Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

titanium allergy

Desperate to find someone who reacts to titanium with breathing problem.

Had a titanium implant and having more breathing problems.
Must decide to keep or remove this as soon as possible.

Was on Plavix and had difficulty breathing (doc feels could be bronchial spasms from med)
after 15 months stopped and breathing was improving, only to have titanium implant put in
4 days before they realized could be titanium allergy.

Need to be tested...Melisa the only one that does it.  Does anyone have information on
getting blood/paperwork sent to them.  Impossible to reach them to get this done.

I am just about at my wits end.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, M.
14 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi Kandi67, You are telling my story. I had my back fused and all hell broke loose. I knew it was the titanium from the beginning but was told over and over that it wasn't. Long story short 1yr 5months later I had the titanium removed from my back, that was just this past September, it is going to be a long road to recover from here since it was inside my body for 17 months and it created all kinds of problems, auto immune diseases. I had antibodies attacking my brain, bones, heart..I had Polygalndular Failure, Ended up with Addisons disease,,,,,HORRIBLE, ... I could go on and on, it was HELL. I am getting better now, slowly but definitely better, I spent most of that time in bed or on the couch sick as all hell. When I saw your post I wanted to see if you got it figured out and if you were ok now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It sounds like the plate/implant!..For 2 1/2 years I have been suffering with throat muscle spasms, breathing problems,  numbness in my face and jaw, tongue burning/tingling. I was told it was anxiety/depression. At that I told my doctor it is the medical community who is making me depressed.  She dropped it. The money for copays/deductibles alone were really hurting us.  She also told me I really needed to get this taken care of.  No Kidding! I thought that was what I was paying her for???? I was told early on by an ENT it was spasms from the tonsillectomy. That it wasn't indicative of an allergy. I don't believe an ENT should have said that. It stopped me from bothering to go back to an allergist right away. I saw two allergists. We never thought to test for the metals in the plate. I was told there are too many things it could be and we were at a standstill.  One of the allergist seemed to get mad at me because his medications he prescribed were not stopping the symptoms. I felt he was frustrated because he couldn't figure it out. He was treating me like it was my fault because I wasn't following his instructions properly. He felt pills would fix it. When I knew I would lose my job soon due to all of the health problems I decided to ask for the second time, if I could have the plate removed. I felt my ankle would be ready to give out after I had been on it too long. I felt removing the plate was something in my control that could help me be a little healthier while I was dealing with all the other problems.  I also developed more new allergies during this time to medications as well.  Then about 3 weeks after my surgery to remove the plate I noticed my jaw didn't feel as tight. It always got tighter when I would drive from all the turning of my head and using the muscles in my neck. The muscle spasms are less and less severe as time passes. I am able to notice now my reaction to dust is more severe than I thought. Before I always had the spasms and numbness so I couldn't tell anything else that was a problem on top of it. I hope you haven't dealt with as much disrespect as I have through all of this...at work and in the medical community. Even my family had their doubts about me with all of the doctors not finding anything. I never felt so alone. No one believed me. My two kids kept me going. I hope so much your son is better soon. I really believe having the plate in for so long when I was allergic to it also caused more severe allergies to dust/medication and who knows what else. All I know is I feel better. The breathing problems that seemed to come and go for no reason are gone. I still have spasms, but not nearly as severe. The numbness through my whole jaw is mostly gone. If I do have numbness but it's in a much smaller area.  That numbness through my whole jaw was pretty much always there by that time just before the surgery to remove the plate. It has been 2 months since my surgery to remove the plate. God bless you. Don't let anyone stop you.  Don't let them try to disrespect or embarrass or discourage you into giving up. I do want to add that I saw a lot of nice, caring doctors who were just as frustrated as I.  They just didn't know.  I could tell they wished they could help more. Some were just mean.