July,1996

Dear Silicone Survivors and Friends:

I am often asked where I get the energy to do what I do. I think that it is from focusing my anger (that I hold toward the manufacturers and the doctors who have so badly mistreated the women) into action to help those who have been victimized. I do become very fatigued (I spent a whole day in bed in a hotel in Paris in April) and I do get massive fibromyalgia attacks, but I don't get the mental confusion and concentration problems (to the severe extent) that I used to have. I do react to the heat and the sun (lupus) and I do have quite a suppression of my immune system. I am considering new ways to treat this because, where it used to be both suppressed and elevated, now it is just suppressed. I am reluctant to change anything since it has been my vitamins, food supplements, my attitude, and my diet that have helped me get this far. I am always looking for holistic ways to heal as it was the medical profession that caused me to be ill.

UPCOMING EVENTS: There will be a two day Tutorial on Medical Aspects of Silicone Breast Implants in Memphis, TN, on August 23-24. Continuing credit will be available for physicians. This conference will be held at the Peabody Hotel, 149 Union Street, in Memphis. Speakers are: Drs. Douglas Shanklin, Pierre Blais, David Smalley, Britta Ostermeyer, Stuart Silverman, and James Sanger and panel moderators include Drs. Frank Ling and Robert Wallace. Registrations for doctors should be mailed to the University of TN, Office of Continuing Medical Education, 956 Court Avenue, Room A101, Memphis, TN 38103. $175 for physicians, $100 for other health care professionals. MC, Visa, Discover accepted. We do not have the cost (which we understand is minimal) for women to attend. We hope to have this soon. Doctors may call (901) 448-5547 for registration information. Hotel rooms at the Peabody are $102 plus tax and must be booked by July 22nd.

There will be a conference in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, September 21st. Scheduled confirmed speakers include Dr. Britta Ostermeyer; Dr. Saul Puszkin; Dr. Andrew Campbell; Dr. Linda Huang; Mike Hugo, Esq.; Janice Ferriell, NBITF; and Lynda Roth, COSS. This conference is presented by United Silicone Survivors of MO. This conference will be held at the Stouffer's Renaissance Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Rd., near the airport (314) 429-1100. Cost for the hotel is $79.00 double, $89 for 4 persons. For 5% off your airline costs and to book your room with one free call, contact Judie (travel agency) at (800) 726-2215. Contact Kathy-Keithley Johnson @ (573) 445-0861 for more information on this conference.

CANADA: Conference in Toronto, Sutton Hotel, October 25-27. An additional speaker, Dr. David Klein, has been added since last month's newsletter. Contact Joyce Attis for information @ (416) 636-6618. More later.

Conferences are being planned for Tacoma, WA and Boston, MA (hopefully) for late September and/or early October. We will have more information on these soon.

CANADA: There will be a conference in Vancouver, BC in May of 1997. We will have more information about this as it comes closer to the conference date.

LEGAL INFORMATION: According to the message at the Claims Office, status letters and checks for advance payments have been mailed to a large number of women who have remained as members of the revised settlements. My understanding is that the women with the lowest grid category have been the first ones to receive these payments. I have yet to hear from anyone who has actually received a status letter or a payment, so I wonder?!

The question has been asked, what if I receive the advance payment and the explantation fee and I am planning to opt-out? Then, hopefully, you have an attorney who is going to take your case all the way to court if necessary and he/she will advise you to return the moneys to the claims office. Be sure that your attorney is behind you 100%. If you do not have an attorney, I would think seriously about this before returning the funds or opting-out. For myself, I would never put myself in the position of getting out of one situation without having the other side covered.

MENTOR: There is a rumor that Judge Pointer may revisit the Mentor Settlement to make sure that it is fair and that the manufacturers did not pull a fast one on the MDL Settlement Committee (which we all think happened!). Whether or not this happens, Mentor claimants will be the last ones to receive any moneys from any current class action settlement.

