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What is BII ?

“Breast Implant Illness” is the term frequently used by women whose breast implants have caused a pattern of debilitating symptoms, such as joint pain, “brain fog,” fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms that don’t go away.  Many but not all these health issues seem to be related to autoimmune disorders or connective tissue diseases.  Breast implant illness is not a medical diagnosis and most plastic surgeons reject the term.  However, many women with this pattern of health problems report that they recovered dramatically (sometimes completely) after their breast implants were removed.   

Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness

These are the most common symptoms which have been reported by a wide group of Canadian women who have experienced Breast Implant Illness (shown in alphabetical order)

Anxiety
Apnea
Arm pain/weakness
Autoimmune issues
Back/ shoulder/breast pain
Bad PMS
Blurred vision
Body itch
Brain Fog
Breast burning
Breast pain
Breathing issues
Burning in breast
Burning in lungs when taking a full breath
Chronic bladder infection 
Chronic diahrrea
Chronic fatigue
Chronic inflammation
Chronic migraines
Chronic neck & shoulder pain
chronic pain and inflammation
Chronic sinitus
Cognitive disfunctions (memory loss, loss of word recall, slow to process information, lose train of thought easily)
Constant elevated temperature
constantly burning eyes, sharp vision decline
Constantly clearing of throat
Cysts in vaginal wall, breasts, scalp 
Daily headaches
Decreased vision 
Depression
Diarrhea 
Difficulty breathig
Difficulty recalling simple words
Difficulty swallowing
Digestive Issues
Dizziness 
Dry mouth
Dry, burning eyes
Edema (hands and ankles)
Esophageal spasms 
exhausted all the time
Extreme dry scalp
Extreme eczema 
Extreme fatigue
Fatigue
Feeling of blacking out or passing out
Flu-like symptoms
Fluid Retention
Food sensitivities & allergies
Forgetful 
Hair loss
Hand numbness
Headaches/migraines
Hearing sensitivities, tinnitus, pressure in ears
Heavy feeling in chest
Hormone imbalance 
IBS
Increased anxiety 
Inflammation in finger joints & wrists
Inflammation/fluid retention
Insomnia
Joint pain
Lightheadedness
Low sex drive 
lymph node enlargement
Memory loss
Migraines 
Mood instabilities (irritability, fight or flight, feeling overwhelmed, isolation, depression, quick to anger or frustration)
Muscle and joint pain 
muscle fatigue
Nausea
Neck/Chest pain
Neuropathies (numbness, weakness in hands, feet)
Night sweats 
Night terrors
Numb hands 
Overwhelming debilitating episodes of dizzinesss 
Pain in breasts 
Post exertional malaise
Rash on face and hands 
Red inflamed skin on face
Ringing in ears / hearing loss
Saliva gland swelling (right side under jaw) in reaction to multiple foods
Severe allergies
Shallow breathing
Shortness of breath
Sinus, yeast, bladder & kidney issues
Skin issues
Skin rashes
Skin sensitivity
Sleep apnea
Slow muscle recovery
Sneezing and congestion
Stabbing breast pain 
Stiff joints 
Swollen tender breasts & neck
Systemic swelling
Throat pain 
Thyroid Issues
Tingling in hands & feet
Tiredness 
Toenail fungus
Decreased ability to do physical activity
Trouble swallowing
Vertigo 
Vestibular disfunction (dizziness, eye lag)
Vision issues
Visual sensitivities (flickering or moving lights difficult, dry eyes, double vision, blurry vision)
Weakened Immune System
Weight gain 
Weighted eyelids

Unveiling the Truth About Breast Implant Illness

Lauren Styx
April 9, 2019

In the past 20 years, more and more women with implants are experiencing similar symptoms: skin rashes, joint aches, brain fog, insomnia, vertigo, light and sound sensitivity, and at times, excruciating pain.  

In most instances, their doctors have no answers.

Breast Implant Illness
and Other Breast Implant Dangers

By Kathleen McCoy, BS

January 29, 2018

In breast augmentation surgery, implants are inserted under the skin to provide added fullness and to enhance the shape of the breast. While typically considered a safe procedure with minimal risk, millions of women worldwide have developed symptoms after implantation in the 50 years they have been on the market.

These symptoms have been coined “breast implant illness”.....

The FDA lists these as "Implant Complications" on their website:

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