Pip Rupture into lymph node

Hello ladies,

I had a confirmed PIP rupture in Nov and had removal/replacement with THMG at the beginning of January. The silicone had spread to my lymph nodes, however, the surgeon said that THMG do not remove lymph nodes. Initially I was delighted to be rid of my implants, now I'm back to being down in the dumps thinking I still have a large amount of PIP silicone in a lymph node and I don't know what the long term effects will be.

Has anyone else got experience of this? When I go for a post op I think the surgeon is going to tell me to go to the GP to be referred, however I've heard different accounts, some people being told the NHS won't remove the nodes as it may have future complications or they might clear on their own, and some having them done on the NHS or being referred back to the surgeon! Its all so confusing! I don't want to have a swollen arm for the rest of my life if I have a node out, on the other hand I just want this stuff out of me!

I'm sick to death of constantly worrying, its getting me so down. I feel like everyone judges me for being 'vain' and getting them done in the first place and that I'm a waste of the NHS's resources....sigh. Good to get it off my chest (so to speak!)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

You certainly won't be judged here at all Jodie. 

Welcome to Breast Buddies. 

So from what I'm reading the revision to exchange implants has already been done and it's just your lymph nodes that you're concerned about now?

If I'm right, then in general if you're in good health and the lymph nodes aren't causing you any pain or aren't so swollen they're causing discomfort or are ny threat at all to your good health, then they're best left well alone to naturally absorb into the body. 

How the contents of PIPS might have on the body, I don't know and I think this is something you should speak with your GP about. 

I have an auto-immune disorder and had a rupture 4 years ago with CUIs though, but they bled beyond the capsule and my nodes were huge. The concern however wasn't for the nodes, it was about how my body might react to the silicone as it was absorbed. I do get very ill, very fast. Sometimes seriously ill my life is at threat and I'm under the care of a couple of consultants for my condition. A rheumatoid consultant and a thoracic consultant. The thoracic consultant is the person who made the decision to remove all five nodes that were affected. It was felt they were more harm to me in than out. I've unfortunately had another complication now - CC and  seroma, but there is silicone bleed to a node again and again my thoracic surgeon wants it out, he's happy however for my surgeon to remove this one though this time and I'll be having that out when I have my implants exchanged. 

I don't have a swollen arm, well I did for a long time after the surgery, so bad I couldn't use it for a long while along with some pain but it did eventually go away. 

I'm hoping for the same this time too. 

What your GP will likely do is refer you to a specialist who will take a look at the nodes for you. If you're in good health however I shouldn't imagine you'll have any problems at all. Your GP may not even feel the need for referral if your healthy good. Your lymph nodes are ALWAYS if it's possible best left well alone and it's simply a case of whether your health will be affected if they're left in (which I doubt sweetie) or whether it would be best for you to have them removed. 

Are the lymph nodes troubling you at all in any way?

Hi Cookie,

Thank you so much for your response.

I feel that everyone at home is getting annoyed with how much I talk about my boobs and I don't have anyone else to talk to, someone in a similar position at least! So I really appreciate your reply.

The lymph node is quite swollen, I mean pretty big! I do think its perhaps gone down a bit since my surgery, but not sure if this is just positive thinking. It doesn't cause me any discomfort/no pains in arms ect. It was possible more swollen because of the irritation, however the US confirmed silicone laden lymph node. Were you sick before you found a rupture? Or is it primarily because of the rupture and then the silicone in your body/removal of the lymph nodes? I'm worried that now its in one node it will just continue to migrate into the others and keep causing problems. I just want all the silicone out! I'm generally in good health, no ailments, although now I know the silicone Is there I convince myself I'm getting headaches, sore throats, sharp pains in my arm etc....

My surgeon said that all the silicone was contained within the capsule, although I don't have a great deal of trust in THMG, I felt they were just trying to get me in and out asap.

If the node is that full of silicone is it likely that your body can break it down? Like I say, I've had a google (which is the worst thing you can do!) and don't seem to be able to get a straight answer - just loads of horror stories.....

Thank you again for replying, I appreciate it so much :)

Yes, steer away from Google...it's a baaaad, baaaad thing lol

Your body will naturally absorb the contents of the lymph node Jodie, so if you're in good health I really wouldn't worry. 

The lymph node may not even contain silicone, it may just be a reaction to the rupture - your body's way of shouting out something is wrong. 

You won't know if there's silicone in there unless you have an MRI. 