DOW CORNING: Negotiations are still continuing with Dow Corning and the committee of 9 to try to reach a settlement so that Dow Corning can rescind the bankruptcy and the women receive a settlement. Whether or not this will be as much as the big three settlement remains to be seen. At this point, many Dow Corning women would like to see something happening or have a report of just what is going on. They feel that they are being left in the dark and they are, after all, the victims. We need information on the negotiations.

CUI: For now, remain in MDL-926 and wait for further information. Be sure you are registered for the Dow Corning Bankruptcy.

As many of you may have heard, the Supreme Court of New York State upheld the Appeals Court and threw out all 1200 of the cases against Dow Chemical in NY State. As you probably can guess, Dow Chemical is crowing about this one. We need to keep the pressure on them by boycotting, demonstrating, and by letting others know about their part in the breast implant debacle.

There is a new twist on an old group idea. Women who opt-out are being encouraged to join a new group. This is being organized by an attorney. My concern is that this is a ploy to get a lot of clients and hope that there is another class action for the opt-outs. This newest group plan would cost each member $5 a month. The last time this plan surfaced (a different attorney) the amount was only $1 per month. Beware of any attorney who is trying to collect $$ from you or any group in order to help form an organization to help us whether or not that attorney is keeping the $$ or not. We do not believe this is in the women's best interests and it could well be a scam to get the names and addresses of opt-outs. Remember the scams that tell you that you have won a prize and all you have to do to collect it is to pay so much money up front. This seems like just another take on this old trick. I personally would have nothing to do with this concept and refused to have anything to do with the last one where the amount was just $1 per month. Most of our women cannot even afford newsletters to inform them of what is happening at $25 per year. Just how gullible do these people think we are???!!!

MEDICAL INFORMATION: Smells that can help you lose weight: Sniffing bananas, green apples and peppermint whenever you are hungry can help you lose as much as 30 pounds in 6 months according to a researcher I saw on TV on May 27th. Since it can't cost much, it sure is worth a try if you have gained a lot of weight from silicone diseases.

If you use any form of ground meat, either beef, chicken, turkey, etc., be sure to cook it until it is well done and all the juices run clear. E-coli is rampant now in ground food and it is becoming a major problem. There were 30,000 infections and 500 deaths from this last year alone and most were among children, elderly, and immune-stressed persons.

For non-organ involved lupus, DHEA may have health benefits according to Daniel J. Wallace, UCLA School of Medicine. It tends to decrease the immune response for those with over-active immune systems. In increases levels of an important cytokine known as interleukin-2. Preliminary research suggests that DHEA has anti-inflammatory effects in mild and moderate lupus and can be tolerated as well as antimalarials. It may help reduce the use of steroids. It will probably be 2-3 years before this treatment becomes available if it is approved by the FDA. However, DHEA is available widely without a prescription.

IV Vitamins are helping some women because we have serious malabsorption problems and cannot assimilate them easily by taking them orally. Also, we need to take enzymes along with vitamins in order to absorb the vitamins.

ADDICTIONS: What causes them? Why do they concern women with implants? It is amazing how much they do. We can be addicted to anything! There are addictions to alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and many other substances, including cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, inhalants, psychedelic drugs, etc. We can be addicted to work (workaholics), to exercise, to religion, to gambling, to bad relationships, to sex or sexual behaviors (often just an extreme need for sex that interferes with a normal lifestyle, although sexual addictions can be aberrant if they are violent, include children, etc.), to shopping, etc. Most of us know about these addictions. But there are also addictions to food in general, special foods (like chocolate or sugar), and there are addictions to other substances. I have seen some silicone survivors who are addicted to prescriptions. Not the kind of prescriptions you would think, just addicted to taking prescription drugs and to running to doctor after doctor instead of seeking ways to heal themselves without adding more toxins to their bodies. I am not saying women should not take prescriptions, but you probably all know women who take way too many of them. I certainly know about 20 women who do this, and it is probably killing them, slowly and surely, and it is probably killing them quicker than the silicone in their bodies would have. They get sicker, more sluggish, gain more weight, and then seek more medical help to try to recover. I feel helpless when I see this happening.

