1 Year Post Explant Journey

Happy 1 year explant anniversary to me!

This time last year I was back under a knife after my original Mastectomy in 2016. In case you haven’t checked out my previous post about my BRCA journey and all that has come with it, after making the brave decision to move forward with prophylactically removing my cyst filled “tatas” and my increased risk of breast cancer and family history.

Unfortunately, two years into my mastectomy with reconstruction journey I started experiencing some of the worst moments of my life. I started developing insane symptoms that spiraled out of control faster than I could understand or keep up with. I tried everything from changing my diets, removing certain foods, adding supplements, acupuncture and etc. You name it I tried it and NOTHING was working!

I ended up in tears at my PCP’s office where she then referred me to an RA Specialist. I remember meeting the Rheumatologist and him asking me about my recent surgeries and stating that implants have been linked to causing auto immune issues but has been hard to confirm. That should have been the red flag! However, I shrugged as he sent me for my ANA test that would later lead to my diagnosis of the 3 nasty auto immune diseases I just listed and the medication started.

I was taking up to FOURTEEN pills a day! It got to the point that I legit couldn’t swallow any more pills. As hard as I tried I just couldn’t get the pills to go down, I would choke, I would end up spitting them back up and out.

I knew it was because I should have been taking those pills to begin with! So, that’s when I started taking control of getting to the root of the cause as I was so freaking sick and tired of taking pill after pill! AND… the meds weren’t even helping!!!! My symptoms increased and I started experiencing the following:

The list goes on. It wasn’t until I googled my symptoms in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep and was praying to God for answers. That’s when I came across articles confirming that #1 my implants were actually RECALLED (causing auto immune issues) and #2 that I was dealing with Breast Implant Illness (BII) all along and the professionals that I saw for my issues ever thought….hmmmmm maybe it’s the implants!!!!!

Like WHAT!?

So me being the curious lady that I am the research and non stop answer seeking hunt began. I started educating myself on what BII meant and how to take the next steps with explanting and what my options would be since my implants weren’t a simple boob job but placed there after a mastectomy and I could not accept being flat. Now, some brave women go flat and they look so freaking hot, fierce and bold… but I I personally couldn’t go that route.

So what is BII?

BII is a term used to describe the variety of unexplained symptoms I have listed above along with many more that women experience after breast reconstruction or cosmetic augmentation implant surgery. You can find lots of helpful info at http://breast cancer.org

Why are implants toxic?

Well… implants leak! Gross, I know.

When they leak they release all kinds of toxic substances that flow through your blood and lymph system. That’s because implants are full of heavy metal toxicity. Also, their valve isn’t secured 100% so body fluids, infections, yeast and even mold can grow and as the implants leaks those contaminated contents are also spread throughout the body.

What metals are in these things girl!?

Okay, so I did my research, educated myself and connected with other women experiencing the same and became fully comfortable understanding BII, but now what?

EXPLANT!!!!

After knowing all that embodied BII and what I was living with day in and day out I knew I needed these toxic, recalled and nasty implants OUT! So, I was introduced to my amazing surgeon Dr. Sullivan in NOLA and the began the process. I expressed I needed “foobs” but foreign options were a NO WAY JOSE kinda deal. I ended up explanting with a TDAP and I am soooooo HAPPY!

After 24 hours, that’s right…24 hours, I immediately started noticing a difference. I experienced migraines daily before explant and I went a full 24 hours without a migraine! My face was not as swollen and I no longer felt the needle pain at the bottom of feet whenever I stood up. Complete game changer y’all, just look at the pic below.

Now here I am a year out as I have been detoxing these metals out of my system and what a difference it has made. I am still recovering and healing BUT let me tell you it is a complete 180 turn.

As I reflect on this past year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Yup! I am grateful for this journey because it has helped exposed my greatest strengths, greatest fears that I faced head on and tackled, and the healing that I have been blessed to have.

I am most thankful that my journey allowed me to embrace the hard, scary and painful parts, because through my darkest moments I believed God had a purpose for choosing me. I knew that he has always placed challenges in front of me because he knows that the warrior in me is FIERCE! I knew that if he chose me it was my job to shift my mindset from why me to I GOT THIS! I knew that he chose me to bring awareness by sharing my story. I embraced the fact that I can bring hope and clarity to those that are feeling exactly what I felt for years. The feeling of confusion, being lost, hurt, sad, and defeated, BUT… I am here to tell you that you have to embrace your story and pick up your shield and step into the battle with full confidence knowing that you were chosen to walk this path because you can do it!

Then release the thoughts that keep you feeling that your life is over. Release the negative self talk and the lies that you will never get back to the “old” you. Release settling for what you think is just how your life will be from now on. Release your worries and take up that confidence that God is in control and He will see you through it and you will come out with your own testimony to share with the world!

As I close out I want to share the prayer that my at the time 6 year old sent me and it was exactly what I needed! My kids were why I embraced and released. I made it a point to show her what fighting, advocating and taking no for an answer looks like!

Thanks Gabi for your prayer. I know it kept mommy safe!