PIP Breast Implants Forum

Quote:

Parliament Moderator
• Have you raised these problems with the clinic which provided you with the implants, with your GP or with another NHS body? If so, what sort of response have you received?
• How do you feel about any problems you have experienced and the response, if any, from either the clinic which provided the implants or the NHS?

I have PIP implants, I have experienced pain, burning, pins and needles down my left arm, rippling of the right breast, the clinic is not interested and just sent me a generic letter informing me where I could pay to have an MRI scan which I can't afford. I have also become deficient in vitamin B12 which may or may not be connected but it is interesting that a significant amount of pip women are also suffering from the same thing. After pleading with my GP to help me I was finally referred to my local hospital for an Ultrasound scan which showed rippling in the right breast and nothing in the left. However, since the scan I have now developed a 'double bubble' effect on my left breast which is painful and looks unsightly.

the private clinic harley medical group, just didnt have time or the staff to deal with me or answer my questions, i was repeatedly told not to worry and to be patient, someone would be in touch. i opted to remove and replace by a different company because i did not trust my original choice. i have been extremely ill since i first had them in, symptoms starting with a rash all over, sharp stabbing pains in both breasts, infections, tinitus, migranes, headaches, boils, ear infections and discharge, endometriosis, unexplained allergies, polyps, extreme bowel and menstruation problems, crunching bones, scar tissue on ovaries, hydrasalpynx, lumps needing to be surgically removed, acne, hair loss, insomnia, dry eyes and mouth, dry skin, fibromyalga, extreme fatigue, lack of energy, depression, pain all over, back pain, severe cramps, miscarriage, brittle hair and nails, i have had four operations, several blood tests, several different medications, creams, pills, i have been in and out of hospital hundreds of times. Before i had the pip implants in, i was a fit young healthy 24 year old. im now 28 and i feel 70. i can barely walk up the stairs and have spent the last four years on my sofa in agony with no answers and been told not to worry. i had a nasty gel bleed in both breasts, missed weeks off work and am unsure if i can have children. i had them removed and replaced by a different company that have a wonderful reputation. costing me £3200. my original company offered to remove and replace them for £4,500 with a waiting list until july as i was not a priority. i wish i had never gone with them. ever. i as well as thousands of others, have been treated like nothing on earth. i explained all of the above to the original company and have had no response..... disgusting.
A week before the news of the implants came out, i begged my gp to do a blood test to see if it had something to do with the implants. He laughed.

The only problems I had were a slight ache in my L breast and rippling, plus my implants had become fixed very high in my chest and the usual size bra would no longer fit. I only found out that all these were symptoms of rupture when I joined the tara smith PIP implants facebook group.

Original op in May 2006. I have confirmed rupture in my left breast, i also have a fluid around my right. I have experienced burning, change in size, lumps in lymph nodes, pins and needles and dull aches in my arms.

It just a waiting game now to see if any other symptoms come to light. Ill say it again!! Unfortunatly these implants were allowed to be marketed in the UK.

Yes, pain for years in left abdomen, shoulder & upper back, raised lymphnodes underarm, (all on left hand side) chronic fatigue, unable to think clearly & anxiety. I found out upon explanting that I had a gel bleed in the left & am still suffering symptoms even after explant & not replacing as it is now in my system. My clinic went into administration & then re-opened under virtually the same name in 2010 so they didn't have to deal with this mess. I did contact them but they have shunned all responsibility.

I did not return to my Private Provider as they were not interested in removing my implants unless I paid them. My ruptured implant was discovered by an NHS Breast Specialist who carried out a proper physical examination. My Private Provider (surgeon) did not carry out a proper physical examination and I knew this because I already work in medical profession as a nurse.
I have had problems following removal of my ruptured PIP implants in February 2012. It appears that it is not a straight forward procedure as there are risks of further leakage of the silicone. I had silicone in my lymphnodes prior to removal of these implants however I know have more lymphnodes affected following the explant surgery. I have pain and discomfort daily and I am currently still under the care of the NHS Breast Clinic. I will need surgery to remove these lymphnodes but there are risks to having this surgery especially with regards to the larger nodes that are currently affected. I may experience breast oedema and lymphoedema in my right arm. I am very anxious about this and I have not made a decision yet as to whether or not to go ahead with this surgery. But I am also not happy with having to continue taking painkillers daily to cover the pain that I experience every day.

shocking clinic advise me to gain weight ...doctors arent interested and unwill to check or listen to me.....being treated as a joke from every angle the lack of support is difficult and also now the lack of trust from me towards everyone more stress and the way other clincs are praying on our situation how are we all supose to known what decicion is right so much confliction between doctors clinics ect..

