I’ve always been a proponent of self-improvement. These days, my journey is focused on learning how to heal, optimizing my health, and letting go of my past traumas and insecurities so that I don’t get in my own way of being the woman, wife, friend, healer, family member, boss-lady and mom that I want to be.
However, when I was younger, my self-improvement pursuits were focused on improving my external appearance. I don’t place a lot of stock in astrology, but I have been told that I am a typical Leo, looking into the mirror at every opportunity, and loving my mane of hair. In fact, my hair loss was the primary reason I went into the doctor and insisted on more testing, which is how I learned I had Hashimoto’s!
Before I figured out that my hair loss was due to my thyroid, I spent loads of money on hair care products and beauty salons. I also spent hours at the gym, bought caboodles of makeup, invested in the latest fashion trends, and got Invisalign to straighten my teeth, so I could improve the way I looked.
I’ve always been petite, and was told by rude school boys that I was built like an eight-year-old boy. I love my body now with all of its perfect imperfections and consider it a beautiful work of art, but when I was in my teens, I desperately wanted to look different.
I remember how a boy I liked in the 7th grade started “going out with” one of the pretty girls who had gorgeous dark hair, brown eyes and curves, just as I had mustered the courage to say hello to him.
I remember boys in junior high singing the obnoxious song “Don’t want no flat chested girl”, and I would look at myself in the mirror and feel inadequate with my little chest in a training bra. There were two girls in 7th grade with breasts who got so much attention, while most boys couldn’t remember my name. I concluded that breasts must have been the reason and resolved to wearing two bras to make my chest appear bigger.
I wanted to be taller, tanner, have curly hair, brown eyes and curves. In my first year of high school, I went tanning, dyed my hair, got a perm, experimented with colored contacts, got high heeled shoes, and started buying “weight gainers” in an attempt to become more curvy.
When I was sixteen, I found “breast increasing pills” advertised in the back of a teen magazine. At the time, I was working as a pharmacy technician and asked my pharmacist what she thought. She discouraged me from getting the supplements and warned that the compounds in them could be carcinogenic.
Though I have personally never had breast implants (intuitively, the insertion of anything foreign into my body always felt scary), as a woman growing up in the United States in the MTV era, I could certainly understand the desire for larger breasts. Breasts are part of our feminine identity…
However, if you are someone who is thinking about breast implants or who currently has breast implants, I do want you to know about the risks associated with breast implants and autoimmune disease. In working with clients over the last few years and speaking with thousands of women with Hashimoto’s, I’ve come across several stories of women who felt like their conditions were either triggered or exacerbated by breast implants.
In the following article, we’ll explore:
- The history of breast implants
- Risks associated with breast implants
- Breast implants as a potential trigger for autoimmune disease
- One reader’s incredible story
- Resources for explantation and support
A Brief History of Breast Implants
For at least as long as we have recorded history, women have sought to enhance their breasts. Breasts can symbolize different things to different people — beauty, femininity, motherhood, sexual desirability— and women seek to enlarge their breasts for many reasons. For some, it is the desire to fill out their bathing suit tops; for others, it’s to please a significant other; while some women seek wholeness after a mastectomy or congenital birth defect. Invariably, women get breast implants to feel better about themselves.
Clinical procedures to enhance the breasts first began as early as the late 1890s when doctors injected liquid paraffin into women’s breasts. As will happen when foreign objects are introduced into the body, this procedure led to infections, lumps, and hardening of the tissue surrounding the injection sites. Doctors went on to implant glass, ivory balls, and a host of other materials into breast tissue. Not surprisingly, all of these attempts were met with similar failure.
A few decades later, in the 1920s, doctors began to experiment with transplanting fat from the buttocks and abdomen of women and injecting it into the breasts. However, because the body would quickly reabsorb the fatty tissue, leaving lumpy and uneven breasts behind, this method didn’t result in much success.