Addictions can be caused by many things, including genetics (which is not to say that they cannot be overcome!). Things that trigger addictive behaviors can be familial, environmental, societal, or dietary. This means that we must continue to monitor our behaviors throughout our lives, even when we are not practicing addictive behaviors. Biochemical imbalances may trigger addictions. Women with problems from breast implants may have significant biochemical brain imbalances. Addictions to foods may mean that we are actually allergic to those foods. Addictions to food and even alcohol may be the body's way, however destructive, of trying to balance the body's chemistry. Diet is essential in treating alcohol or food addictions. For sugar addictions, three meals a day with plenty of complex carbohydrates and protein are essential. Avoidance of most sugars is essential until the body has had time to rebuild. Small amounts of strawberries, apples, and citrus fruits (if there is no allergy to these) are usually permitted as they are low in sugar. Other fruits are not permitted. No pies, cakes, cookies, candies, or ice cream is allowed. Hidden sugars, such as corn syrup, dextrose, multidextrose, sorbitol, honey, mamnitol, and maltrose must also be avoided completely. Nutritional supplements are often required. Often caffeine must be avoided as well as all alcoholic beverages.

How does one know if they are addicted. With drugs and alcohol, it is the craving and the withdrawal symptoms that tell us as well as the amount of the consumption. With soft drugs like marijuana, it is the psychological dependence (and some believe there is a physical dependence also). There is also the tolerance factor. If I eat anything with sugar, I am negatively affected. If I continued to eat it, I would build a tolerance and it would not have as much apparent effect on me although the long-term effects would be more fungal problems, less energy, weight gain, diabetes, adrenal malfunction, etc. With food, it is the behaviors of the addicted person, such as hiding the foods, eating them after everyone has gone to bed or when alone, the amount and frequency of eating them, and sometimes, whether there is bingeing or purging that also occurs with eating them. There is often denial about the consumption of these foods or a total lack of responsibility (I'm not responsible for what happens after I go to bed, because I don't remember). There is also the amount of tolerance to those foods that can be used to evaluate addiction. Addictions can be further evaluated by the effects of withdrawal which includes psychological and physiological symptoms. There are underlying emotional needs that cause the need to eat (generally certain foods) or to control food intake. This needs to be carefully evaluated just as the underlying cause of drug/alcohol abuse does. A craving for sugar may be a sign of fungal problems which is very common in immune-damaged persons. It is also common in persons who have diabetes or who have taken antibiotics, especially in those who have taken several antibiotic prescriptions. In this case, an addiction to sugar will increase the fungal problems and increase the need for the sugar (which becomes a drug-like addiction). When the fungal infection is being destroyed, the craving intensifies.

Food addictions have psychological components. We long for intimacy (better relationships with our spouses/significant other, our parents, our friends), we have less than satisfying sex lives, our significant other does not understand our needs, we feel unfulfilled, etc. Victims of incest and sexual abuse often have food/drug/alcohol addictions (and sometimes sexual addictions). Persons who have been (or who are being) excessively controlled may have some type of addiction.

With alcohol and hard drugs, some persons tend to be more readily addicted. There is certainly a genetic component to alcohol/drug addiction but there is also a psychological component. Avoidance of stress, emotional problems or pain is often part of each person's psychological pattern. Drinking/drugging to avoid dealing with everyday problems is common. There are physiological patterns of addictions that I will not try to discuss since they are lengthy and may be boring to most people. Physiological damage is something else, as the body is continually (and often irreversibly) damaged by abuse of any licit or illicit drug. The damage by other addictions also occurs, but is often slower and harder to recognize. This is certainly true with caffeine, chocolate (or other foods), excessive work or excessive exercise.

With prescription drugs, often the problem is found in just how many prescription drugs one is taking. If a person is taking over 5 prescription drugs, a possible addiction should be evaluated. One doctor will give a drug for one thing, another for something else. Often addicted persons will be taking drugs to offset the side-effects of other prescriptions they are taking. With women with silicone problems, the fewer drugs we take, the better we usually are. Every drug is a toxin, and the more we put into our bodies, the worse we can get. If women with silicone problems are taking 10, 15, or 20 (or more) prescription drugs, perhaps a trip to a doctor familiar with Environmental Medicine would be a good thing to try. These doctors can help women beat the addiction while focusing on just what drugs they must take to keep them alive and functioning without adversely affecting their health (any more than absolutely necessary).

