Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Healing from Breast Implant Removal to have a new issue with a new medical device.

Now Feb. 8, 2017 - An iliac stent was placed in me on May 18, 2016, I had an adverse reaction immediately upon placement (I was awake and unsedated for this procedure). I was in so much pain and the surgeon dismissed it. (I have HIGH pain tolerance and even my husband told the nurse this is unusual for me to complain). Long story short, MRI should no inflammation and my sedrate test was slightly elevated but not where the doctor thought it should be, allergy testing to metals negative(BUT, my allergist said that could be a false test and stressed 3times to get the stent removed), but that surgeon would not listen to either of us. As I swelled up more and more and started to learn to live in pain AGAIN.....I finally asked for a referral to UAB vascular Department. I was put in with Adam Beck, M.D. head of Vascular Surgery. At my initial appointment he questioned why I was seeing him since my chief complaint  was swelling all over. "you are exactly who I need because I started to swell after this iliac stent was placed". He said , "I am listening".  I explained BII in a few sentences and he could tell I had a lot of knowledge on his topic. He said because my chief complaint was swelling, he was not dismissing my theory but he has to refer me to Endocrinology. If they say it is not my hasimotos then he would consider the ex-plant of the iliac stent, but it is a life threatening surgery, not an easy operation. I didn't think twice, I just knew it had to come out.
Have you ever tried to become a new endocrinology patient??? 3-6 month waiting. So, Doctor Beck used a favor to get me in sooner. After that doctor agreed it was not thyroid. I was booked for the surgery.  
      Dec.1, 2016 was a new beginning for me again! I think sometimes things happen that need to be. After waking from surgery (I do not remember most of this from anesthesia). My husband said the post op room had many medical students coming to my curtain, not because something was wrong with me but because I was educating them all of breast implant illness. I was showing pictures and the videos of Paula Blades, Amanda Gilcrease and I on the news, The Doctor's TV Show and  Animal Planets, Monster's Inside Me, which featured my story this season. The ICU did not have a bed for me for over 11 hrs, so I remained in post op and had a grand audience. (I only wish I could remember) LOL.
    On day 3 of recovering, Dr. Beck came in my hospital room and he stood there with a small smirk on his face. I asked, "what?" and he stated that he could tell the swelling in my face was leaving. I asked him what he saw when he opened me up and he told me he saw exactly what I had described, a hot mess full of red inflamed tissue. My insides showed what I felt, but the MRI and Blood work stated normal. It is very sad to me that many doctor's only rely on blood work or MRI/radiology images ad not listen to their patients. I am so grateful that UAB doctor's have listened to me and witnessed for themselves that a patient knows their body better than any blood work or radiology machine. I am 7 weeks post op and definitely better than I was 2, 3 and 5 months ago.