Dear Silicone Survivors and Friends:

I will be out of town from January 6-23. I will be with my sister in Hawaii. It is the only true vacation I have and I plan to relax, sightsee, walk on beautiful beaches & snorkel. Since I don't have to pay many expenses, I can truly enjoy myself. I will return calls and take care of other responsibilities when I return. I won't be able to pick up my E-mail for 16 days.

As you may know, David Kessler resigned from the FDA effective when a replacement is named. Although he was not always on our side, we should pray for someone who has as much courage as he has had. If we have a wimp in there, we will be in serious trouble. Write the White House and ask for a strong, active, consumer-oriented FDA chief.

I have just added 200 new articles to my list (now over 1100 articles available to be ordered). If you would like a new list, please send $3 and request the articles list. These will be available for a limited amount of time as I am not sure just how long we can financially survive. If you ever want to order these articles, I advise you to do it now!

Donations: Many thanks to the few who have recently contributed to the cause. I think the great majority of survivors who read newsletters like mine have this philosophy: IT'S NOT MY JOB! This is a story about four (or maybe 5000?) people named everybody, somebody, anybody and nobody. There was an important job to be done (supporting our groups) and everybody was sure that somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was everybody's job. Everybody thought anybody could do it, but nobody realized that everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that everybody blamed somebody when nobody did what anybody could have done. In this case, less than twelve people who read this newsletter actually donated recently to help the cause. We will not survive through February unless we receive much more help. We may have to go to a quarterly newsletter unless we receive more funds. If you feel our efforts are helping you, please contribute. I am not sure how many of you are aware that I donate at least 60 hours per week of my time plus I have also donated about $18,000 to keep the Coalition afloat. We are still tax-exempt and non-profit (very, very non-profit). Your donation is tax-deductible & appreciated deeply. Without help, we will be out of business very soon.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Las Vegas, Nevada: Conference at Debbie Reynolds Hotel, 305 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, Jan. 18, $45 pre-registration, $55 at door, lunch not included. Speakers: Drs. Henry Jenny, Arthur Brawer, Saul Puszkin & Britta Ostermeyer. Also: Rick Laminack, Sybil Goldrich, Kathy K-Johnson, Jama Russano & Sandy McDougal. For information: (217) 352-8220. Rumors I have heard: It costs too much (maybe for some, it does). There may be a boycott (please folks, lets get real). We are all in this together. Let's work together to inform women about the risks of breast implants. If you don't want to go, don't go. Don't tell others not to do so. That is unethical. This type of divisive behavior plays into the hands of the manufacturers!!

NBITF Meeting in West Palm Beach, FL on Feb. 20-22nd. Call Janice Ferriell @ (407) 791-2625 for more information.

Reno, Nevada: March 15th, Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way. Registration $35.00 in advance (prior to March 1), including lunch and coffee breaks. $10 more after that & at the door. To register for hotel rooms (30 days in advance) call (800) 648-3525. $70 for 1, $80 double (I think you can have up to 4 people in a double room). You may cancel the hotel up to 24 hours prior to conference. Speakers: Drs. Saul Puszkin, Britta Ostermeyer, Andrew Campbell, Arthur Brawer, Mary Stewart & Linda Huang. Also, John and Colleen Swanson (Informed Consent), & attorneys Rick Laminack, Geoffrey White, & Don Springmeyer. This conference is jointly presented by SIS of Reno and COSS. See registration form at back of newsletter.

LEGAL INFORMATION: A sufficient number of women are receiving deficiency notices from the big three settlement. Many are not being told what those minor deficiencies are. Some claims that appear to contain all the information are being sent back as deficient. Apparently those reviewing the claims cannot find some information (Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it??). All we can say is, be persistent, keep sending the information and ask for clarification as to how the claim is deficient. Don't let them get away with these games! The settlement is rightfully yours, so go after it!! There is a mediation process if you feel they are wrong. You have 30 days from the date the notice of deficiency was mailed to you to make the corrections and have the papers back in the Claims Office. If your claim could be deficient (and many are), I would begin gathering the evidence and medical documents NOW! Don't wait!!!