I was ill when I had the rupture, but as I said, my body attacks itself. For example, if you had an infection, your white blood cells would come out to play and kick ass on that infection. Me...my white blood cells come out and think, what's this virus doing? Ooo it's battering her immune system, that looks like fun - let's join in! Lol. 

Take things a step at a time Jodie. The main thing is those awful implants are out and gone out of your life forever.  That's wonderful news Jodie and I'm really happy for you. 

The next step now is to see your GP. Explain that you've been told there's a large raised lymph node which does contain silicone. 

Do explain you wouldn't be concerned had it not been that the silicone come from a PIP implant. 

Once you get their advise which as I said is either going to be 'it's fine' or 'let's send you for a scan' you can take things from there. But I really woldnt panic Jodie. You're fine. The silicone isn't going to pass from one to another to another to another. It's just the one. That's it Jodie. The source of the silicone bleed has gone and there's no more to cause any further concern. 

Living with PIP must have been an horrendous ordeal. I just can't imagine what you and the other ladies implanted with them must have felt like, but for you...it's over now Jodie. The implants are gone. 

I can see how they can now mess with your head though and it's possible some councelling might help - again, do discuss all the things that are going through your head and they feel you'll benefit from this too. 

I'm sure we have a couple of PIP ladies around still,I don't think any had to deal with lymph nodes? I'm sure they'll tell you if they did, but I don't think from memory anyone ever had them removed. 

There's lots of threads in this section. From out PIP Ladies, so maybe reading some of those too might help you feel better. 

Definitely make that appointment for the docs though. Xx

I think your right about the counselling perhaps, it just feels like its just taken over my whole life! And will def stay away from google, too many horror stories on there.

I need to try and come around to your way of thinking, a bit more of a positive approach - its over and the implants are gone. There was a lot of study done on pips that proved they would not cause harm, I can't spend the rest of my life worrying about 'what if's'. You've helped put my mind at rest a bit so thankyou - I've made an appointment with the GP now!

Sounds like you can get pretty poorly! Have you ever considered just having your implants out? Were they the cause of your health issues or have they just made them worse?

Whats the difference with Ultrasound and MRI then do you know? I'm just wondering how/why the person that did it would tell me there seemed to be silicone in the lymph nodes - maybe there were just assuming....

Thanks again for your helpful advise. I did have a look at some of the posts re pip implants but everything was quite old (2012), Its all gone a bit quite on the pip front now

I'm glad I've helped put your mind at ease...at least a little anyway 

It's not the implants that gave me the illness I have. It's something ive dealt with for over 20 years. I could live my life being unhappy and not having the things I want because they 'might' cause me problems and I'm not just talking about implants, or I can live my life doing exactly as I choose and deal with any problems if they are ever to arise. It's not just implants that make me unwell. It can be something as simple as a cut that gets infected. 

I have thought about having no implants though, not because of my illness, but because I've had my fair share of complications and seeing the concern on my family's faces hurts more than anything. But...right now I'm not ready. They know that and fully understand and as I said, I'm not prepared live in the shadow of an illness being a misery lol. These are definitely my last ones though. When these implants go...so do my boobs lol. Aside from not wanting my family to see me having to go through surgery again. I WILL be ready then. I've had enough myself. I beginning to think implants just don't like me lol. But in the meantime I'm not going to waste my time wondering how long these ones are going to last, I'm just going to enjoy them whilst I can. 

An MRI is a lot more detailed than an ultrasound. An ultrasound can only scratch the surface of what's going on with your lymph nodes/implants if you want to be 100% sure what's going on there then an MRI will be the scan to tell you. 

I have an MRI yearly because of my health, general guidance though is that you have an MRI every 3 years after having your implants placed to check for. 'Silent ruptures'.  This is a rupture that presents no symptoms and the only way to fully know you have a rupture is through an MRI.  Although they can sometimes be detected using an ultrasound they are very often missed, but are detected with an MRI. Xx

I had PIP's, I had them removed and replaced in 2012. Mine were fully intact though. I'm in a group on Facebook specially for PIP's women and the ones that have silicone in their nodes have been told they have to leave them well alone. Worth asking your GP though, as Cookie said x

Thank you ladies - i've made an appointment.

Do you remember/know of any of the pip ladies I could ask?

I'm curious to know if they did leave them and if they did eventually go of their own accord and if they had symptoms.

Thank you

Jodie x

There's not many on here, I only know quite a few through the Facebook group x

Do you know the name of the FB group please?

It's 'OPIC UK Official PIP Campaign" x