I have PiP's and all my paperwork. I have had an ultrasound by transform's sister clinic which they tell me went well and I am rupture free. However I was uneasy about the results as I have noticed a definite change in the feel, shape and general look of my breasts, especially on one side, I believe they are bleeding gel. Also I have heard reports (backed by photograghs and firsthand reports) of people who were told they were 'ok' and found after op they were not.

I have PIP implants with serial numbers matching the recalled batches. Problems experienced are burning, tingling sensation and spontaneous sharp pains or throbbing. Noticed end 2010.
Private clinic refused to acknowledge any link between symptoms and PIP; no evidence. Also said no evidence to suggest routine removal. If however I wanted my implants removed (PIP word never mentioned) then surgeon would remove under LA only at normal cost. Surgeon felt he had no liability as implants were MHRA approved. Having just started my own business and deeply in debt, I have no chance of funding explantation and would not have it under LA to start with.
My female GP has been supportive but sent me to a breast unit in March 2011. It was embarrassing to be there. Understandably breast oncology surgeons have cancer patients to treat. Said I had nothing to worry about and that my breasts shape were just fine. .?.? not the reason i was there, the PIP matter seemed to be completely ignored or they seemed unaware of it.
As more info was released as well as NHS support offer, I returned to my GP Jan 2012. I was referred to plastic unit and sympathetically treated although I feel uncomfortable having to ask for NHS support. I do not want replacement implant. Surgery was scheduled and twice withdrawn due to bed shortage. The third booking went ahead for bilateral PIP explantation and capsulectomy. Treatment and care was outstanding. Far better than I would have received at my private clinic even if they had agreed to explant. I am supremely grateful.

2years after pip implants I suffered joint pains to knees and elbow anxiety attacks hair loss sensitive eyes weak knees spaced out feeling unbalanced the list is endless found out I had pip as started to Google my symptoms as all blood tests showed negative but knew something was wrong with me and stumbled against pip scandal had them removed and not replaced at own expense as convinced linked to implants and joint pains disappeared within 2 weeks and hair loss recovered unfortunately other symptoms still continuing. My implants had not ruptured but I believe they sweated/bled.

Quote:

Genny71
I did not return to my Private Provider as they were not interested in removing my implants unless I paid them. My ruptured implant was discovered by an NHS Breast Specialist who carried out a proper physical examination. My Private Provider (surgeon) did not carry out a proper physical examination and I knew this because I already work in medical profession as a nurse.
I have had problems following removal of my ruptured PIP implants in February 2012. It appears that it is not a straight forward procedure as there are risks of further leakage of the silicone. I had silicone in my lymphnodes prior to removal of these implants however I know have more lymphnodes affected following the explant surgery. I have pain and discomfort daily and I am currently still under the care of the NHS Breast Clinic. I will need surgery to remove these lymphnodes but there are risks to having this surgery especially with regards to the larger nodes that are currently affected. I may experience breast oedema and lymphoedema in my right arm. I am very anxious about this and I have not made a decision yet as to whether or not to go ahead with this surgery. But I am also not happy with having to continue taking painkillers daily to cover the pain that I experience every day.

I am sorry to hear of your ongoing problems. My PIPs and capsules were removed enbloc on the NHS this month to help prevent any further leakage of silicon during explantation. I was fortunate not to have silicon in lymph nodes. Apart from this awful side effect, I agree the explantation/capsulectomy is not straightforward. My recovery has been slower compared to the original augmentation which was a breeze in comparison. Perhaps frame of mind is a factor.

6 months after having my implants at a private clinic, I woke to find my right implant out of place between my breasts, I pushed back in and called my clinic, whilst waiting for my appointment date I started getting pain in my boob and nipple pain, I can not stand it being touched, my surgeon did a quick examination whilst I was stood in his office, not an examination room... And told me all was normal and ok.

Still getting the pains I went to breast doctor who was only looking for breast lumps, as I had none he discharged me.

