titanium markers

tas1937

had a biopsy---nurse told me she left titanium markers in me and I ask why, she replied for our convenience. OK, 5 mos. have gone by, I have been to 6 DR.'s, showed them the rash and red streak on LB. I have been sent for knee shots, I have been given toreadol shots and pills and finally Dr. from ER could not diagnose me so he sent me to a thyroid DR. By this time I could barely walk, she saw the rash right under my left breast and 5' red streak and told me I needed markers out immediately. Went back to imaging office, ask for a nurse, she saw I could barely walk and called DR. who did biopsy--she agreed the markers had poisoned me or she had hit a nerve sending signal to left side of my brain and it was emitting signals of pain. She now is setting up surgery for me to get these things out of me. Also, she has to put a guide wire in my breast at her office, then someone has to drive me to hospital for surgery. Also markers gave me chronic fatigue and I am a type a person. Why are women not notified about this practice and do it without permission. I have suffered 5 mos. with this mess and I told every Dr. what it was when I wound up in 2 ER.s. and no one would believe me. The pain was excruciating and I felt like my left leg was on fire, my bp went up to 325, DR. got it down and said he did not what was wrong and I showed and told him I must be allergic to the markers, I rarely get sick and I am not a regular guest at DR's office. Now, I am having to go through this TITANIUM MARKER mess because the nurse said plainly, we left markers in for our convenience in case we need to go back . Is there a convenience clause I missed? In 10 yrs. there will probably be a bad report on these markers just like leaky silicone implants. I told the DR. when she explained how small they were to put them in her hose, then her shoes and see how long she could walk around in them. I am very frustrated and I will never have another biopsy and every woman should be given a choice in this matter and who is going to pay for all these bills? ??

exbrnxgrl

Titanium is routinely used in joint replacements and other medical devices, so no, it is not in the same category as leaking silicone.Very, very few people have a reaction to titanium, but that doesn't mean that no one does. I am so sorry that you fell in to that minority. I think the nurse framed her response badly. The marker, which is about the size of a grain of rice, marks the area of biopsy . Yes, it is convenient for the doctors, should you need another biopsy, but as a patient, it gives you some ease knowing that the exact area of concern is marked and easily found if there are any questions down the road. Should you ever need another biopsy, your previous allergic reaction to titanium will clearly make using another marker out of the question. Again, I am so sorry that this happened to you, but it is a very rare situation. I wish things could be foolproof when it come to medical tx, but that's not our reality.

BTW, I had an adverse event when my port was put in. Something that only happens 1% of the time. It resulted in a rush to the ER, a week in hospital and a month at home with a portable chest tube. I hated that I fell in to that tiny minority, but I understand that it happens, rarely, but it does.

Feel better soon.

jojo9999

I am so sorry to hear about your severe reaction to the markers. I can only say that my doctor wanted to put one in me at the time of biopsy and I said that I didn't want it. Something told me I shouldn't have that floating around in me. Doc agreed probably but I think only because she knew the biopsy was going to be positive and a mastectomy was in the cards - so the marker would come out anyways. But It worried me and it sounds like you got the worse of it. I hope you get some relief soon and some answers.

flipflop

I was gonna pretty much reply identical to exbrnxgrl. So instead I'll just echo that I'm sorry that you went through all that.