HIVES & BREAST IMPLANTS

Two years ago, I began experiencing symptoms 2-3 months after I replaced my old saline implants with the new silicone implants. My symptoms include severe hives every night, increased sensitivities (to caffeine and animal dander), frequent urination, occasionally feeling faint (like I could “short circuit”) from walks/ exercise, occasional tingling on my hands, feet and sometimes thighs, and most recently fatigue, intermittent abdominal and low back discomfort. My immune system has also been weaker recently. I have difficulty fighting off sinus infections and yeast infections.

In the last 2 years, I have had 2 physicals, many blood tests, immune system blood tests, A1C blood test, heart tests (echo cardiogram & stress test) and they are all completely normal. I just had my renal and pelvic ultrasound, and I am still waiting for the results from my urologist. The ultrasound technician told me that he did not notice anything abnormal. All my organs seem perfectly healthy. I have been to see several doctors, an allergist, a heart specialist and a urologist, and we still have not been able to figure out what is wrong with me. I also have been on Advair, Nasonex and Allegra for 2 years.

I am now starting to think that all my symptoms are related to the new implants, especially since the symptoms started 2 to 3 months after I got the new silicone implants. Could I be allergic to silicone or platinum or something else? I know my best friend develops hives when she wears jewelry that is not made out of gold, so I am aware of allergic reactions to some metals/ substances. I am strongly considering the option of taking out my implants, but I was wondering if anyone out there had the same experiences I have and if taking out the implants helped at all.

There is very little scientific information out there on reactions from substances contained in silicone implants, so I'm very much in the dark and desperate for a cure..

i developed hives 2 weeks after surgery and at first was terrified it was the implants. however after seeing a dermatologist, they think it is much more likely the antiobiotic I took following the surgery- Keflex - which causes reactions in a lot of people. Also the reaction can happen as late as 2 weeks after you finish the antiobiotic, so you just have to wait for it to work it's way through your system. and fight the symptoms with anti hitamines and such.



Good luck!

I had silicone implants under the muscle implanted a week ago. 2 days later I developed an itchy red, bumpy rash on my right thumb and top of my foot. I discontinued my Ceftin and Vicodin as I wanted to stop the reaction to whatever it was! Reported it to the Dr. Now, after stopping all medications, the rash has spread to my hips, behind my knees, back, and now upper chest! Clothing rubbing on the rash seems to worsen it. I've always been allergic to EVERYTHING and currently get allergy injections. I had a fear that I would have a reaction to the silicone implants, and I hope this is not it!!!!! Dr. appt on wed to remove stitches. I'm not sure if all this worry and anxiety is worth it. I'm thinking I should wait a few more weeks and see if the reaction stops, which would attribute it to the medications....

Here's to hoping!!!!

I got silicone implants about a year ago and a few months later I developed severe hives first on my legs than all over my body. Wherever I had elastic or tight clothing I would get a giant red welt. It was horrible I went through hell trying to figure out the cause. I went to my primary, an allergist a dermatologist and an endocrinologist and had so many blood draws. All they found was that I had extremely high thyroid antibodies but my ana was normal and I did not have abnormal thyroid levels. I was prescribed a cocktail of drugs including prednisone, atarax, a slew of antihistamines and doxepin which is actually an antidepressant but seems to keep the hives at bay. I was told that the hives were caused by pollens in the air, then maybe a virus set off an autoimmune reaction then my hormones were to blame. I have had the hives for about eight months now and they are not going away. I also sometimes wake up with a fat lip or eye (angioedema) I also feel achy like I aged 30 years overnight and most recently I have tender gums. Before the implants I was completely healthy with not so much as a yearly cold. I took my health for granted and it was the worst choice I ever made, nothing was wrong with me. I thought I needed implants because I was underweight an felt like my small chest was unattractive. Now I would give anything to have my pre-implant life back. I am considering explantation but am scared that I will be deformed and I don't know how I can afford it. For anyone considering getting implants I would say please reconsider, it can cost you your health.

If a ***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed leak, the sterile saline solution is absorbed by the body without harm. This is why saline is used in clinical applications such as IV therapy and wound care. Saline implant leakage is also easy to detect as it results in a quick deflation of the implant. Silicone implants leak slowly, because the gel is thicker. This makes leakages much harder to detect, which is particularly harmful because silicone can migrate to other parts of the body if the leakage is not caught in time.

Whew - thank you all for sharing your story.  I've had two sets of implants - the first were to big for me but caused no problems.  The second set was put in last Fall and within a week my entire body flashed bright red, itchy to say the least.  The full body hives seem always to be just beneath the surface - I'm wondering if it is the "brand" of silicone as the first set I had did not cause this response.   A variety of medication seems to keep it from manifesting but I am loathe to have to take meds for this forever so am considering having the implants out.

Was anyone also on the antibiotic Cephalexin?  My hives/rash has occured about a week after getting my saline implants.  Doctor prescribed antibiotic post to prevent any infection.  Pin point rash started a few days later so stopped the antibiotic.  Pinpoint rash went away within a day.  However a few days later developed hive like rash on tops of feet.  Has now been a few days later and the rash is progressing elsewhere on my body- worst still on tops of feet and now ankles.  Found a few threads on the internet of people having this same thing happen after being on Cephalexin.  Sometimes rash didn't occur until a week after stopping anitbiotic.  Some of the people state they've had the hives for over 6 months with nothing helping it.  Just curious if this could a cause??  