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My son broke his leg in football, had emergency surgery and a titanium rod put in. 3 months in a wheel chair, terrible swelling, couldn't walk, it wouldn't heal. He began getting extremely tired, loosing muscle, muscle spasms, he developed breathing problems and diaphragmatic flutter, he would smell tires, plastic, perfumes etc. and begin spasms. He was in Children's Mercy Hospital off and on 3 months. They started telling him it was in his head, anxiety, or he didn't want to go to school. (this was the captain of the football team, mentor, student council and he loved school and it was his senior year). To make a very long story short I researched for 1 year and de died he was allergic to the titanium. Took him to an allergist and he was allergic to half of the things she tested him for. took him back after the rod removal and he's not allergic to anything now. If he eats anything with titanium he bleeds from his nose and rectum. Toothpaste, M and M's, skittles, gum, just a out everything has titanium in it. So I'm looking for a doctor who specializes in titanium allergies. Thanks ,Wendye Hall
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
    Thank you for your repy to the Titanium allergy,I have had four knee replacements in five years.After the first failed he said it was because of staff I devoleped it when he went in to see what was going on a year in a and a half after it was put in. So he put another,I tried to hold on to that one,but it became impossable,I began getting real bad ulcers,an knee was worse than ever. So he said I njeeded another. At this point I told him my sister had it in her head and had rashs all the time he said no one is allergic.Well after the third one failed I went to another doctor and found out i was now he put in a crombolt my stomach is healed and my knee is better. Margaret Piner
Helpful - 0
1577492 tn?1333200991
How do you tell how to saftly remove it? where do u find that info? thanks
Helpful - 0
1577492 tn?1333200991
Hi I have been sick since 1/11/11 right after gallbladder surgery within a day and a half i went down with dizzy spells, dry heaving, blurred vision, very fatigue, dehydration problems, concentration brain fog feeling. I have been to doctor after doctor and many many tests that said I was in perfect health! I started looking over my records and seen they left two hemoclips in me and then the all the research on here. I did go and have a Melisa test done last month Nickel was a little high Titanium was fine but Vanadium was 2.8 the range is 2.0 to 2.9 I know this is the problem but now none of the doctors are even going to listen to me and or even look at the test. I was told today they want to send me to Mayo clinic Now after a year of going through the ringer. I already know the answer it's the clips I just need to get them removed. I will keep you updated
Helpful - 0
667923 tn?1421462724
I must say that w/all the allergies I had as a child and being sensitive that I know of from Latex, it is very possible that I am allergice to the titanium. I had my C5-C6 spinal discectomy in Feb.'06 and in May my right Bi-Cep muscle of my right arm was aching and burning like crazy. I went back to my Neurosurgen and he said that it was my C5 and I couldn't understand how that could be right, since I just had surgery to fix whatever was going on in my neck region, unless the NS made some kind of error.
I never thought @ the actual allergic reaction of the plates that were used. I am checking on the MELISA site and I don't know what to do. I want to be checked, but I don't have anywhere around here, unless I travel to Memphis,TN and get checked. Is that possible? I am sorry 4 the questions, but I am really wanting to find this out. After all, it has been over 5 yrs. since the surgery and I am only getting worse.
Help me guys and tell me what I need to do. I would be very appreciative to anyone that can help me find the answers to my misery. I am so tired of this pain. I fell asleep while posting this and woke and had to tell anyone of the PAIN I was experiencing in my neck and shoulders. When I woke up, it was so bad to where my neck was making me cry it hurt so bad. The only thing that helps me when I get into that kind of pain, is Biofreeze. It is the only thing that gets me through that pain because it burns..it is so HOT, but I know it could be that I am allergic to the titanium.It makes perfect sense. IF I had my choice, I would get THEM TAKEN OUT, if not only for being allergic, but because of the PAIN.
THank you for any help u can give. Peace to all and I pray that u guys get ur life back...and maybe so can I. :))<3 Karen
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also am allergic to titanium.  I recently reacted when exposed to stain, which has titanium dioxide in it.  Are you aware if any of your medications have titanium dioxide in the INactive indredients? (You have to look up inactive ingredients online, as many bottles don't list the inactive ingredients.)