I have witnessed the decline in health and the increase in health problems that has occurred with some women who are taking many prescriptions. As their health declines, they need more and more drugs to keep them going. I have even had several women tell me that they have begun to have seizures and they don't connect it with all the drugs they are consuming. They honestly believe they need all these prescriptions to survive (while there may be one in 10,000 that does, I have not met anyone yet that fits that category). They are so hooked into allopathic medicine that they cannot see (or choose to be in denial about) the fact that they are killing themselves faster by these prescription drugs than the silicone problems would ever have killed them. While allopathic medicine is invaluable to us, there are alternatives to taking a cabinet full of prescription medicines that are toxic to our bodies. One woman brought a huge plastic bag of empty prescription bottles to a conference to show people just how many prescriptions she had taken over the last 18 months. I was saddened by the knowledge that those drugs had probably worsened her condition considerably.

One problem that I have not mentioned is economic. Addictions cost $$. Whether we are addicted to shopping, alcohol/drugs, food, or prescription drugs, our financial situation suffers. The candy with which some gorge themselves has a price tag just as all the prescriptions some women consume. Shopping has an immediate cost and effect on household budgets, as does gambling. Drugs/alcohol also do, not just in immediate cost, but in the loss of earning power through addictions.

What can we do if we have any of these addictions? The answer varies by type of addiction. Admitting the addiction is the first step. Seeking psychological help is the next. Many fear seeking help as they perceive this as a sign of weakness (they should be able to handle their own problems, they are private persons, any number of excuses or rationalizations), it will cost too much, etc. It truly is a sign of strength to seek help, as it takes a lot of courage to admit you have a problem. Financially, how much more can it cost than all some women are (or have been) paying for those drugs/food/shopping trips, etc. Also, for those who have few funds, community mental health centers provide extremely low cost care and seldom turn people away for inability to pay. There are free support groups for food problems (Overeaters Anonymous or other weight-loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, who do counseling-although this approach may not work for those who secretly hide and eat candy or sweets), for drug/alcohol problems (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous), for Gamblers (Gamblers Anonymous), for religious addictions, for sexual addictions, and for many other forms of addictions. For prescription drug addiction (drugs not considered to be physically habit-forming), a counselor that understands this type of problem can be extremely helpful at getting at the underlying problems. Your community mental health centers or often women's centers can direct you to these groups or to a good therapist.

There are many components to overcoming addictions. Getting free from the secrecy is the first step. Then changing patterns of behavior, reaching out to others, dealing with emotional problems, etc. At times, a change of environment, temporarily, may be necessary. Optimum Health Institute, 6970 Central Avenue, Lemon Grove, California, 91945-2198 (619) 464-3346 is one example of an environment that may be ideal. It is a three-week program which can help individuals begin the process of recovery in an environment where health and wholeness is encouraged. This would not be an appropriate place for addictive prescription drugs (xanax, valium, librium, other benzodiazepines, pain killers, etc.), or hard drugs or alcohol recovery. The base cost is about $300 per week (your health is worth far more than this), although there are extras that can be more costly if you choose to participate in these activities. Some women could never afford this type of treatments, but the other suggestions above are less costly and are available to everyone.

Another good place to seek information is your Naturopathic/Homeopathic or other alternative medical practitioner. Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine and other non-allopathic medicine has a lot to offer when trying to overcome addictions. Acupuncture helps people feel better so therefore they get into more healthy and energetic cycles and don't need their addictions. Chiropractic is a drugless approach to good health. Holistic MD's may also be a good source of assistance. All these mediums may have many helpful tips on beating your prescription drug or food or other addictions. You will never know how much help is out there until you reach out to find it.

Lynda Roth is a former addiction's counselor with a Master's Degree in Social Work.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: For pain, try white willow bark. It is a natural aspirin. It should be available at many health food stores. St. John's Wort is supposed to have a soothing, calming effect.

