As my health failed to a serious degree, unknowingly with silicone having migrated deeply within my chest wall and lymph system, it coincided with a hot stretch of summer weather. The temperature neared 40 degrees Celsius. I used to love the heat, but it felt nearly unbearable. I felt that if the temperature increased even one or two degrees that it would have taken me beyond the point my body could cope.
I didn’t know it then, but I had badly ruptured breast implants, with long standing rupture. I had silicone granulomas, infection (bacterial and fungal), acute inflammation, necrotized tissue (I felt the death of the tissue translating to a feeling of impending death in my being), my lungs and digestive tract with silicone and heavy calcification closing in on them, and in fact up to them. I struggled to breathe and my heart rate became rapid, heavy and irregular with the slightest exertion. I felt relentless and unbearable dryness, like I was being mummified from the inside out. I carried a water bottle with me at all times to prevent my airways sticking together. My saliva was so thick I could barely swallow it.
I sought medical help, but I was told there was nothing physically wrong with me. I felt like I was instantly sent spiralling into the Twilight Zone. To say it was a traumatizing experience is a gross understatement. Where I’d felt hope I would finally find out what was wrong and be helped I was instead left to journey closer toward death. The abuse, misdiagnosis and being mislabelled as suffering from psychosomatic illness continued over the next nearly 4 years. I became aware of the vulnerability of so many within the medical system. Aware that for the most vulnerable, failures would result in needless deaths.
I became acutely aware of the fine line between life and death based on circumstantial situations. Between survival and catastrophic disaster. Of the fragility and vulnerability of the young, old, and chronically ill populations; and aware that I was now among them. Aware of the risks of being displaced or homeless as at one point when I was sickest I was myself displaced due to environmental mold. Aware of the risks to those falling through the cracks of a failing medical system.
Where I’d felt strong before, I felt my own perilous vulnerability. I felt overwhelming heartbreak for the vulnerability of all humanity. Globally there are millions of people on the brink of, or succumbing to circumstantial events. For even the strongest an unexpected circumstance can be a tipping point.
I am still traumatized to this day by the experience and if not for women who’d walked this road before me, I would absolutely not be alive now.
Thank you to all working to spread awareness about the dangers of breast implants. While most of the medical community chooses to protect their financial interests, remaining willfully blind; and regulating bodies protect manufactures while making millions of dollars annually through licensing high risk medical devices, YOU are making a difference. You are saving lives. I know many of you have found yourself among a population at risk through the greed, ignorance and even corruption of those profiting from breast implants. Many of you have lost your health, relationships, jobs, homes, and life-savings and have experienced first-hand the message of this blog post.
** In honour of the women who have lost their lives because of breast implants we have created a memorial day on September 25th. This year, 2017, will mark its first observation. **
Breast Implant Failure & Illness 