My right boob has shooting pains through it, and the outer side of my breast really hurts, I don't let my husband touch it... My nipple is so sore that I have trouble wearing a bra.

I'm now waiting for my MRI on the nhs to give to my private clinic, so they might do replacement op free, as I can't afford to pay. The nhs surgeon confirmed that my right implant is not how it should be through a examination.

1. i first went to my GP as i was having really bad night sweats severe anxiety and a rubbery smell when i sweated on my breasts my GP said they were fine . i was not convinced by this so called my clinic told them and was offerd a scan to reveal my right breast was ruptured which i have at home in a sealed box.
2. iv been severly stressed by this and having to pay £2800 for something that wasnt our fault and having no choice as needed to get this poison out of our bodies.

I've had loads of problems in my breasts since having pip implants, tenderness, sharp shooting pains, numbness, constant tiredness & headaches..

Lots of problems, breast pain, headaches, dizziness, memory loss, muscle fatigue, weight gain, to mention a few. 3 weeks after removal, I wasback to full health.

After the PIP scandal broke on the news i contacted my surgery.
They confirmed via email that i had PIP implants.
I have never incurred pain with the implants as other women have but i knew something was wrong mid 2011 - as i noticed my right breast seemed to be getting larger.
Over the last few months since i noticed this i have suffered hot sweats and tingling/cramps sensations - but prior to the scandal coming out i never put these issues down to the implants - i thought it may be due to weight increase/my job sat at a desk for 12hr and lack of exercise!!
I now have had confirmation of internal & external ruptures and silicone laden nodes in my right axilla.
I do now very much believe my sensations/cramps are due to the implants.
And still getting no help from anyone.
To be told everyone is seeking advice from NHS and at this stage no-one believes any long term issues will arise is nonsense.
We are purely guinea pigs in this. Probably in a few years will the true effects of these implants come out in women.

i raised the issue with my surgeon at the private clinic in march 2011 and told him what i had gone through,having my implants removed and the health problems i was still having to see if he had heard of them rupturing so bad,he said he hadn't, they were safe and its was unfortunate that i was part of the cohort patients that had pip,they came from a reputable company(they did not),and the U S were using them in the 2000's (they were not) then he siad he could not be held responsible just like a faulty car you would not go to the dealership.i was appallled,he was then seen on inside out on bbc 1 saying he new about these implants in 2008,

• Have you raised these problems with the clinic which provided you with the implants, with your GP or with another NHS body? If so, what sort of response have you received?
• How do you feel about any problems you have experienced and the response, if any, from either the clinic which provided the implants or the NHS?

when went to gp, was sent to cancer dr as told implants could not rupture.

after having a biopsy and finding silicone in my lymph nodes, wasnt happy at all when told they could not rupture and had too beg for mri to prove they had. also had to wait another 6 months to have them removed. then needed another operation to remove more lymph nodes full ov silicone. constantly being told not to stress and read info on internet. very unhappy with experience.

I have had problems with enlarged lymph nodes & glands in my right armpit. I first noticed this last February (2011). I saw my GP and was referred to the Linda McCartney Centre in Liverpool. Following an indepth ultrasound & examination from a consultant, she said there were several enlarged nodes & glands, however there appeared to be no silicone leakage from my implants and she thought they were benign. As you can imagine this was quite a stressful time! The lymph nodes continued to be swollen and I was re-examined in February of this year following the confirmation that I had PIP implants. Again it was confirmed that there was no silicone in my lymph nodes/glands. My implants have been removed on 27th March and luckily for me they were both intact with no bleeding. I guess I have been very lucky as there are many women who have not been so lucky. I have noticed that when I am on Facebook on the various groups that have been set up there seems to be a high rate of rupture, nearly every day someone is posting that theirs have ruptured!!!

I had new implants, PIP implants in 2004. I have had swollen lymp nodes under my left armpit for the last 6 years, my GP has put this down to be being run down. About 4 years ago I started to get a small lump in my left breast which has got bigger over time and in the end was quite visible, I since had another smaller one in my left breast and one in my right breast. I had these examined and told it was just scar tissue. Last year I had a ultra sound on the left breast and told it was a lymp node which was encassed in my 2nd implants I had done in 2004, I was told there was nothing to worry about. I was not aware of the pip implant scandal at this stage though it had already hit the headlines.