Dow Corning (DC) has made a proposal to the Bankruptcy Court for 2 billion. However, only $600 million would be distributed to the victims and a panel of experts appointed by DC would have to approve each claim. The rest would be subject to a trial on causation by experts appointed by DC (how convenient) and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. Based on outcome of this trial, the moneys would either return to DC or be handed over to the plaintiffs (victims). Now, $2 billion dollars is a drop in the bucket. It would take $20 billion to begin to satisfy the claims. We know there are also thousands of claims for other silicone implantable devices. The only fair settlement would be for the victims to own the majority of shares in DC and then sell them to the highest bidder. DC knew that they were manufacturing defective products and they knew that people would have a negative impact from them. They should pay the ultimate price of having to hand over their stock to their victims. Any settlement by DC would presumably have to be approved by the Plaintiff's Committee and the judge.

Coming soon: The proposal by the Plaintiffs Committee will reportedly be something like this: That the victims receive 51% of the stock in DC outright and a number of trials of actual cases of women affected by DC be held (maybe 30), and, based on the outcome of these, we would own more between 51% to 90% of the stock. DC would not be in charge of deciding whether claimants have a valid case (can you just imagine them being in charge, kind of like the fox guarding the hen house) before they are given monetary compensation. This is a much better proposal that would compensate the women more fairly (as if anything could ever adequately compensate us!!). Best of all, we would have someone besides the DC people deciding our futures.

I have heard rumors flying about what the women will receive in the DC bankruptcy. Please get facts straight before talking. This is only the opening shot of a long negotiation. It is akin to any settlement where the defendant offers a low amount, the plaintiff comes back at a higher amount, and they keep negotiating until they settle for something in the middle. The fat lady has not yet sung. Please be patient. Quit spreading rumors. Wait for facts.

A Federal Judge in Oregon has been the first judge to exclude all the plaintiff's witnesses from testifying. He is stating that we have no evidence worth presenting. This decision is being appealed. However, in the past, this type of action has been upheld, so lets hope and pray that this judge sees the light and allows true justice to take its course. You can begin to see a desperation in these defendants actions. They are trying to hurry all these court decisions before the real bulk of the evidence comes out and shows just how dangerous these products really are.

Fenton Communications, Inc. of Washington D.C. has reportedly been hired by plaintiff's attorneys to do socially responsible PR to offset the negative PR that Dow and other chemical companies is buying. We must have a voice in this battle. Juries and the public are often swayed by companies who have all the funds they need to swing public opinion. Even in light of massive evidence that implants are harmful, companies are able to convince journalists and others that the recent studies (bought and paid for by manufacturers & plastic surgeons) are valid. See PR Watch article (available from COSS for $2.55) for how they planned & executed the massive public relations campaign. Make copies of this article and make sure members of your local press and media read it!!

MEDICAL INFORMATION: SYMPTOMS OF BREAST IMPLANTS: Women repeatedly ask me about symptoms that can be caused by exposure to silicone or foreign objects in the body. Here is a list of some symptoms and some diseases, but no list is conclusive: Depression (even suicidal), mental lapses, short-term memory losses and failures, disorientation, problems with concentration, reasoning, perceiving, judgment & imagining, sleep disturbances (including sleeping all the time or insomnia), dizzy spells, balance problems, emotional breakdowns, chronic exhaustion and fatigue, hearing loss, ringing in ears, bruising easily, bleeding disorders, loss of sex drive, visual problems (including loss or blurring), double vision, vertigo, Sjogren's-like symptoms (including dry eyes, nose, mouth, & vagina, also mouth ulcers), difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, wheezing, respiratory problems (incl. chronic cough & chronic bronchitis), crushing chest pain, inflammation of the cartilage around the ribs, nipple discharge, heart attack symptoms, hypertension (high blood pressure), pleurisy, numerous heart problems including mitral valve prolapse, lung pain, heart palpitations, muscle weakness, fibromyalgia (tender points on the body, deep muscle aching), clumsiness, mild to severe balance problems, morning stiffness, joint inflammation & stiffness, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (and other arthritic conditions), other joint pain, neck pain, back pain, numbness and tingling in limbs, head, and/or torso (incl. genital area), loss of sensation, burning skin sensation in limbs or all over body (especially in feet upon arising), low grade fevers, flu-like symptoms, tremors, muscle quivers, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, appetite loss, weight gain or loss, hair loss (on head or all over the body), nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal problems, bloating, bowel control problems, gall bladder pain & polyps, abdominal pain, liver problems (including elevated enzymes and cysts), kidney problems, interstitial cystitis, kidney failure, frequent urination, unusual strong urinary odor, urinary tract problems, fluid retention, bladder control problems, groin pain, migraine headaches, other severe headaches, heat and cold sensitivity, multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), thyroid disorders, photosensitivity, Environmental Illnesses, unexplained rashes, redness of the palms, shoulder immobility and pain, arm and hand weakness and pain, facial pain, jaw pain, severe itchy scalp, fungal infections (including nails, vaginal, rectal, and skin), difficulty swallowing, reactions to magnesium, zinc, iron, and other metals, menstrual problems, infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and severe PMS, chemical taste in mouth, weeping chronic open sores, small pimple-like sores (sometimes itch), muscle spasms, vascular problems, pain in hands and feet from reduced blood flow (Raynaud's), skin thickening and tightening (Scleroderma), and many more. Diseases reported include those mentioned above: Scleroderma, which includes hardening of the internal organs; Raynaud's, which includes many auto-immune symptoms; MCS, which includes problems with allergies to many substances; Environmental Illness, which is similar to MCS; Lymphadenopathy; Liver Disorders; Pulmonary Disorders; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Osteoarthritis, Peripheral Neuropathy; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Depression and/or Anxiety and Panic Disorders; Thyroid Diseases; Rheumatic Disease; Lupus; Optic Neuritis; ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease); (MCTD) Mixed Connective Tissue Disease; Sjogren's Syndrome; (RSD) Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy; (MS) Multiple Sclerosis; Human Adjuvant Disease; & other forms of auto-immune/connective tissue diseases. Many doctors, survivors & support group leaders could add to this list. The problems are many and the solutions are few.

