Just before I went to India, I discovered that I had an abscessed root canal. I wondered whether this infection could be the reason I felt like I was going to die, or whether it was truly the Lyme disease getting worse.

The abscessed root canal was removed in Chicago, Illinois, but I was not given appropriate antibiotics. This became a serious issue because I had breast implants. I believe bacteria from the removal of the abscessed root canal contributed to an infection that seeded in my breast implants, and my body became septic.

After ten weeks in India receiving IV antibiotics and powerful stem cell treatments, I still felt like I was dying. Stem cells were delivered to my brain through a spinal catheter that remained in place for fifteen days. But I began to wonder how these miraculous stem cells could rebuild a body that was still burdened by infection.

I had an epiphany: removing all focal infections — breast implants, cavitations, and root canals — would be the key to saving my life. At the same time, I began paying closer attention to detoxification methods and ways to support and rebalance the body.

During my time in India, I met another Lyme patient who shared her healing story. She had improved significantly through integrative care and later reached full remission after stem cell treatment. Hearing her experience reinforced my belief that I needed to clean up my body and address hidden focal infections.

The stem cells saved my life. I truly believe that. I was seriously septic, and I do not believe my doctors, dentists, or I would have otherwise discovered that my breast implants had become a serious source of infection. A dangerous bacteria called Enterococcus faecium was found in the biopsy of my breast implant capsule tissue. This bacteria is typically found in the mouth, yet it had ended up in my chest cavity.

When I returned home to Chicago from Delhi, my breast implants began pushing themselves out of my body. The burning in my chest was intense, and I knew my life depended on breast implant removal. After the explant surgery, I started twitching badly and feared I might have ALS or MS. Eventually, I discovered that I had a serious B12 deficiency at the cellular level, even though my blood levels appeared high. Once this was properly identified, I was given B12 shots.

In preparation for further integrative medical care, I had all root canals removed and replaced with inert, non-allergenic, non-conductive zirconium oxide dental implants. All cavitations were cleaned out, and all fillings were replaced with ceramic inlays. This treatment gave me my smile back and, I believe, likely saved my life by removing the last of my eight focal infections: two breast implants, two root canals, and four cavitations.

I figured out a few things through this experience. These are my personal opinions and are not a substitute for medical advice from a trusted physician.

1. If you have breast implants, having dental work done before breast explant surgery may carry serious risks.

2. If you have root canals and breast implants, there may be a risk that bacteria from an existing root canal can seed into the breast implants and contribute to infection or sepsis. In my opinion, antibiotics may be critical before and after dental surgery when breast implants are present.

3. There are many scientific papers outlining precautions for dental work in patients with hip or knee implants, because bacteria released during dental procedures can gravitate toward implants and contribute to infection or biofilms. However, there appear to be fewer discussions around the risks of dental work and breast implants.

4. Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, also known as BIA-ALCL, has been associated with biofilm bacteria in textured breast implants. During breast explant surgery, a CD30 biopsy test can help determine whether BIA-ALCL is present.

5. In my personal experience, undergoing serious dental work such as cavitation treatment or root canal removal while being unwell and having textured breast implants may be especially risky. This is my opinion based on what I went through and what I learned during my healing journey.