Any chance the antibiotic you were on was Cephalexin (Keflex)?  There seem to be many people, who were on it because of reasons other than getting implants, that developed rash and then hives for weeks and months after taking it.

 

Ok, I have to share:

 

IT IS THE IMPLANTS ladies!!!!!!!!

I have had two pairs of implants.  First pair (way back in 1988) were silicone/saline double lumin on top of muscle.  Began encapsulating after 2 years. Kept them anyway for 6 years until they were becoming very deformed, (was living in different state by then so couldn't go back to original surgeon, who was horrible anyway).   

 Second pair in 1994 were saline under muscle.  Began experiencing hives with this pair (only in arm pits) 2 days post-op.  Also began having periodic itching on one spot on my back...  I saw numerous doctors in different specialties trying to find cause, as surgeon said there was "no way" it was related to the implants...  I was also told, like someone else here, that it could be fungal related and was put on strong antifungals to no avail!    Put up with the periodic hives, using cortizone or benadryl.  Hives were worse during warm weather or when over-heated.  After 6 years, implants began to deflate, so I had them removed.  Refused replacement.    Have never broken out or itched on that spot on my back since removal.   That was 11 years ago.  Not an allergy? ha!   

  For obvious reasons, doctors will rarely acknowledge possible problems with their cash cows!  Be it implants, meds, vaccines, etc. and other doctors don't like to discredit their peers!     Those with allergy have two choices:   Put up with them by taking antihistamines until they rupture, which eventually they will (implants are not lifetime devices, as stated in the inserts)  or get them out now.   Best of luck!

 

 

I've had my saline implants since 2002. Other than the absorption of the saline and the rippling underneath, I've had no issues with them. About three weeks ago, so 8 years later, my boobs are itching like crazy.  Not detergent, not the bra, VS worn this type forever, an dhaven't yet gone to dermatologist.. Really think it's the implants after all this time.. Based on this site, it appears it could be the case.  It just seems like its been too long  for a reaction to occur now. What do you think?

URTICARIA AND BREAST IMPLANTS

 

I have had a breast augmentation on the 19th of Jan 12. 3 weeks after the operation, I woke up one morning with a swolen lip (bottom left). I thought mabe I got bitten by a misqueto. I took some allergex and the swelling went down about late afternoon. Next morning, my lip was swollen again, this time on the other side (bottom right). Thought, well maybe it's not a misqueto afterall. Ever since, every day, I experience swelling and itching. Not all at the same time but one day my ears (both of them), next day my knees, then my eyes, then my back and stomach area. This is very weird and I also phoned my plastic surgeon, he said that it is definately not the implants. He suggested that I go to a dermatologist. The dermatologist then confirmed that I have Urticaria. I have read alot about this and have also read all your post. ALOT of women develops Urticaria after Breast surgery and obviously we would all think it caused by the implants..... This is not the case. Do yourself a favour and google Urticaria, you will see that it could develop in anyone after ANY surgery. This is an awefull condition and sometimes very imbarressing, but before you go through all the trouble of having your implants removed, do your homework.  I will promise you that 99% of all doctors wont be wrong about this.

Hi I'm having the same problem but mine have just gotten worse and the itching and burning is constant ..what is the name of the antihistamine

Hi, after my last post, I have not stopped with the research and asking around. Still I am totally confident in saying that it is NOT the implants. I have started using Fexo and the itchy spots stopped immediately. You may use any antihist for Urticaria. Just choose right, because some of them may make you feel tired all day. I have been for all the tests you are able to take to find out what exactly it is,but nothing came to light. Just all possibility's. A very good doctor explained to me today that: Urticaria is like hayfever, you don't have it and then suddenly you get it. It's the same with this. Sometimes it's permanent, sometimes not. If it is severe and you are not able to cope, take a pill once a day. If not, just ignore it. It's as simple as that. I am not posting this for any other reason than the following: I hope all of you will take in and take note of my experience and keep it in mind before you go down the same road I've just gone through. Trust me, it's not worth all the tests and definately not worth removing your long desired new boobies ;). I absolutely LOVE mine!

Back again, I posted here 5 years ago about my hives.  no one could ever tell me why I had them & of course it couldn't be the implants. 

The hives did dissipate and go away after a time.  Well, now they're back.  Just like before, starting slowly on my legs, then moving up, now I woke up with my lip all swollen.  Took my first antihistamine today, left overs from 5 years ago. Guess I'll see if they work in the morning.

Still believe it's the implants.  Last time i found one research paper on testicle implants & out of all subject one go hives, & he had the implant removed.  Hmmm..... maybe it's just our imagination.

I had my implants five years ago, I just moved from one town to another town 2 hrs away within Florida, as soon as I got here I started developing hives, those hives would come in a form of one or a cluster on one leg or two or on my thigh or anyplace on my body and they come on only in the morning then an hr later they disapear... I was on cymbalta and I thought its the medication side effect even though I been on it for two months but Unfortunatly it's been three weeks since I have been off cymbalta and still getting the hives in the morning or a panic attack due to stopping the antidepressant! I don't know what to blame it on The implants or the cymbalta or the new place or the anexiety!!! I need help because every time I see them my anexiety get worse and it increases my depression!!!