In addition to the systemic symptoms, local symptoms occur. These can include hard breasts (capsular contracture), rupture of implants, rupture of scar capsule (which releases silicone into the body), deformity, fungal and/or bacterial infection, hematoma, siliconomas, gel bleed, rashes on chest or abdomen, painful contractures or muscle spasms, silicone or infection leaking from nipples, pressure in implants when flying or diving, implant movement (to under arms or above or below proper position), surgical complications with bleeding and infection, failure to properly heal in the surgical area, repeat surgeries to correct problems, etc. With all these problems and complications, how can these doctors tell us that implants cause no problems? How can they look us in the eyes and lie? There must be a special place in hell for those who victimize others in this way. I do believe there will be an ultimate justice for people who continually victimize others from a position of power.

We have heard of a number of doctor-turned-ostrich cases floating around out there. Many doctors who first stood up for us have turned tail and run away. Often they have been pressured by their peers and treated quite badly. Many have had (ominous) threats from anonymous sources. Some have had physical threats such as slashed tires, being shot at, threats of death and even dead animals on doorsteps. Some have extended themselves financially and harmed their own financial futures. Others have been driven away from their clinics and hospitals by boards of directors and other powers that be. Some have been attacked by the women (remember the NY Times article). We need to be aware that the doctors that help us today may be pressured into silence tomorrow. Many doctors tell us that they believe us but that they will not help other women because of peer pressure. I've had several doctors tell me this very thing. I know many of you have also.

In an abstract from the University of Leipzig from 1992: There are a number of cases of scleroderma-like diseases that have been induced by chemical compounds such as plastics, solvents, and drugs. Diseases like toxic oil syndrome caused by contaminated rape seed & Eosinophilia myalgia, caused by contaminated L-tryptophan, are examples of toxin-created disease. Often these diseases are not distinguishable from the original syndrome (we are certainly proof of this).

Women with flying and diving experiences report that implants can rupture from pressurization changes. Two women who were diving had blow-outs and one of them had broken ribs, muscle and ligamentous damage. One woman's implants ruptured when she drove over a high mountain pass.

Why do some women gain a lot of weight after being exposed to silicone? Several reasons have been offered to me! One is because we have auto-immune problems and our bodies store fat in case we become quite ill and later lose weight. It is a protective device to keep us alive. A second reason is that silicone affects fat and hormone cells and this causes weight gain. A third reason is that we retain fluid and therefore have more weight. A fourth is that we become less active (we are tired, we hurt, our joints are in pain or aches, etc.) & therefore do not work off as much weight. A fifth reason is that our whole endocrine system has been thrown off course and our systems do not function properly. We also know that our bodies do not process out cholesterol well when we have foreign substances in our blood and the white blood cells are busy with trying to rid our bodies of these foreign invaders. A sixth reason is that women eat more of the wrong foods to make up for the emotional damage caused by this whole silicone debacle. We also eat the wrong foods to try to regain some of the energy that we used to have.

