BEST DECISION EVER.
It’s been 17 weeks since I had my breast implants removed and EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT.
Truly, everything.
I went from exhausted, in pain, majorly anxious, frustrated and quite frankly disgusted with myself to calm, clear headed, energetic and feeling in charge of my life again.
My surgery (bilateral en bloc total capsulectomy with lift) was successful. My (oh-so-safe) saline implants were covered in silicone that was leaking from the shell of the implant. I’ve learned that this is really common, even in new implants, unfortunately. My left implant was extremely calcified which is believed to be a result of inflammation and the body trying to protect itself.
The recovery from surgery itself was more difficult than I expected. It wasn’t really pain but more discomfort from the drains I needed post-surgery. The other issue was not being able to lift/move my arms while things healed - it’s hard not to do the things you normally would. It was a great opportunity for me to rest and I definitely took it.
Prior to explant, the problems I was struggling with included:
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
Severe joint pain
Severe neck and back pain
Extreme anxiety, panic attacks
Heart palpitations
Choking sensation, difficulty swallowing
Weight loss resistance
Hypothyroid, other lab abnormalities
Rashes on my neck and chest
It’s important to note that these all fall under common symptoms of breast implant illness, or BII.
So, what happened after my explant??
Chronic fatigue GONE
Brain fog GONE
Severe joint pain GONE, back to my normal life!
Severe neck and back pain GONE completely, which is amazing considering I have a spinal fusion from T2 through L2!
Extreme anxiety, panic attacks GONE, changed to mild anxiety in certain situations
Heart palpitations GONE
Choking sensation, difficulty swallowing GONE, along with my “allergies”!
Weight loss resistance GONE, have changed nothing about my nutrition and have lost ~15 lbs.
Hypothyroid, other lab abnormalities GONE, perfect lab work.
Rashes on my neck and chest GONE
The changes I’ve experienced are unreal and I kept waiting to write this blog, wondering if my symptoms would come back. I’m thinking they are gone for good at this point :)
Physically, I feared how I would feel after having implants for 16 years. My doctor, Dr. Michael Dewolfe (Chicago, IL) did an amazing job and I’m so happy with how I look. It’s definitely different but 99% of that difference is positive. I have more range of motion. I can run, lift and play sports so much better. My implants aren’t in the way. I don’t have to worry about what clothes look right on me.
It took me a long time to accept the possibility of having BII - most doctors don’t acknowledge it yet and I didn’t want to believe.
I now 100% know that not only does it exist, but it is extremely debilitating and worsens over time. My hope in sharing this is that it makes another woman think twice about putting implants in her body or helps another woman realize what she may be going through.
If you’ve ever wondered, could it be the implants - know that it definitely could be.
If you or someone you know has breast implants or is considering them, please suggest that they visit www.healingbreastimplantillness.com to learn more about breast implant illness. Learning about it may protect their health💗
If you’d like to know more about my experience or symptoms, feel free to email me at kelli@kkdnutrition.com.