Breast implant illness (BII) is a condition that involves chronic inflammation and a long list of symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, headaches, and more. While research is ongoing, it does suggest a link between BII and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. They share similar symptoms and some patients have antibodies for tick-borne diseases. An integrative approach to treatment can address all complexities.
Breast implant illness can be a debilitating condition that affects women who have breast implants. With many medical professionals uninformed about the condition, misdiagnosis and delayed treatment are common. When linked with tick-borne diseases, the symptoms can be exacerbated and the diagnosis and treatment more complex.
This article explores the link between breast implant illness and tick-borne diseases.
What is Breast Implant Illness?
Breast implant illness (BII) is a group of symptoms that can appear in those individuals who have breast implants. It is characterized by the chronic inflammation that appears due to the presence of this foreign material. As a result, the body can produce antibodies against the implants which can put great strain on the immune system.
There are many unknowns when it comes to this condition, but researchers are discovering that there may be a link between BII and tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease.
What is at Risk?
Anyone who has breast implants.
Breast implant illness can happen with any type of breast implant, regardless of the material used in them. This means those with saline, silicone, smooth, textured, teardrop, and round implants are all equally vulnerable to this illness. What’s more, it doesn’t matter if the implant has ruptured or is fully intact – or how many (or how few) years you have had them.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of breast implant illness can vary from one person to the next. And they can mimic many other conditions which makes it very hard for doctors to pinpoint. Many patients may go years without a proper diagnosis.
The most common symptoms include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Joint and muscle pain
- Headaches
- Depression and anxiety
- Breathing problems
- Difficulty with memory and concentration
- Hair loss
- Gastrointestinal issue
- Rashes
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Sleep disturbance
There is no test for criteria for uncovering and diagnosing this condition as it is still being researched for better understanding.
Threats to Breast Implant Illness
When the body is creating antibodies to fight off the perceived threat from the implants, it can be exhausting for the immune system as it is always fighting. The result? As the body becomes run down it becomes more susceptible to germs.
Adding health issues to help with a body that is already ailing can be difficult to handle at the same time— but it happens. Below are a few threats to breast implant illness that may complicate matters.
Tick-Borne Diseases
Tick-borne illnesses are those that are transmitted from a tick to a human. The most well-known is Lyme disease, but there are several others. Researchers tend to believe that there may actually be some sort of connection between these breast implant illnesses and these diseases.
Not only do they have many of the same symptoms, but those with BII also tend to have antibodies to tick-borne diseases. While it claims that ticks could be the culprit in breast implant illness, there is no proof that it does and more research is needed.
Mold
Those who are struggling with breast implant illness have a compromised immune system which can leave them vulnerable to outside threats. In other words, if you come in contact with certain types of mold you will be more susceptible to fall victim to its dangerous effects.
Surgical Procedures
Anytime you have a surgical procedure you are inflicting trauma onto the body, in a sense, and this leads to greater complexities. Moreover, the emotional stress that you carry due to having surgery or even knowing you need surgery can weaken the immune system.
All of this needs to be taken into consideration since many patients elect to have a mastectomy when dealing with BII.
Psychological and Emotional Stress
It is easy for providers to overlook the psychological and emotional stress that comes with not only having breast implant illness but also any additional issues that add to its complexity. This can be powerful enough to impact overall health and immune function.
Without addressing this stress, it can be difficult to fully and effectively treat this condition.
How to Treat Breast Implant Illness With Complexities
The best key to treating breast implant illness is to find ways to effectively manage it. It is important to note that there is no specific cure for the condition. Some patients have chosen to have their implants removed entirely. However, this does not always improve or resolve the symptoms.
And when other illnesses are also present, whether from Lyme disease, mold, or stress, it can complicate the situation. This is especially true since these conditions each come with their own difficult road to diagnosis. So, when they appear simultaneously, it can complicate things.
To treat breast implant illness with complexities, you need a team that takes an integrative approach to address all of the issues you are facing. This is necessary, after all, as simply focusing on breast implant illness without addressing Lyme disease will not fully improve your overall health. You will still be left with the symptoms and signs of the tick-borne illness.
Remember, breast implant illness can encompass both physical and emotional factors that can impact overall wellness and immune function.
Seek Treatment at Lyme Mexico
Don’t waste another minute trying to get answers about all of your symptoms from just any doctor. At Lyme Mexico, Dr. Morales and his team will work to get to the root cause of your illness using an integrative approach in order to manage your symptoms better. Travel outside the country, such as outside the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, and find alternate treatments that will give you the relief you have been hoping for.
Schedule a consultation and become a patient today!
Conclusion
While more research needs to be done, breast implant illness is a condition that may be linked to tick-borne diseases. And this is made even more complex due to a patient’s physical and emotional stress. An integrative approach is the best way to manage the symptoms of BII.
Check This Out!
Whether it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month or the entire year, it’s always a time to honor the strength of those battling breast cancer. But for some survivors, the journey doesn’t end with mastectomy or reconstruction. Breast Implant Illness (BII) can trigger chronic inflammation, compromising the immune system and leaving it vulnerable to other threats like tick-borne diseases or mold exposure. Let’s raise awareness about the intersection of breast health and immune health—because true healing is about addressing the whole person.
Learn more from Dr.Morales below.