A warning: Never heat anything with plastic wrap over or around it. You would not believe the toxins in that stuff that are released into the foods. Waxed paper is preferable. Don't wrap or heat foods in aluminum foil as it leaches into the foods.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Q. Can I register with the Dow Corning Bankruptcy for my husband and my grown children? A. Your husband may register. If your children were minors and were in your home when you were ill, then they may register claims. Please be sure to register for children born after implantation as this may be your only chance to make a claim for them.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE: Many women cannot find health insurance because of the problems they have with their health. Many states have policies for uninsurable people. If you want a copy of a booklet on states with these policies & people to contact, send $2 and request the health insurance booklet.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Propaganda: What is it and why does it harm us? The manufacturers have engaged in a major form of propaganda to discredit us & influence the press. They have paid millions to tell everyone that we are crazy & they are OK. Governments use propaganda to influence citizens about certain issues. Remember the crazy statistics that were reported about casualties in the Vietnam war? They lied every week about the number of dead and injured North Vietnamese. The USSR used propaganda to tell their citizens how dangerous the US was. Many people believe propaganda about how blacks and Hispanics (or any other minority group) are inferior to whites. We have this problem with the medical profession; all the propaganda about alternative medicine and how it is not as helpful as allopathic medicine. I don't believe this garbage any more than any of the preceding. It is propaganda and mere hogwash! They both have something to offer. We all need to find out just what both of these branches of medicine can offer each and every one of us!

Linus Pauling was called a quack for promoting Vitamin C. He was given the Nobel Prize for his contributions but was still not recognized by medicine as a pioneer in health care. He was 97 when he died. The average MD today lives to the ripe old age of 58. Other scientists are also being called quacks when promoting alternative health care. The Alternative health care of yesterday is quietly becoming main-stream allopathic medicine. Today's alternative medicine will also become main-stream allopathic medicine as it is recognized as healthy alternatives to some of the drugs that are so toxic today.

Taking 6, 10, 12, or 15 prescription drugs for silicone poisoning is like taking arsenic or strychnine for carbon monoxide poisoning.

IMPORTANT: " The medical establishment will get off of its pedestal when we get off of our knees." John Robbins, Reclaiming Our Health.

If you keep doing things the same way you always have, you will have the same results you have always had.

Most breast implant survivors work very hard to regain their health and their lives. Some women, however, just seem to be trapped in their illness and do not seem to be able to find the strength or internal resources to begin to fight their way back from the victimization. Some may actually find that they get more attention or have more of their needs met by remaining in the victim role (this is usually sub-conscious, not something they consciously decide). When people have had difficulty meeting their needs prior to their illness and then find that they are getting more attention by having special needs, it becomes doubly hard for them to see that they do not have to remain a victim. The rewards of getting better just do not register to some. That's why some people do not seem to understand the concept of empowerment and of reclaiming their lives.

I have heard from some attorneys who are just plain disgusted when certain clients come to them stating that they are not going to try to get better until they settle their cases. They don't want it to affect their settlement. This is a victim stance. Survivors do not play these games. It's not easy to sort out all the information about healing and put that information into action. It's difficult to change your life. Those of us who have been working on this for years know just how difficult. We recognize, however, that we must do this if we wish to improve our health and regain control of our lives.

What causes self-defeating behaviors? Choices we make in life, many unconscious, are the culprits. Often we have made choices in the past that we felt protected us from some painful experience. When we continue to make the same choices over and over, we think that we are avoiding dealing with the painful experiences. We use so much energy avoiding them that we have less to give our lives, our families and our healing. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to suppress emotions.

What would we find out about ourselves if we really faced our issues rather than hiding from them in the self-defeating behaviors? Will we be unlovable, incompetent, weak, vulnerable, inadequate, irresponsible, stupid, unlovable, untrustworthy or do we fear that there is nothing there? We must seek out our fears to find out why we perpetuate the behaviors. When we find what we fear, we can then examine our fears by the light of day to see if our logic is faulty. Fears that lead to self-defeating behaviors are not real fears, they are mythical. We created them in the past to fit a certain situation, we practiced them and now they seem automatic. We are still making the choices to do these behaviors but we just don't realize it. Fearful thinking underlies these behaviors. Some fear that life will make too many demands on them if they change their behaviors, that they will be rejected, that someone will take advantage of them, that others will see them for who they truly are (they assume they are unlikeable or are terrible persons), that they cannot make it without this crutch, etc. The facts, seen in the light of day, would not uphold this faulty logic. Some fear success or failure. Winning is everything according to our society. When we fear something too much, we actually set up our own barriers and insure that we fulfill the self-defeating path. Life is full of triumphs and defeats but when we set up behaviors to protect ourselves from these, we make choices. These choices perpetuate our behaviors. We must consciously make the choices to end the self-defeating behaviors.