During World War II, Japanese prostitutes began having their breasts injected with non-medical grade silicone to entice the American servicemen whom they believed preferred women with larger breasts. This practice soon traveled to America, where it became popular in places like Las Vegas where topless dancers sought larger breasts to enhance their professions. Due to serious complications, such as infections, chronic inflammation, migration of silicone to organs, and an association with cancer, these silicone injections were quickly outlawed in Japan. However, they remained legal in the United States up until the 1970s.
The turning point for breast implants came in the early 1960s when two plastic surgeons developed the first silicone breast implants and contacted the Dow Corning Corporation to develop a prosthetic device that would consist of a Silastic shell, filled with silicone gel that was to be implanted under existing breast tissue. A young mother named Timmie Jean Lindsey became the first woman to received the new implants in 1962, and Dow Corning took them to market two years later with nothing in the way of studies or research to understand the effects they would have on the human body.
The Problem with Silicone
Almost as soon as the new silicone breast implants came on the market, women started experiencing a host of complications. Early effects included infections, inflammation, and capsular contracture, which occurs when a foreign substance is inserted into the body and the body reacts by trying to wall it off by forming a capsule of scar tissue around it. This can painfully constrict the implants, and even result in rupture.
Soon, more women began to come forward with other complications related to their silicone breast implants, including hair loss, fatigue, loss of sight and hearing, and weight loss. Lawsuits began to roll in, with the first settlement against Dow Corning being reached in 1977 from a plaintiff who claimed that her ruptured implants caused unnecessary pain and suffering.
Despite the fact that internal memos proved that the Dow Corning Corporation was aware of a slew of complaints from doctors whose patients were suffering after receiving silicone breast implants, as well as medical experts attesting to the effects of silicone poisoning, silicone implant manufacturers continued to deny the risks of the implants they were selling.
The controversy over whether or not silicone breast implants were safe continued to rage on amongst medical professionals, corporations and government boards, but the general public remained largely unaware of the safety concerns until 1990 when an American journalist, Connie Chung, broke a news story about the dangers of silicone implants. Her interview followed a series of women who had all experienced symptoms of immune disorders that could be traced back to their implants. The story stirred public interest and resulted in a push for more research into the safety of medical devices used for women’s health.
Eventually, in 1992, after a congressional hearing, mounting lawsuits, and research into the safety of silicone breast implants, they were removed from the market, except in the case of reconstructive surgery.
The Problem with Saline
Once silicone implants were outlawed, only saline implants were left as an option for women seeking breast augmentation. Still, the demand was huge, and the number of breast implant surgeries increased by 275 percent between 1992 and 1997.
Saline implants are made with an outer silicone shell that is filled with a saline solution. They hit the market in the 1960s, but were not evaluated for safety until years later. Saline implants were believed to be a safer option to silicone because, if ruptured, only the saline solution would enter the body. However, the same initial complications that women experienced with silicone implants held true for saline as well: infection, inflammation, rupture and capsular contraction.
Despite their supposed safety, doctors began seeing many of the same complications with saline implants as were appearing with silicone. There were reports of fatigue, swollen joints, and viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, along with a host of symptoms of immune deficiency appearing in women who had received the saline implants.
The Controversy Rages On
Research into the problems with both silicone and saline implants continued, but much of it was financed by the very corporations who were manufacturing the devices and conducted by the surgeons who were profiting from them. By the mid 90s, more than twenty studies had been published that failed to find a clear relationship between silicone implants and autoimmune illness.
Meanwhile, the number of lawsuits filed against Dow Corning by women who had suffered debilitating health issues as a result of their breast implants caused the corporation to file for bankruptcy in 1995. Yet, despite the lawsuits, the tide began to turn in the favor of breast implant manufacturers. Several studies failed to find a conclusive link between many of the symptoms women were experiencing and the breast implants themselves. After reviewing the existing literature, in 2006, the FDA concluded that only local complications (infection, inflammation, etc.) created significant problems with silicone breast implants. After a 14 year ban, silicone implants were back on the market for anyone who wanted them.
The sad truth is that many of the studies into the safety of breast implants were tremendously flawed. They were conducted on women who had their implants for less than five years, even though the majority of complications occur between eight and fourteen years of implantation. They were also conducted by people who had much to gain by keeping the implants on the market, and were likely biased. According to the National Organization of Women, women have reported being dropped from these studies when they began to experience illness.