It is VERY important that your doctor knows how to safely remove a metal implant from someone that is allergic!!!  There is a large amount of metal released when removing the implants.  Some people, that are allergic, can go into shock or die from the large amounts released during removal.  Your doctor may not believe that you can be allergic but be very strong...as we are all hear to attest to the fact that you can react to an implant...you may need to educate the doctor and bring in research...

Also, here is the contact information for the Melisa test.

Pharmasan Labs
373 280th Street, Osceola, WI 54020
Phone +1 715 294 2144
Fax +1 715 294 3921
Website www.neuroscienceinc.com/MELISA
Email dawn.***@****

If you are reacting to titanium, you most likely have other metal sensativities.  As I understand it, because I have been exposed to a huge amount of metal in my body (back implant) I am now reacting more strongly to all metal exposure (ie, paint, salad dressings, pills..)

Good luck!

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
RE: Titanium Allergies

Titanium allergies can be detected through provocative skin injection allergy testing. Because titanium is not a “pure” element, you should be tested for the other metals as well. You can call the Environmental Center in Dallas, TX to find resources available in your community.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please join the "titanium/vanadium/aluminum dental implant" forum.  Everything titanium has been discussed there.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been in a living hell since I had three implants put in, first severe thrush, now itching all over all the time, and my tongue has a white coating that no thrush medication is clearing up.  The roof of my mouth and my tongue burn severely all the time.  I cannot eat sugar at all or it really goes wild.  My weight is dropping and I was already thin. I am 5' 8" and I am down to 108.6 pounds.  I try to eat every 3 hours, soft food, very hard to find things I can eat.  I eat eggs every morning, then oatmeal with a banana mushed up in it, then yogart, then mashed potatoes, etc. For dinner I try to fix soft vegtables and meats, very hard to eat but I have to to maintain any weight at all.  My normal weight is 125-130.  I feel like something is really, really wrong with me.  I had the implants put in 6 months ago and the dentist, oral surgeon and my GP are all tryiing to tell me it has nothing to do with the implants.  I am going crazy, the pain is awful.  At a loss after reading these, I thought an ear, nose and throat doctor could help but from what I have read, I have doubt.  What do you do, get them out???  Scared and hurting all the time.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a titanium screw implanted in the leg in September 2009.  Ever since I have suffered from dermagraphia, increase in asthma symptoms, acid relfux (related to the asthma flare up?), and constant all-over itching.  I am considering doing the MELISA testing since the only thing my allergist could come up with was that I am allergic to latex (which I am not exposed to on a regular basis).
I had been talking to Dr Lana Foree with MELISA.  She was very helpful and always returned my emails/phone calls promptly. Her email address is: ***@****

I hope this helps! I know how frustrating those symptoms can be, I have been doing my best to cope with them for 5 months now. I hope you get the answers you are looking for. :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Here we are 4 months later.
Melissa test showed mildly allergic to titanium.
I have ringing in ears, every joint in my body is sore, headache and bronchial spasms.
Tooth is implanted correctly and not moving.  Dentist had told me all along we could remove the implant if need be.
Finally decided removal was the way to go.  Just want to feel good again.....now they say removing it could be a major surgery and possible I could lose tooth on either side.
I need help and information from anyone that can give me input.
Dentist feels that it can't be coming from titanium.
Please reply with any info.

Does it pay for me to take the Melissa test again to see if the level has increased in my body?  Would the blood test show this?

Thanks, M
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
Indeed, MELISA® can test for hypersensitivity to metals such as titanium implants. Although titanium is considered safe and compatible, around 4% of all patients show a positive reaction to titanium. You can take a MELISA® test for titanium allergy through one of the clinics or laboratory they are connected. These links may be helpful: http://www.melisa.org/melisa-laboratories.php
http://www.melisa.org/melisa-clinics.php

I hope this helps. Take care and best regards.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Allergy Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Find out if your city is a top "allergy capital."
Find out which foods you should watch out for.
If you’re one of the 35 million Americans who suffer from hay fever, read on for what plants are to blame, where to find them and how to get relief.
Allergist Dr. Lily Pien answers Medhelp users' most pressing allergy-related questions
When you start sniffling and sneezing, you know spring has sprung. Check out these four natural remedies to nix spring allergies.