This month's poem is dedicated to those who just cannot seem to find it in themselves to do the things they know they should do to break out of self-defeating behaviors and help their bodies heal. We hope they see something in this that causes them to rethink current behavioral patterns. We love you all and would like to help you find your path to wellness. Sometimes we must look deep into ourselves for the truth.

BOOKS: Reclaiming Our Health by John Robbins, call (800) 362-3648 to order. This book is for women to take back the right to control their health. A Cure For All Disease by Hulda Clark. Self-Defeating Behaviors by Milton Cudney and Robert Hardy.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: Coral calcium, the most absorbable kind of calcium (ionic form), colloidal minerals to provide the essential nutrients that are missing in our foods and Immunol 500 to boost your immune system. Immunol helped me throw off a bad cold in two days instead of the normal two weeks. These are all great new products that are available (no, I have not made $$ on these). The information is provided to help you to obtain better health. See our December newsletter for information or call Lynda @ (303) 469-8242.

Consider magnetic energy for healing and energy. I cannot emphasize enough how much this has done for me!! I wear mag-steps in my shoes every day (without them I drag by mid-afternoon), I sleep on a magnetic mattress (prevents those deep-muscle aches that I have), and I sit on a magnetic seat. I take some of these with me when I travel. All this helps me avoid deep muscle aches and low back problems as well as gives me energy to do all I need to accomplish. These are wonderful! Don't do what I did!! I overlooked these tremendous products for two years!! They may help you as much as they help me! Miracles Will Happen if we open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds!!

THIS MONTH'S POEM:

THE VICTIM'S ANTHEM

(POOR, POOR ME)

by Lynda Roth

Alas, poor me, look what they've done
I'm sick, I'm broke, I can't have fun.
I've cried a million tears this year
Millions more I'll cry, I fear.

Won't you help me, help me please?
I just don't know, I'm on my knees.
I've been here and I've been there
Lord, I've just been everywhere.

This doctor says that, that doctor says this
If I do all they say, my money I'll miss.
But then, I have no money anyway
So I can't go to them because I can't pay.

I know I should stop smoking this year
But it's all I have left, so I fear
That I won't get better anyway
A miracle cure, perhaps, someday??

What, no coffee or sugar, it's bad for me
But I need it for energy, don't you see?
Change my diet, clean it up, you say?
But it's so hard, what's wrong with my way?

No pesticides or chemicals can there be
And food additives are just not good for me?
But what will I eat, it'll be too much work!
Can't I just take a pill, my responsibility shirk?

After all, the doctors will surely fix me
They keep telling me this so I'll wait and see.
There must be a way that's easy to do
I'll try something else, something brand new.

You might be right, maybe I should change
But it's just too darn hard and I feel strange
Changing my life to a different way
It's easier like this, so I'll just stay

In my sick little world, and I'll just complain
Over and over, and stay with my pain
Because getting better is just too hard
And poor, poor me is just too t'ard.

PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION: Previous issues of newsletters available: $2 each U.S., $3 Foreign. 1/93 is the first available issue. Please indicate months' desired and enclose proper sums. Some covered subjects: 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; Insurance 8/93, 9/93; Misc. Med. Info. 9/93; Multiple Sclerosis 10/93; Spasmodic Torticollis 10/93; Hypoglycemia 11/93; Antibodies 12/93; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy 1/94; Misc. Med. Info. II 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; Misc. Med. Info. III 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; Meniere's Disease 1/96; 33 Tips to Improve Your Health; Amino Acids 3/96; Enzymes 4/96; Minerals 5/96; Aluminum Toxicity, DHEA Update 6/96; Addictions & Food Sensitivities 7/96; Misc. Med. Info. IV 8/96; Misc. Med. Info. V 9/96; Misc. Med. Info. VI 10/96; Misc. Med. Info. VII 11/96; Transient Ischemic Attacks 12/96; Legal info. and info. on Alternative Medicine is contained in most issues.