The controversy over the safety of silicone and saline implants is far from over, but one truth remains: thousands of women have suffered after receiving breast augmentation and the evidence cannot be easily ignored.
Risks Associated with Breast Implants
Though the debate around whether breast implants cause systemic disease, and not merely localized symptoms, rages on, research and thousands of patient stories increasingly support the conclusion that both silicone and saline breast implants can have a debilitating effect on the human body.
Silicone Immune Disease
When silicone leaks outside the shell of the implant, Silicone Immune Disease can occur. The silicone itself, as well as the chemicals used in the manufacturing of the process, will all act on various systems of the body, usually over a period of many years, as symptoms mount. Common, yet non-specific, symptoms that many women experience include fatigue, muscle aches, and brain fog, along with diagnoses of arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Studies have suggested that silicone implants are likely to leak within ten years of implantation, causing free silicone to be released into the body. But, it’s not just silicone that is released. There are thirty-seven chemicals listed as used in the manufacturing of silicone implant gel, many of which are neurotoxins or carcinogens. It’s no wonder that after several years of these chemicals leaking into the body, many women experience immune, neurological, and endocrine problems as their bodies become inundated with these toxic substances.
Since it is well known that exposure to toxic chemicals can result in autoimmune disease, it should be no surprise that when the chemicals present in breast implants leak into the body, an autoimmune disease can result.
Saline Implant Disease
Though they share many of the same symptoms, Saline Implant Disease is a distinctly different condition compared to Silicone Immune Disease. While it’s true that saline implants are surrounded by a silicone shell, and bits of this shell can become implanted in the breast tissue, or flake off and enter the lymphatic system, the amount of silicone toxicity that is shown in patients with saline implants is still far lower than those with silicone implants.
The type of illness that usually manifests in women with saline implants is brought on by biotoxicity, rather than chemical toxicity. Mold and fungus have been found to be present in both the saline fluid, as well as on the valve of the implant itself. These biotoxins can breed in the breast tissue, causing severe muscle and nerve pain in the affected side of the body. But, it can also be released into the rest of the body and cause major disruptions to the endocrine, immune, and neurological systems. Symptoms are particularly severe in individuals who are genetically prone to these types of conditions.
Symptoms of biotoxicity include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, hair loss, dry skin, a deficiency in thyroid hormones, low temperature, dizziness, weakness, lowered sex drive, menstrual irregularities, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and leaky gut. Sound familiar?
Breast Implants and Hashimoto’s
As you’ve probably already deduced from the list of symptoms associated with both Silicone Immune Disease and Saline Implant Disease, many of the effects that women with breast implants suffer are strikingly similar to the symptoms that people with Hashimoto’s will experience.
In fact, both the chemical toxicity in silicone implants and the biotoxicity often present in saline implants can trigger an autoimmune reaction in the body that can result in illness, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Those that have a genetic susceptibility to autoimmune diseases will be at particular risk for developing symptoms after being exposed to the toxins present in breast implants.
If you have any type of breast implants in your body, have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, and are still digging for your root cause, there is a very real chance that your implants are to blame for your condition.
I’ve had quite a few clients and readers report this connection over the last few years. One courageous reader, Heather from Texas, wrote up her story, of how breast implants were a trigger of her Hashimoto’s.
Explantation and Detox Protocols
If you’re reading this and are suffering with symptoms of Hashimoto’s or other immune disorders after having breast implant surgery, a light bulb may be going off in your head as well. Finally, a root cause! Your next thoughts will probably be, “now what?”
For most people, explantation (surgical removal) of the breast implants will be required to rid the body of the source of the toxins and begin the healing process. However, not every plastic surgeon is qualified to remove implants in a safe and effective manner. It is important to seek out a surgeon who is skilled in the area of explantation and can remove the often contaminated encapsulation without spreading the toxins further into the body.