FOOD SENSITIVITIES: Approximately 25% of Americans are sensitive to the food additive MSG. I am sure that this statistic would also carry over to other countries where usage of this condiment is common. It is in virtually all prepared soup mixes, most prepared meals (including frozen), most airline meals, poultry stuffing mixes, and many condiments and other foods. On labels, look for natural flavorings or seasonings, textured protein, hydrolyzed protein, yeast food, and sodium or calcium caseinate. Avoid MSG by eating a diet based on whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables as well as organic meat (if you eat meat).

Aspartic Acid (NutraSweet, Equal, etal) is also a common food sensitivity. In fact, many who react to MSG also react to Aspartic Acid. This artificial sweetener gives me an almost instant headache. Try eliminating this product from your diet and see if you feel better.

Soy is becoming a more and more common food sensitivity. For those who can use it, it is great. For those sensitive to it, it is in many products and one has to be extremely careful. Chinese food often contains soy sauce. Tofu is made from soy. Some mayonnaise contains soy. Some tuna fish contains hydrolized soy protein. You must learn to ask questions and read labels if you are to avoid certain foods and additives.

Gluten intolerance is more common than thought. It is (as was, more often) called celiac disease. This is an intolerance to the gluten in wheat, rye, oats, bulgar and barley. Gluten is the substance that gives the dough its elasticity. Rice, quinoa, amaranth, and millet are among the grains that may be substituted for wheat, oats, rye and barley. Gluten intolerance can cause lethargy, chronically stuffy noses and scratchy throats, mood and energy swings, manic behavior, etc. Digestive problems are common.

White fish or shell fish is another common food intolerance and/or allergy. Avoidance is the only recourse. People have died from exposure to these foods. In some cases it is an iodine intolerance; in others it is something else. Some cannot consume ocean fish and some cannot consume any white fish or shell fish.

Food intolerances are often called food allergies. They are truly intolerances, not allergies. Hay fever (allergens to pollens, etc.) is an allergy. These trigger an IgE Immune Response. 2 to 5% of people actually have the same response to some foods. These people also generally have many allergies and also have familial histories of asthma. Even a tiny amount of the food causes tongue swelling, abdominal distress, and anaphylaxis (throat closing leading to inability to breathe). Most persons with food intolerances have developed them gradually over a period of years. This is what I have to peppers (bell peppers are worse than others, but all cause problems). These food reactions probably do not involve IgE responses. Therefore they are called sensitivities or intolerances.

How can foods hurt us? Certainly food sensitivities or intolerances are downright uncomfortable if not dangerous. But other foods also damage us. Fat is the largest contributor to heart disease, stroke, cancers, obesity and chronic high blood pressure. Fats contribute to calcium loss and osteoporosis. Common foods are the worst offenders when it comes to food sensitivities. These are wheat, milk, corn, and eggs. Increasingly, soy is added to this list.

People generally do not notice food intolerances because they occur so gradually. The only way most people discover these sensitivities is when they do not have a food for a period of time and then reintroduce it to their diet. Food intolerance symptoms include a decline in health, vague, nonspecific symptoms (often dismissed as neurotic by physicians), indigestion, mouth sores, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, flatulence (gas), muscle and/or joint pain, headaches, mental fogginess and fatigue (sound familiar??).

How can you check for food intolerances? Elimination diets or fasts are the best way. You start with a fast or a very basic diet with the least common sensitivity-causing foods. A fast is often preferred, but much more difficult to carry out. Some food intolerances only occur with regular consumption (cherries, for me). You must keep a diary of foods and also of your feelings, since mood swings and other feelings may indicate food sensitivities.

In Stage I of the Elimination diet, vegetables, beans, whole-grain breads, potatoes, rice, milk, most cheeses, butter, noncaffeinated teas, most fresh fruits, unprocessed organic meats, and fish, unsweetened juices, and cereals without sugar are allowed. Not allowed: Alcoholic beverages, any foods prepared with alcohol, coffee, caffeinated teas, cola drinks, chocolate, sugar, artificial sweeteners, foods that contain artificial sweeteners, vinegar, pickles, margarine, foods that contain additives, smoked meats (including bacon, ham, sausage, smoked fish, aged cheeses such as Cheddar and Brie, take-out food, restaurant food, bran, salty foods, curried foods, pineapple and papaya.

