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As I scrolled through my social media feed, I felt a pang of envy. My friends were sharing joyful moments from their spring break adventures—hiking, beach outings, and family trips to national monuments. Meanwhile, I found myself at home on the couch, surrounded by my kids who were creating chaos and demanding snacks. I lacked the energy to make our spring break anything special, and it was clear that I hadn’t felt like myself for quite a while.
Living with an autoimmune disease, I initially thought I was just experiencing a particularly long flare-up. However, this time, the symptoms were different. Fatigue consumed me, regardless of how much sleep I got or how much coffee I drank. I struggled with overwhelming brain fog that made it difficult to finish sentences or remember what I had just said.
My sensitivity to sensory input heightened. Noise became unbearable, a challenging situation with four kids in the house. I developed severe light sensitivity, often wandering around my home to turn off lights and sometimes even wearing sunglasses indoors for relief. No amount of hydration seemed to help; I constantly felt parched. My hands and arms would tingle, and I often woke up to swollen, stiff joints.
Then, food sensitivities began to emerge. At first, it was just a few items like avocados and strawberries—both healthy choices! Soon, I couldn’t eat popcorn, fish, chocolate (yes, really!), or even enjoy a glass of wine without feeling inflamed afterward.
Some days, I felt as if I was on the brink of death, yet medical tests only revealed a slightly low B12 level. A CT scan indicated minor constipation and a small kidney stone. There were no alarms signaling a medical emergency, so why was I feeling so awful?
I became increasingly apathetic, choosing to go through the motions rather than express genuine emotions. Despite trying various solutions—diet changes, exercise, meditation, therapy, and journaling—nothing seemed to make a difference. With no clear diagnosis, there was no medication prescribed for me.
A conversation with a dental hygienist turned my situation around. While she cleaned my teeth, I shared details about my autoimmune disease and my breast cancer diagnosis from over three years ago. After a mastectomy, I opted for breast implants, which I mentioned were not only uncomfortable but often caused significant shoulder and rib pain.
The hygienist empathized, telling me about a friend who had also battled breast cancer and underwent similar struggles with implants. After years of chronic health issues, her friend had the implants removed and felt immensely better. While I had heard of Breast Implant Illness (BII), I had never known anyone who experienced it firsthand.
One morning, feeling particularly awful, I decided to dig deeper into BII. Within hours of research, I was convinced that my implants were the source of my mysterious health problems. I had gone from being an active, vibrant person to feeling like a rapidly aging zombie.
I rushed into my husband’s office, declaring, “I want my implants removed.” He was taken aback, as we had never discussed this before. However, I shared my findings and for the first time in years, I felt a surge of excitement. I was determined to end my relationship with my implants—immediately.
After reaching out to my plastic surgeon, I received supportive confirmation that if I wanted to proceed with implant removal, we could do so along with the capsules surrounding them. I scheduled the surgery just a few days later, but it was postponed for several months due to rising COVID-19 cases. I felt disheartened, yet my resolve only strengthened as the surgery date approached.
My experience is not unique. Research has shown that thousands of women have had their implants removed and experienced significant health improvements. Many, like me, dealt with mysterious autoimmune symptoms but received no clear diagnosis. While BII lacks formal medical recognition, countless women who have undergone implant removal share similar stories of recovery.
Now, almost six weeks post-surgery, I can confidently say I’ve experienced major health improvements. I have more energy than I’ve had in years. During my recovery, I found it challenging to stay still, feeling awake and alert for the first time in over three years. Symptoms like rib and shoulder pain, constipation, sensory issues, and brain fog have begun to fade.
I feel as if I’m rediscovering my authentic self, and I’m genuinely happier being flat-chested and free of my implants. It feels strange to be without them, but the joy of reclaiming my health is a gift I deeply appreciate. I no longer feel like I’m on the verge of dying or that life lacks purpose. I have hope again, and that’s worth saying goodbye to my breast implants.
For more related insights, check out this piece on home insemination kit, which offers valuable information on personal health journeys. Additionally, you might find resources at Make a Mom for those considering home insemination, and UCSF provides great guidance on fertility and insurance.
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Summary:
Emily Johnson shares her journey from feeling like a “rapidly aging zombie” due to breast implants to rediscovering her health after their removal. Struggling with fatigue, sensory issues, and food sensitivities, she found hope through research and support. After surgery, she experienced significant improvements in her well-being and embraced her new, implant-free life.