Additionally, detox protocols to rid the body of the toxins from silicone or saline implants are likely to be beneficial. The required protocols may vary slightly by patient and circumstance, but often look similar in many ways to the protocols I suggest to my patients who are dealing with Hashimoto’s: dietary changes, including eliminating gluten and dairy, vitamin supplements to address nutrient deficiencies, and supplements to support the body’s detox pathways.
Resources and Support
If you or someone you know are suffering from Hashimoto’s or unexplained symptoms, and you suspect that breast implant illness might be the root cause, please know that there are many resources at your disposal.
The website Healing Breast Implant Illness provides an abundance of information, including symptoms, a list of explant surgeons, and resources for those suffering from the effects of breast implants.
There are also several Facebook groups that can offer support, as well as informational resources, like the Breast Illness and Healing by Nicole Support Group.
For a more in depth study, I recommend picking up a copy of Dr. Susan E. Kolb’s book, The Naked Truth About Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing. Dr. Kolb is not only a survivor of breast implant illness, but she has led the charge on educating the public on the harmful effects of breast implants and has developed leading protocols for implant removal and recovery.
I encourage you, as always, to be your own advocate, educate yourself and make your own informed decision on what is the right path for you to healing. If you are considering breast implants, for whichever reason, do the research and understand your personal risk before making your decision. The truth goes a lot deeper once you dig past the surface information that plastic surgeons provide you with.
If you suspect that your implants may be the root cause of your own autoimmune disease, know that there are many resources out there to help you heal, and, for many, near or complete recovery is possible.
As always, I wish you only the best on your own health journey!
References
- Kolb SE. The Naked Truth About Breast Implants. Savage, MN: Lone Oak Publishing; 2010.
- Leviton, R. Poisoned Breasts. Alternative Medicine. Nov 1998:48-54.
- Krieger L, Shaw WW. The Effect of Increased Consumer Demand on Fees for Aesthetic Surgery: An Economic Analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 1999;104:2312-317.
- Frontline: Breast Implants on Trial: Breast Implant Chronology. PBS. Published in 1995. Updated January 19, 2009. Accessed April 23, 2018.
- Chemical Composition of Breast Implants. Truth About Implants. Published in 2008. Accessed April 23, 2018.
- Nunes E, Silva D, Gründler C, Spengler MDGMT, Horimoto AMC, Machado MA, Frazão IC, et al. Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA) after Silicone Breast Augmentation Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017 Sep 25;5(9):e1487. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001487.
- Colaris MJL, de Boer M1, van der Hulst RR, Cohen Tervaert JW. Two hundreds cases of ASIA syndrome following silicone implants: a comparative study of 30 years and a review of current literature. Immunol Res. 2017 Feb;65(1):120-128. doi: 10.1007/s12026-016-8821-y.
- Prebtani AP, Asa SL, Ezzat S. Is granulomatous thyroiditis a complication of breast implants? Endocr Pathol. 2002;13(3):239-44.
Do you think having a breast lift and using your own body fat would be safe? I don’t expect large breasts just a much need uplift after breastfeeding. It is like nothing is left.
Mary – thank you for reaching out! That’s a great question and unfortunately I don’t have any information to share with you at this time but, I will add this to my list of future article possibilities. I would advise you to discuss this with your clinician.
I could write a book about my experience with breast implants!! From the leakage, cysts, tissue damage, removal of silicone filled lymph nodes and – the cause ultimately of a non skin sparing mastectomy!!! 🙁
My ill health drew me into the world of nutritional therapy but I feel I still struggle every day with poor energy and levels of chronic pain . The latter has had definate improvement since the removal of the latest implants and diffeent protols i tried. Meanwhile a silicone sensitivity test by bio lab with a letter to My Dr’s that I had one of the highest reading they had seen – was ignored – not recognised!! when it came to reconstruction in the beginning I was assured i was like one in a million bad luck and that saline was safe …so I had saline implants. These leaked too and I just didn’t feel right… Mary I am now awaiting my second fat transfer using lipo as a DIEP flap failed. I am seeking the best surgeon to do this as I am rather lacking in confidence trying to find an expert in this field in the U.K. . Id like to see outcomes. Ive written to many surgeons and some I feel dont want to know – maybe its about the money!! I know Dr Khouri is a pioneer of pilo fat transfer in the U.S.A and a few pictures of his work are on real self.