If you feel better on this diet, some (or at least one) of the foods eliminated were causing you problems. You maintain the diet for at least a month without adding anything back. Then you try one new food per week and check for symptoms. Record your feelings and any symptoms each time. If any food triggers symptoms, eliminate it for a week and try it again. If it causes symptoms again, eliminate it. Try it again after six months to see if it still causes symptoms.

If the Stage I diet does not make you feel better, move to Stage II. In stage two, you continue to eliminate all foods restricted in Stage I but you also eliminate others. Your diet now consists of fresh vegetables, potatoes, beans, most fresh fruits, nuts you usually only occasionally eat, vegetable oil, noncaffeinated teas, lamb, turkey, pork, duck and rabbit. All meats must be fresh and organic. Forbidden foods now are: Breads and grains including wheat, bulgar, oats, rye, barley, rice (if you have been consuming it often), corn, corn products (including corn syrup), grits, polenta, beef, chicken, cheese, any milk products, soy milk and products, butter, yogurt, oranges, margarine, eggs, all processed meats, lemons, limes, grapefruit, bouillon, yeast, peanuts, anything you normally eat and crave, mushrooms, and aspirin.

This diet must be followed for three weeks before introduction of other foods. Some people may feel worse initially as they adjust to withdrawal of certain foods that caused intolerances. If you don't feel better within three weeks, you go to Stage III elimination. Again, in Stage II, foods must be introduced one per week and a journal must be kept. Watch for symptoms and also for emotional reactions. Follow the procedures in Stage I.

If you still are not better, the rigorous steps in Stage III are necessary. You eat nothing except celery, fennel, avocado, lettuce, rutabaga, watercress, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, okra, asparagus, rice, millet, buckwheat, turnips, parsnips, yams, sweet potatoes, plantains, wild rice, tapioca, chestnuts, chick-peas, pumpkin, bananas, pears, kiwifruit, mangoes, pomegranates, guavas, black currants, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, pistachio nuts (unsalted), cashew nuts, brazil nuts, pine nuts, olive oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, turkey, duck, lamb, rabbit, goose and fish. No smoked meats. All foods, including meats, must be free of hormones, pesticides, and chemicals. If you eat any of the above foods more than once a week on a regular basis, you must also exclude these foods. After three weeks, begin adding the foods one at a time. When you have symptoms, follow the routine in Stage I and II. Some persons find that they must eliminate all offending foods permanently, but some find a rotation diet helps with the sensitivities.

A rotation diet allows foods to be eaten once every four days, five days, or once a week, depending on the plan. It is usually preferable to eliminate the food entirely for six months before starting this type of diet. If the food offends immediately, eliminate it entirely. If you start a rotation diet and symptoms recur, eliminate foods until you feel better. After Stage III, if symptoms persist, a specialist should be consulted who can work with food intolerances.

There are also elimination diets for lactose intolerances. Eliminate all foods with lactose which includes all dairy foods, all cheeses, wheys, milk solids, ice creams, etc. If you feel much better, you probably have a lactose intolerance. Many adults do, as do many teens. After a period of time (preferably six months), you can try adding a LITTLE yogurt or hard cheese. If they do not cause serious problems, you can eat them sparingly on a food rotation basis. Take lactase before consuming these products if you wish to continue to eat them.

There are elimination diets for certain medical conditions. One is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In Oslo, Norway, 53 people with RA were placed on a ten-day fast with only noncaffeinated teas, vegetable juices, and garlic-vegetable broth. After that, they were allowed to eat solid foods, but not meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, citrus fruits, salt, strong spices, preservatives, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, or gluten (wheat, barley, bulgar, rye, or oats). Other foods were introduced as per the Elimination Diets described above. If any participant reported joint pain, stiffness or inflammation after a food was introduced, it was eliminated for a week and then reintroduced. If symptoms recurred, it was eliminated. After several months, those on the special elimination diet reported significantly less pain, fewer swollen joints, less morning stiffness and greater grip strength.

