaque. As such, the uniqueness of the shell, its
structure and its peculiarities, preclude any form of
meaningful radiodiagnostic oncology aspect. The
implant is not just a confusing factor. It is capable
of generating both false positive and false negatives.
Therefore, there should be an FDA recommendation with
respect to deemphasizing any value of radiographic
assessment for tumors.

Then last of all, I have the issue of cost. How and
why did Canada governments become interested in breast
implants? It had nothing to do with the health of the
user, the offspring, the safety, or the cosmetic
aspects, what we call efficacy. It had to do with
cost.
Some of you know that Canada operates under a medicare
system. In the early days of this debate, which is the
late ’70s, I performed a study on health care cost,
which is easy to do. It’s only a computer issue in
Canada, as we have the record, and a very strong
outcome came.

Anyone implanted consumed four times our health care
resources of a corresponded age adjusted individual. I
haven’t done the study since. I’m scared.

Now, this has enormous implications. If you do a
macroeconomic analysis of this phenomenon, you will
observe that both primary and secondary health care
costs of some states and incidental to
Medicare/Medicaid, which does operate in some states,
you find that it exceeds in some cases the actual
promotion studies, the cost of promoting the
technology.

Now, as a result of this, everyone, whether or not
they have implants, are affected. They are affected in
the sense that third party insurers, HMOs, and
everyone else who is in the health care funding
business is looking at breast implants with much
concern for good reasons, because they attract health
care procedures,and they attract health care costs.
One doesn’t have to be the rocket scientist to figure
this out.”

A man that speaks the truth! 
Maybe if I’d known the truth from the start, nah, well then I wouldn’t be here today inspired to put it out there for others…everything happens for a reason, I’ve always been a firm believer.