I seem to have missed the boat with Dow Corning settlement papers going to a temporary address and just lacked the drive and will to enable me to act. I feel I exist but not truly living. my life went when i had this “silicone disaster’!! – Coincidentally I emailed Dow’s lawyers just yesterday!! if I dont persue or publisize ,y story widely I will regret it – But The message bounced back.
I am disgusted that silicone has impacted on my life for so many years, I lacked the energy to litigate Dow/ Eurosil refuse to reply and it disgusts me that they are still in business..A low income and no way to fund the surgery that might rebuild two symmetrical breasts I have little choice it seems regarding my choice of surgeons but Mary do look at lipo’ sculpture for breast reconstruction. Dr Della De Cross at The Breast Centre – (maybe Miami) is another Surgeon I looked at along the way
I hope this info help you.
If anyone can help me i’d be grateful too.
Anne – thank you so much for sharing your journey here. My heart goes out to you! <3 I am so sorry you have had to go through this and are continuing to struggle. I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of the healthcare team. You want someone that can guide you, that will also listen to you and your concerns. You want someone that’s open to thinking outside of the box and who understands that you may not fit in with the standard of care. It's a good idea to ask some standard questions when contacting a new doctor for the first time. Something else to consider is you can work with a functional doctor remotely, via Skype. You could also contact your local pharmacist or compounding pharmacy, who may be able to point you to a local doctor who has a natural functional approach. But I encourage you to keep looking for the right one for you! Here are some resources you might find helpful.
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/pages/clinician-database
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/recommended-compounding-pharmacies.html
Thanks for info….it really stinks though, as I had a double mastectomy because of breast cancer when I was 44 in 2011….it wasn’t to have bigger breasts, it was because of Cancer, and I was and am young and just want to look like a girl after cancer….. so frustrating… but thanks for this information!
Renae – you are very welcome. I appreciate you sharing your journey. I am so sorry your had to go through this. <3 I hope you will keep me posted on your progress her.
Thanks for this info…it’s timely in my journey. I had a prophylactic double mastectomy in 2009 followed by reconstructive surgery (silicone implants) and revision surgery (silicone implants) in 2012. I have hashis and two other autoimmune disorders and a host of unexplained symptoms (that I have chalked up to autoimmune disorders). I am not making headway to improve or reverse symptoms despite efforts (eating cleanly, exercising, taking expensive supplements, etc…). In other words, I have evidently not been able to get at my root cause. I have been somewhat aware of breast implant illness but had not done thorough research on it…However, I decided a few weeks ago that the implants are going to come out ASAP because they cause me pain and interfere with my well being. After making my decision, I began to research about illnesses possibly connected to them and came across your article. Now, I am desperate to get them out (due to both the pain/discomfort and knowledge about they system damage they may be doing). I am in the midst of consulting with surgeons and getting insurance preauthorization for the explant surgery. My plastic surgeon (who placed the implants both times) does not take my insurance but said she can do a quick and easy removal in her office with local anesthesia for a reasonable fee (private pay). I am tempted because I’ll be able to get in done soon! The plastic surgeon I consulted with yesterday about removal and a feasible alternative talked me out of an alternative. I was hoping for saline implants placed over the muscle (mistakenly under the impression saline are safer than silicone). While not admitting that either type are “unsafe,” he said the chances for capsular contracture were greater with prepectoral (vs. sub muscular) placement. I have a degree of capsular contracture now (hence the unbearable feeling of constriction). I told him I am plagued by autoimmune disease. He said there are people like me whose bodies react to the foreign material in their bodies (even if there have been no implant ruptures). And, I am too thin for fat transfer. I am contemplating letting him do it but he will only do it under general anesthesia (which hurts the brain!). He did not mention whether he does en bloc removal or complete or partial capsulectomy (and I did not ask because yesterday, I was not as educated as I am today). I suspect my original plastic surgeon offering to do a local has no en bloc or capsulectomy in mind (which I now know is probably not a good idea). I am going to try and get an appointment with my general surgeon who did my mastectomy and who takes my insurance and ask if she will do the explant in the responsible way (en bloc). But am so freaked out at this point that I will have at least a two week wait to get an appointment followed by a wait to get insurance preauthorization followed by a 2-3 week wait to get surgery. I trust she will be able to competently and ethically perform the explant. I would pay a million dollars to get it done right this minute! I am perpetually in pain and paralyzed with fear of these toxins. I am now convinced my unresolving problems are due to the implants. I will ultimately be ok with going flat, as my health is way more important than looks. There are far worse things in life. I just want to feel well!
