migrating foreign body reaction?

[hcurrie]

hi i have a really strange situation - i have been ill for three years and seen countless doctors and could not get a diagnosis - happened to have a abdomina;l xray at the er which showed metal in my abdomen - i had this xray because of severe pain for a year in the same spot as the metal was in- had a ct which showed the item was in my perineal cavity- i had suregery to remove it monday- the symptoms i have had for these years are weakness, low sodium and potassium, hypoglycemia, tingling, numbness, blurry vision, my heart just goes crazy all of a sudden beating all over the place , sometimes hypotension, i could always feel my heart beating every beat all the time,  the item was a metal clip from a tubiligation i hAd four years ago it was loose and migrating around in there, my question is  could this have caused my symptoms? the symptoms were thouroughly investigated and no doctoir could come up with an explanation, now when i wake up from surgery they are all gone! also my sed rate was high for these years and i had swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen and intermittent fever.

[tljinc123]

A related discussion, Foreign objects was started.

[caregiver222]

As usual, Drnee has provided a clear and concise explanation of the problem.

Any "non-self" substance within the body is defined as an "antigen". There is an argument that even materials such as teflon and titanium used for surgical procedures produce reactions, albeit "negligible" ones.

It would be interesting to know how the metal got there and it's compositon.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
“The Foreign Body Reaction
The foreign body reaction begins as wound healing, including accumulation of exudate at the site of injury, infiltration of inflammatory cells to debride the area, and the formation of granulation tissue. However, the persistent presence of a biomedical implant, splinter, particulates, or other foreign bodies inhibits full healing. Rather than the resorption and reconstruction that occurs in wound healing, the foreign body reaction is characterized by the formation of foreign body giant cells, encapsulation of the foreign object, and chronic inflammation.”
Refer: http://www.uweb.engr.washington.edu/research/tutorials/woundhealing.html
Hope this helps you understand this better. Take care!

[hcurrie]

i was just wondering if you knew why or how the item could initiate the foreign body reaction if per say i was not allergic to the metal, i am wondering how this reaction occurs etc., since i have been miserable for three years and so thankful to feel better now i am curious as to the why, and thank you for your comment!

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Yes, it is possible the metal clip caused all your symptoms by initiating a foreign body reaction in your body. Also you could be allergic to the metal. I would suggest you take a sensitivity done for metals in future if you need anything implanted in your body that has metal in it.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!