There have been studies that show that one tablespoon of olive oil, fish oil (omega-three fatty acids, which I prefer to take in capsule form), or evening primrose oil (also in capsules) helps relieve symptoms after they have been taken for six months.

Elimination diet for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): When it was discovered that MS is more prevalent the further one is from the Equator, a study was done. In Norway, it was discovered that the further inland one lived, the greater chance they had of having MS. What was discovered was that the inland population ate a diet considerably higher in saturated fat. All the countries further from the Equator also consumed more saturated fat. 150 people with MS were place on a diet low in saturated fats and compared to a control group who had an unrestricted diet. Less deaths, exacerbation of illness, and also disabilities were noted (after 20 years) in the group on the controlled diet. Blood cholesterol also was reduced in this group.

The first year, no red meat and no dark turkey or chicken meat was allowed. After that, lean red meat was allowed a couple of times a week. No processed foods and no duck, goose or spareribs were ever allowed. All saturated fat had to be kept to 15 or less grams a day. Nonfat dairy products were permitted. Breads were permitted, but no chips, cookies, cakes, muffins, biscuits or baked foods with forbidden fats were allowed. Only vegetable oils were permitted, but not palm oil or partially or fully hydrogenated oils nor any products containing these oils. Olive and avocado were limited. Three whole eggs per week (no more than one a day) were permitted. Egg whites were permitted. Sugar was strictly limited. Chocolate and coconut was forbidden. No more than three caffeinated beverages a day were allowed. This is called the Swank diet.

This information is mostly from Nature's Cures, by Michael Castleman.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE: Disability: Who should apply, why should they apply, to whom do they apply, and how should they go about it? Disability is a complex problem, but there are several points that women need to have in order to decide whether they qualify for disability or if they should just not bother.

For Social Security Disability (SSD), you must have worked at least 5 of the last 10 years before you became disabled. This means that if you became disabled in 1992, you must have worked at least 5 of the 10 years prior to that time. It does not mean that you had to have worked 5 of the last 10 years prior to 1996 when you are now applying. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you apply to the same place and with the same procedures, but this applies to persons who do not qualify for SSD and who are disabled. For this, you must have basically no source of income. For SSD, you can be married and have assets. Not true with SSI, unless your spouse is also totally disabled and unable to work.

Prior to receiving SSD or SSI, many women can go to their local social services department (County Social Services) and apply for a program called AND (Aid to the Needy Disabled). Many women have qualified for this and they then also qualify for food stamps and other benefits. This program may prevent many women from being on the street or running from one place to another to have a roof over their heads.

Along with SSD or SSI will come the ability to apply for Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid will cover the cost of implant removal and will pay many other medical bills. This is one way that many women have had their implants removed.

There are other programs for women with no funds. In Colorado, there is a program called Colorado Care (outside Denver city and county) to which women with no funds can apply. I am sure that many states have such programs, but they do not advertise them. Check with your state or city funded hospitals to see if they have programs for persons with no or little income.

If you are considering applying for SSD or SSI, we have an excellent book available that will cover what you need to do to make sure that you don't forget important data that must be submitted. For a copy, send $12.00 (includes P&H). Request SSD book.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION: S.I.A.S.T. from the Kansas City (Shawnee Mission) area is now defunct because of lack of support and participation in the monthly meetings and the lack of financial support. We are always sorry to hear about a group disbanding. This one has been in operation a long time. One by one we are losing our groups because of the lack of financial, moral, and physical support by the members and also because some of the women are too ill to remain as group leaders. It is important to support your group leaders if you wish to have a group continue.

Sharon Bige would like to hear from McGhan Implant Survivors. Phone/ Fax (313) 847-7203. Sue Kreger would like to hear from Heyer-Schulte Survivors. Phone/Fax (419) 885-2264.

BOOKS: The Complete Guide to Food Allergy and Intolerance by Jonathan Brostoff, M.D. and Linda Gamlin. Also, In Bad Taste, The MSG Syndrome by George R. Schwartz.