Linda – thank you so much for sharing your journey with me. I am so sorry your are struggling with all of this. My heart goes out to you. <3 I do hope you will keep me updated on your progress.
Are there any data concerning other implants—artificial knees, hips, spinal discs, etc.—to autoimmune disease? Along with that, are there any data concerning metal filings coming from these implants and autoimmune disease?
Thank you so much for all you do.
Barbara – you are very welcome! That’s a great question and unfortunately I don’t have any information to share with you at this time but, I will add this to my list of future article possibilities. I would love to hear about your experiences on this page. 😉
A commenter asked whether other medical devices are linked with problems. Yes! I understand The Bleeding Edge, an acclaimed documentary on Netflix, reveals the problems with many implanted devices.
Along the same vein, I think there are more women like me who would like to know about potential inflammation/ autoimmune issues connected with popular beauty treatments (Botox, HA fillers, PRP, etc.). I haven’t found much research, just some anecdotal evidence that there can be a higher incidence of side effects (rashes, fever, edema), and the research of side effects didn’t indicate if the patients had any pre-existing conditions. I think because we live in a time when these beauty inhancements are more commonplace, it is worthwhile to address. I hope this is the first of a few articles on the subject. Thank you for your research thus far.
Amy – thank you for reaching out. <3 Botulinum toxins are among the most toxic poisons known to humans, with a lethal dose of approximately 1 ng per kilogram body weight. There are seven serologically distinct types of botulinum toxins. Botulinum toxin A (used in cosmetics treatments) is the most potent serotype, with a toxicity one million-fold higher than cobra toxin and far higher than cyanide. While there is benefit to using botulinum for specific medical purposes (for example, it can be used to address upper lid retraction issues associated with thyroid eye disease), I do not recommend its use for cosmetic purposes. I view botox as a foreign body a toxic one at that that you are putting into your body. Here is an article you may find helpful as well: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/9-medications-toxic-thyroid/
Dr. Izabella, I thank you for using your platform to help bring awareness to breast implant illness. There are hundred of thousands of ladies (myself included) so so very ill without support or resources of any kind. Please continue to bring light & help us fight❣️
Thank you
Christie Craven
Christie – thank you so much for sharing! I am so sorry you are struggling with this. The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are; nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help.
6 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES IN HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-important-nutrient-deficiencies-hashimotos/
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut/
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
Thank you for all your information regarding the breast implants.
I had breast implants in 2009 when I was 30,because I was not happy with my breasts as they almost disappeared when I lost weight.
After 4 years I’ve realise I can not breath properly and got suffocating during the night thinking at that time that I may have asthma.
I did some blood test and discovered that my PTH was 2times over the average.The investigation showed I had parathyroid lumps and the doctor said I need to decide to take out the lupms or the thyroid glands if is necessary.
I did research about this things, discovering that it will be a bit risky as if they can touch my vocal gland I would be without a proper voice or lose it completely or I have to depend all my life for pills Wich they have advers reactions for heart, leaver,kidneys etc.
So I decided to stay like this another 5years until I got very tired,lost a lot of weight,hair,I had teribble pains with my kidneys(no stones there),severe constipation,sometimes diarheea,swollen joints,muscles pains in my legs, palpitations with my heart (sometimes).I stayed weeks at home,couldn’t work anymore.When I did the blood test again my PTH was 3times over average so I read that I can have big health problems or to be malign lumps not benigne in any moment.