As I have had ongoing problems with my health in the last few years (fatigue, memory loss, muscular) and recently became aware of the pip implant scare I had my implants removed yesterday. The right one had started to sweat, my left one had leaked and my lympe note was filled with the silicon. So ths substance had been leaking into my body for the last 6 years+.

i have sufferd with a lot of symtoms of fibromyalgia for a long time since having PIPs i even had my four wisdom teeth removed because of a painful jaw joint disorder which i thought was caused by my wisdom teeth !

I now know i have pips because i had to chase the hospital to get my medical notes. A year after i had pips put in i began to experience a wide range of symptoms including; chronic migraines, severe insomnia, very llow immune system, flu all the time, itchy red rashes on my face and chest, anxiety, reduced vision, reduced hearing, loss of smell, hot breasts, swelling breast, shooting pain in arms and breast, burning feeling in breasts, severe shoulder pains and swelling, knee pain, loss of grip, pins + needles in fingers + toes, memory fog, loss of balance, severe depression, raised painful glands under jaw, cysts

I discovered in March that I had the PIP implants after contacting HMG in January. I have had a sore left breast with shooting pains in my breast and armpit for a few years and have been unable to sleep on my left side as it is uncomfortable for years. I went to my GP 4 or 5 years ago as I suspected an issue but was told some implants can go a bit misshapen. I the went to my GP when I discovered I had the PIP and was referred to a beast clinic who after untra sound have discovered my left breat to be ruptured with leakage. I contacted HMG as soon as I knew on 1/05/12 and sent them copy of scan. I am still awaiting an appointment with a surgeon. I have been told I have up to 7 weeks to wait for an appointment then a possible 7 weeks again for surgery. They have said they will remove the implants but I have to pay for the replacements as I had them done end of July 2004 and that the cost will be anything between £1000 and £3000 depending on how long the surgeon takes to put them in. I am waiting with bated breath after all the other comments I see about HMG. I rang them Monday to be told they had an emergency meeting an I should be hearing from them soon with an appointment.

Shortly after my PIP implants were inserted in October 2007, I began to experience a pain like a "stitch" in my upper abdomen on my right side. I did not associate this with my implants at all. The pain was intermittent in the early days, but over a four year period it became constant. I went to see my GP about the pain in summer 2008 & I was informed I had a slight kidney infection. The kidney infection was diagnosed without a urine test. A course of antibiotics was prescribed, but the pain was still present. Several months later I returned to my GP with the pain, & this time I underwent tests for liver & kidney function, but nothing amiss was found. In 2009 I returned to my GP with the pain, which was still present & more persistent. I was sent for an ultrasound scan which revealed "grit" in my gallbladder, & so in March 2010 my gallbladder was removed. After recovery from the operation, the pain was still present. I just learned to live with it.
After my implants were removed in February 2012, the pain in my upper right side has now gone. This seems too coincidental so I think that it may have been cuased by the PIP implants.
Apart from the pain in my upper right side, I have had no other health problems associated with the PIP implants.
All I will say about the implants is then when I had them in, they were always very uncomfortable & very heavy. They were my second implants & I had no trouble at all with the first implants, which I had in place for eleven years. I had them removed due to their age.

HELP!!! I have recently found out I have PIP implants as I was experiencing horrendous pain in my chest, arms, neck and head. I contacted Harley Medical who carried out the procedure for me in 2009, but they were no help what so ever. I was told I have to pay £900 for an MRI scan which I dont have. I am now on the NHS waiting list for my scan which at the earliest will be in July - almost 2 months after I started experiencing the pain. I am in agony taking codeine prescribed from my doctor.

In desperation, I attended my local A & E who were sympathetic but as the procedure was carried out privately could not remove them for me. I was informed that I would have to make an appointment via my G.P to see a plastic surgeon on the NHS.

My health, family and working life are suffering greatly and I can't seem to get any support from anyone. I feel so badly let down by Harley Medical and I feel they should be doing more to help women in my position, they did not inform me I had PIP implants I had to wait until my health started to suffer and inquire myself. I have been told unless they have ruptured they will not be getting removed and replaced even though they are causing me such bad pain and anguish and are now majorly misshaped not to mention the impact it's having on my health. Who can I turn to?? I am terrified that I have to wait until July before I can have an MRI scan and then the results will be passed on to Harley to decide what to do. I have absolutely no faith in this company after the way they have treated me so heaven knows what they will do for me in the future.