This month's poem:

I Remember
by Lynda Roth

The pictures in the magazines
White teeth and shiny hair
Close-ups on the movie screen
Perfect bodies everywhere!

What message to the children
Even fifty years ago
To look that certain way
Was just the status-quo.

Along came Playboy Magazine
Centerfolds and all
Air-brushed though they be
With not a single flaw!

Then came little Barbie
A figure to die for
Perfect hair and clothes
Were all she ever wore.

It wasn't just the women
Who into this myth bought
Not purposely, just like us
Almost without a thought.

Now we all pay the price
For the image we must bear
Capped teeth and anorexia
And padded underwear.

Girdles, face lifts, nose jobs,
Liposuctions by the score
Shoes that are too narrow
Bunions, bulimia, and more.

Improve the way you look
The promise of paradise
In the name of beauty
Just trying to look nice!

Does anybody wonder?
Doesn't it make sense?
The lengths to which we do
The depth of the pretense!

We believed the myth
We still pay the price!
The implants in our breasts
Threaten our very lives!

Yes, I still remember
So many years ago
Not much different than today
Except that now--I know!!

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Previous issues of newsletters are available for $2.00 each U.S., $3.00 Foreign. January 1993 is the first available issue. Please indicate months' desired and enclose $2.00 (US), $3.00 (Foreign) each. Some subjects covered have been: Auto-immune (1/93); Fibromyalgia (2/93); Medical Testing (3/93); Sjogren's (4/93); Vasculitis (4/93); Arthritis (5/93); Chronic Fatigue (6/93); Lupus (7/93); Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Inflammatory Bowel Disease (8/93); Miscellaneous Medical Information (9/93); Multiple Sclerosis (10/93); Spasmodic Torticollis (10/93); Hypoglycemia (11/93); Antibodies (12/93); Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (1/94); Insurance (8/93,9/93); More Miscellaneous Medical Information (2/94); Scleroderma (3/94); Costochondritis (4/94); Peripheral Neuropathy (4/94); Class Action (5/94); Fungal Infections (6/94); Hypercalcemia (low calcium) (7/94); Raynaud's Phenomenon (8/94); Fibromyalgia Update (9/94); Sarcoidosis (10/94); Free Radicals (11/94); Porphyria (12/94); Interstitial Cystitis (1/95); Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (2/95); Flap Procedures (3/95); Even More Miscellaneous Medical (4/95); Thyroid Disease (5/95); Stress (6/95); Natural Healing (7/95); Adrenal Malfunctions (8/95); Multiple Myeloma (9/95); DHEA (10/95); Chelation Therapy (11/95); Sleep Disorders (12/95); Menieres Disease (1/96); 33 Tips To Improve Your Health (2/96); Amino Acids (3/96); Enzymes (4/96); Minerals (5/96); Aluminum Toxicity, Water Purification (6/96); Legal Updates, including updates on Class Actions (almost all issues); & Alternative Medicine (almost all issues).

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed here are those of the editor and any contributors and are not to be construed as medical or legal advice. Any articles or information submitted may be edited because of space, content or grammatical errors.

COPYRIGHT: Our purpose is to disseminate information and provide support. This material is copyrighted so that wemay retain control over content. You may reproduce this document as long as it is not done for profit and as long as no material, including copyright and subscription information, is changed.

DONATIONS: The Coalition of Silicone Survivors is a not-for-profit,tax-exempt corporation with over 4000 members world wide. Our editor, Lynda Roth, is a survivor having heard the dread word 'cancer' followed by the reassuring 'will look like a normal breast'. In addition to having helped start many support groups, Lynda has appeared before the FDA, congress members, national TV in the US and other countries and lectures internationally. Your donation will definitely help others receive information about the dangers of implants.

IF READING THIS NEWSLETTER HAS HELPED YOU, AND YOU THINK OTHERS SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO RECEIVE OUR MESSAGE, WE URGE YOU TO GIVE GENEROUSLY. Donations are tax deductible in the United States.

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