In one day I’ve change all my diet and I started to eat only vegetables,as row as possible,or stew,no diary products,no meat,eggs,cheese,ice cream,sweets.In just 3months my PTH decreased a lot,I slept better,I gained a bit weight,just 1.5kg and felt more relaxed,the fatigue disappeared,I had more energy then ever.
The lumps are still there,but smaller then before.
I think they can be from my breast implants or the dentury filling.For sure both it’s the reason,as I started to remove some theeths because I read in a book of a Canadian Dr.”All the diseases can be cured”,that every thooth with problem has a very dangerous warm named “clostrydia”,if I remember well.
So I will do more tests regarding my dissease and I will let you know what I would decide to do…regarding my breast implants also….as I think this is the main issue and for sure I will remove them soon.
Many thanks for keeping me updated with your info about thyroid diseases.
All the best to you and your lovely baby!
Wishing you a lot of health!
God bless you Dr.Izabella!
Xx
Ella – thank you so much for sharing your journey. I think it is amazing you are empowering yourself and taking charge of your health! <3 I do recommend a biological dentist in these situations. Dental issues can be an issue with Hashimoto's, have you seen these articles?
CARRIE'S DENTAL PROCEDURE TRIGGERED HER HASHIMOTO'S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/carries-dental-procedure-triggered-her-hashimotos/
PERIODONTITIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/periodontitis-a-trigger-for-hashimotos
FLUORIDE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/fluoride-and-your-thyroid
The clinician database contains a couple of dentists, they may be able to help you to find one in your area:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Dr. Izabella, I have purchased your book “Root Cause” and I have understood so much about my condition! However, when I went to see a Endocrinologist today, and was diagnosed as Hashimoto subclinical thyroidism, he told me there is nothing I can do to change the fact that I have over 1000 TPO antibodies. I told him about the gluten free, dairy free, and all of the recommendations you have wrote, but he said according to his 25 years of experience, he seen it all, a lot of patient went on these diet but nothing has changed, and denies the results of all the researches that has shown certain dietary intervention has a positive effect on the antibodies. It made me feel like there is no hope, and I will end up being on the pill for the rest of my life.
Please tell me that he is wrong 🙁 I want to get better!
Lily – thank you for reaching out and sharing your story here with me. <3 I understand how frustrating this can all be. My heart goes out to you. <3
I have seen many of my clients find 100% relief from their symptoms by implementing the AIP diet into their lifestyle changes. The symptoms that many find relief of are joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, brain fog, tinnitus, skin rashes as well as decreased food sensitivities. Even for those who do not recover completely, they will experience significant improvement. You have nothing to lose (except for symptoms!) and everything to gain by considering the AIP diet!
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
FOOD PHARMACOLOGY FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-pharmacology-hashimotos/
Hi, In a similar vein to this discussion, I was wondering if anybody had any information relating to the effects of botox on Hashimotos?
Rebecca – thank you for reaching out. Botox is a brand name for the Botulinum toxin. While there is benefit to using botulinum for specific medical purposes, I do not recommend its use for cosmetic purposes. I view botox as a foreign body, a toxic one at that – that you are putting into your body. Here is an article you might find helpful as well. https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/9-medications-toxic-thyroid/
Thank you Dr Izabella. I am currently considering having Botox injections in my jaw to reduce teeth clenching which has led to many of my teeth becoming cracked. This is despite the use of a dental splint for 8 years. I am trying to weigh the relative evils of Botox v’s multiple teeth crowns etc. It would seem neither option is ideal but I would appreciate any advice you or other readers may have.
Does this also apply to fillers? I’m vain and hate to give either up!!
Marianna – thank you for reaching out. Breast implants can be a potential Hashimoto’s trigger. I have seen this happen in a few cases. You would want to think about if your problems started, or worsened after the procedure. They can potentially be seen as a foreign invader and promote autoimmunity. They can also be the host of infections. We risk rejecting any foreign material that is implanted into our bodies. Silicone implants seem to be more commonly implicated.
