Fibromyalgias ABSOLUTELY should NOT get Implants by Maria I have had severe fibromyalgia for about 20 years, starting in my late teenage years. Note that I have always been thin, eat well, have never smoked, take many different vitamins (including a fibro regimen) and exercise daily. The fibro has been confirmed by my Rheumatologist, evinced by positive trigger points and multiple palpable muscle spasms in my shoulders and upper back. Most fibros do not hold up to the stress and trauma of implants and their pain will certainly be much more severe. I had small, poorly shaped breasts and have always wanted nicer ones. Maria, prior to Breast Augmentation I was convinced I would love having implants and that it was the absolute correct thing to do. I decided that even though I have fibromyalgia, I might be o.k. OH, HOW WRONG WE CAN BE. The pain from the operation was BEYOND SICK, repeat - BEYOND SICK - NOT IMAGINABLE. I think I'd rather die than go through anything like that again. Seriously. And, it was that painful for A MONTH. No fooling. A pain so bad that I was shaking. Imagine the pain of having your legs cut off (or something equally as traumatic) with no anesthesia. Pain killers could not touch the pain. My surgeon said I was, "one of his worst recoveries." Don't take the chance that you may be, too. They still hurt at six months post-op. I am sure this is exacerbated by the fibro. Implants also feel very disgusting under the muscle. When you yawn, pull down a window or in many other situations, they are squeezed by the muscle and roll up towards your collarbone or laterally. It is creepy and uncomfortable. I also "feel FAT" because of these and despise this. They are significantly heavy to carry around. They get MAJORLY in your way when you exercise. The surgery will interfere with your nipple sensation and you will probably get stretch marks. Maria, with implants Further, since my BA, my blood pressure has significantly and dangerously increased due to the stress, pain and trauma. I had normal blood pressure pre-op. I was admitted to the ER twice, post-op, for blood pressure issues. I am now on blood pressure medication that is not even working that well. I have only been able to work three days a week since the BA. I still get severe muscle cramps in the immediate breast area and my whole upper body. Also, very strange body chills, not to mention being short of breath and fatigued. I am not well. I am scared. The pain and stress had lead me to sign up with a therapist in order to try to deal with it. We have been working on pain control techniques and mind control techniques. It has helped and this has been a very good thing. Still, every day is a nightmare. My life is gone. I do not want to visit people or do much of anything. I cannot concentrate and I wear out very easily. I now have a Therapist, an Internist and a Cardiologist. I have needed to take an addictive sedative daily, ever since the BA, in order to help me get through the day. I also have a friend who had a BA at about the same time as me. She is now necrotic and also does not like her implants. As I have been worried that I may die from mine and the health issues it has given me, she has said if she died from this right now, she would not care. And, we paid lots of money for this. (!) YES, THIS IS ALTOGETHER TOO REAL. No, this is not a good procedure. Everyone else here and I are people whose lives have been destroyed by this. How I wish I could have my health and my old breasts back. I am explanting in April, six months after my original procedure. I am counting the days. I cross each one off on my calendar. Every day is hideous and I have to fight my blood pressure constantly, not to mention the financial losses. If anything, consider a lift by a top Doctor - no implants. Realize that lifts can have their problems (necrosis and infection), too. However, lifts are safer and less problematic than implants. How we all wish we could turn back the hands of time. If you are considering a BA, I applaud you on being bright enough to look at the many and severe casualties, and brave survivors, before closing your eyes to it and going ahead thinking you will be fine. I thought I would be fine. Be glad you are not in my shoes now. If you are in those shoes already, you certainly are not alone. POST EXPLANT I had been periodically reminding my Doctor's office to think of me if anyone cancelled their surgery and see if they could fit me in any sooner. Eventually, the office called me, in late March, and asked if I had wanted to take the place of someone who had cancelled. Surgery would be in two days. This was wonderful, as I wanted to get them out as soon as possible and it also did not give me much time to get nervous. They were removed on 03/26/03; thank goodness! My surgery was done in a hospital, under general anesthesia, as I have had high blood pressure, and been on blood pressure medication, from the implants. No capsulectomy was done, as they were just six months old and also had little capsule. A lift was not done as I had had one six months prior. They were removed through a one and a half inch crease incision. In the future, I might consider another lift and areola reduction, but first I'm going to give them a few years to heal and see the final outcome. Maria, a few days post explant surgery As many say, "out" is certainly nothing like "in". There was very little pain. In fact, I felt much better the day after my surgery than I had prior to it! There was some nausea & tiredness, but that's to be expected. In general, it was very easy and I am a person with a very low pain tolerance. Since I have fibromyalgia, I feel very greatly relieved of the extra weight on my upper body. It is wonderful. I can bend and move and not feel cumbersome or fat. I can stand up straighter. I believe the health problems they had given me (high blood pressure, constantly upset stomach and increase of autoimmune joint problems) should resolve eventually, now that they are gone. It certainly has been a horrible little journey but with a decent ending. Implants are way too problematic and nothing is worth risking your health as they do. Much love and thanks to a great Doctor and my explant sisters for helping me to find my way back. You will find lots of information, support and love here. We will help you. Welcome! Maria, without implants - Maria - (Please add "From Explantation Story" in the subject line of any e-mails sent to Maria. She would not want to mistake any personal e-mail for "junk mail". )