Does anybody have any advice for me??

I had started to notice a slight change in the left side with ripppling and lumps forming in cleavage area. That side was also a little tender to the touch. The HMG were not interested in seeing me until I had had my scans and even after the scans still palmed me off with their speech that ruptured patients were priority and I would go on a waiting list to see my original surgeon. I have not been contacted by the clinic or spoken with my surgeon to discuss any of my symptoms or been able to get an appointment to see him. After researching and finding a new surgeon and being examined I was advised that due to thin breast tissue (original surgery not done deep enough) and that I WAS NOT UNDER THE MUSCLE (something I had always believed I had had done in my first op) the new surgeon advised that I should not leave it too long to remove the PIPS as it was very easy to feel them through my skin and was probably advisable to have them removed within the next few months. I booked the op and am now recovering having had replacements done a few days ago!

I had breast implants privately in 2004 at a Transform clinic. I was completely unhappy with the result of the operation, but the 'aftercare' (and I use the term very loosely) I received from them was so awful, I could not contemplate ever entrusting my 'care' to them again.
Unfortunately, I did have PIP implants, and I am convinced that one of them has ruptured, as it is terribly mis-shapen and causes constant pain.

I have followed the PIP debacle in the news since last year and, although I am horrified, I am not completely surprised by the stories of women's health being largely ignored by both the medical profession, and the British government.
I have not yet submitted myself to this apalling treatment; I fully expect to be treated kindly by my GP, but then offered three choices:
1. Ask the private company, who I would not trust to perform surgery on my next door neighbour's cat, to replace the faulty implants (and I don't even like my next door neighbour's cat);
2. Pay around £5000 to have the implants removed and replaced by another provider; or
3. Have the health risk removed, but not replaced, for free on the NHS.

Obviously, option 1 is out of the question; if a mechanic made your car less roadworthy than when you took it in for repair, no-one would think you were unreasonable to never entrust your car repairs to them ever again. I see no reason why a woman's choice of medical care should be any less discerning.
Option 2....well, that isn't really an option at all. I am now divorced with two children and living on a part time income, subsidised by tax credits. £5000 may as well be £5,000,000 for the likelihood of acquiring it any time soon.
Option 3 is the current government 'concession' to my health and well-being. I'm sure I don't need to repeat any of the horror stories of other women's substandard treatment by health care 'professionals', but even without taking the prospect of being treated like some kind of state scrounger into account, is it unreasonable to question the validity of this paltry concession? It is certainly arguable that the effect on a woman's mental health of having her breasts effectively removed poses a risk to her health at least as damaging as the risk posed by the implant itself. If a mastectomy is performed for 'medical' reasons, then the NHS will provide reconstructive surgery. The decision has been taken to create a false distinction between 'medical' and 'cosmetic' for these purposes. ANY reconstructive surgery of this nature is 'cosmetic', however its purpose is to care for the mental wellbeing of the patient. Anyone who has even a moderate understanding of mental health would know the distiction is nothing more than an arbitary one based on economics.

For anyone who does not understand mental health, the very idea of keeping a leaking, painful and probably very dangerous breast implant might seem preposterous, but for those of us who were dysmorphic enough to undergo the surgery in the first place, the prospect of having one's breasts removed, with no hope of reconstruction, is far worse.
Surely someone, somewhere in government, that great institution charged with the care of its citizens can see this. The current government is forever rattling on about people being able to make health care choices. Where are women's choices here?

I got pip breast implants in 2005 at the age of 27 years as i had no breast tissue left after having my two children.I felt like a boy, Had no confidence in my appearance.After I had the implants I started feeling tiered all the time,pains in my muscles,cysts in my ovaries and breast,stomach problems,poor immune system,dark brown discharge from nipple,burning breast, memory loss.
My Gp is lost with all of my symptoms he has done blood tests after blood tests,I have had x rays taken to check my bones,operations to remove cysts, Was sent to a cancer ward for an ultra sound over lump in breast and the discharge.
All this has been going on for years I am now 34 years old and my body feels like an old woman.Only eight months ago I was diagnosed with Fibromyilga.I feel that my implants have played a big part in all my illness.never been the same since.