Here are some articles on the subject: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=breast+implants+AND+autoimmune
Dr. The symptoms of Hashimoto and Saline toxicity are very similar. Is there a test that can be done for saline mold? I have had implants for 18 years and was diagnosed with Hashimoto a year ago. However, my Morher has Hashimoto as well so I’m definitely prone.
Jacqueline – thank you so much for sharing your journey. Three things MUST be present in order for autoimmunity to occur …
1. Genetic predisposition
2. Environmental triggers
3. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
Developing autoimmunity is like a three-legged stool, all of these factors must be present for autoimmunity to occur! When you remove one of these, you can prevent or stop autoimmune disease. While we can’t change genes, if we know the trigger, we can remove it and we can heal the gut. Here are some links which might help:
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
IS HASHIMOTO’S HYPOTHYROIDISM GENETIC?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-genetic
You might find this article helpful as well:
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/breast-implants-root-cause/
Dr. Izabella, thank you for sharing lots of interesting information about the dangers of breast implants. I am lucky as I have never needed to consider getting breast implants but I am concerned about women who take such risks in getting them. If I had a smaller breast I would not consider getting implants because if a man was attracted to you and chose you just for the size of your breast then he is not worth knowing.
Angela – thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Wow, what great information! A real eye opener for me, as I had implants put in over 30 years ago. I was 22 years old and very flat chested and I have to say they did boost my self confidence so much. I didn’t even really go that big, just a size B cup – but it was certainly better than being a no cup, made me feel so much more feminine. I also did not have any issues with encapsulation, pain or infection. Now I’m not sure that was a good thing, because I would have had them removed years ago if I had those kinds of issues. However, I have had energy issues for years, tiredness fatigue, brain fog and memory loss which doesn’t seem to get better no matter what I do or eat and just having recently been on a health retreat was just starting to think it would be a good idea to have them removed soon.
Keryn – thank you for sharing your journey. I am sorry you are struggling with this. Toxins and chemicals are established environmental triggers for developing Hashimoto’s in people who are genetically predisposed. These include iodine intake, bacterial and viral infections, hormonal imbalances, toxins, as well as therapy with certain types of medications and mercury!
Here are some articles which you may find interesting:
LIVER SUPPORT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/support-liver-recover-from-thyroid-disease/
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos/
Hi I am really scared after reading this article. I have saline implants since 1992. Never had an issue. But all my symptoms from Hypothyroid/Hashimotos are same as if it is coming from the breast implants?? Is there a test I can ask my doctor for to figure out if they are causing my issue?
Betty – thank you for reaching out and sharing your story. I understand how troubling this must be. <3 If you have any type of breast implants in your body, have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, and you are still digging for your root cause, there is a very real chance that your implants are to blame for your condition. I’ve had quite a few clients and readers report this connection over the last few years. One courageous reader, Heather from Texas, wrote up her story, of how breast implants were a trigger for her. Here is a link you might find helpful:
Heather's Story
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/breast-implants-root-cause/
I have had breast implants for the past 10 year but every woman in my family on my moms side, dating back to the 1900’s has had or has Hashimoto’s – yet none of them have implants. While I think it make aggravate the disease in some, it is not the root cause in all. My Hashimoto’s just got worse in the last year, about the same age that my moms Hashimotos got worse as well. I’d definitely look into diet and any hormonal changes before you start ripping your implants out – desperation can make people do irrational things and to rip out your implants and still feel awful would suck after paying all that money.
I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction with implants a year an a half ago. I have been experiencing fatigue, heaviness in my forehead and eyelids, my vision is different (like everything is zoom out), shooting muscle pains. All tests are fine but after begging for more comprehensive test I just found out that I have Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies even though my TSH is normal. I am getting closer and closer to prove that my symptoms are related to the implants but I have no idea how to find a plastic surgeon that accepts that BII is real and would do a good job with removal. Please help!
Juliana – thank you for sharing your journey! ❤️ I’m so sorry to hear you have had to go through all of this! There are also several Facebook groups that can offer support, as well as informational resources, like the Breast Illness and Healing by Nicole Support Group. I have another article you might find helpful as well that I will share below.
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/breast-implants-root-cause/