They think their implants are destroying their health and are frustrated that many doctors don’t agree.
By Emily Shugerman
Denise Milisitz has been diagnosed with pneumonia seven times in the
last two years. In between bouts, she suffers from a persistent,
chest-rattling cough that leaves her winded and exhausted. She’s been
hospitalized five times, for at least three days, to get IV antibiotics
that make her veins harder to find each time. At the age of 41, her
doctor has suggested she be tested for cystic fibrosis, a genetic
disease that usually presents itself before age 2.
Milisitz never thought her ailments could be caused by the two saline bags implanted in her chest—until last month.
That’s
when she joined Breast Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole, a
Facebook group for women who believe their various health problems are
caused by their breast implants. The group is one of dozens that women
have flocked to in recent years, complaining of symptoms from depression
to autoimmune illness. They refer to their complaints, which range from
minor nuisances to debilitating diseases, as “Breast Implant Illness.”
Whether
breast implants can actually cause illness is far from certain. The
subject has been studied frequently, though perhaps not thoroughly, and
advocates on both sides point to flaws in the research supporting either
conclusion. Regardless, thousands of women in these groups say they
started feeling sick when their implants were put in, and only stopped
once they were gone.
The Facebook groups act as a virtual support
network for these women, many of whom feel ignored and mistreated by
the medical community. The women validate each others’ complaints, share
suggestions, and reassure themselves that there is life after implants.
Many women post updates from their explants, an increasingly popular
surgery to remove the devices for good.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Daily Beast
No comments:
Post a Comment