There Is A Method to the Madness
This is a podcast where I will be discussing all aspects of physical fitness. I am an exercise physiologist and personal trainer and owner of Maxwell's Fitness Programs for the last 25 years. My passion is health and fitness and I am excited to share my views, some stories, interviews and much more with you.
There Is A Method to the Madness
Michelle Capraru: Former IFBB Professional Bikini Competitor Talks About The Risks of Breast Implants
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What happens when a professional athlete faces an unexpected health crisis? Join us as we talk to Michelle Capereau, a former IFBB professional bikini model, who opens up about her rigorous journey from a fitness enthusiast to a professional competitor. Michelle shares the intense discipline required for NPC and IFBB competitions, the toll of her breast implant revision on her career, and the invaluable lessons she learned about diet, nutrition, and training. Her reflections provide a raw and candid look at the world of professional fitness and the possibility of returning to the stage.
Michelle also takes us through the complex health implications she faced with breast implants, including brain fog, chronic fatigue, and Raynaud's phenomenon. We delve into her decision to opt for implant removal, explore the surgical options, and unpack her subsequent lupus diagnosis. Michelle shares her experience with the Autoimmune Protocol diet and the challenges it posed, emphasizing the importance of informed health choices and personal responsibility. This episode offers a thorough and intimate exploration of Michelle's journey, making it essential listening for anyone interested in fitness, health, and resilience.
Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...
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Michelle Capereau
Speaker 1Welcome to. There is a Method to the Madness. My name is Rob Maxwell. I'm an exercise physiologist and personal trainer. I'm the owner of Maxwell's Fitness Programs and I've been in business since 1994.
Speaker 1The purpose of this podcast is to talk about health and fitness, what works and, most importantly, why. I have a special episode today. I'm going to be interviewing Michelle Capereau, who is a former IFBB professional bikini model, and she wants to talk about some of her struggles and her journey, and she's going to talk about breast implantation and what she feels like the risks are with that. So it's going to be very interesting. I think it's a topic I don't know a lot about, so I'm going to let her talk about that. Before I get to that, let me thank Jonathan and Lynn Gildan of the Gildan Group at Realty Pros. Look, they're simply the best. They have the best customer service reviews in the area. They sell the most houses. They are out there to help you and I personally vouch for them. They can be reached at 386-451-2412. All right, without further ado, I'm here to welcome Michelle into the studio to talk. How are you this morning, michelle?
Speaker 2I'm great. How are you? It's a pleasure to be here. Thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 1I'm looking forward to the conversation, for sure. So I know that when I met you, when I came across, you were selling fitness equipment. That's how we got to know each other. And then we talked a little bit and I found out that you were a former basically bikini model right Professional.
Speaker 2Correct.
Speaker 1So I guess we can start there. Tell us a little bit about that journey, because I know from experience it is not easy.
Speaker 2No, it's definitely not easy, but it was something that I entertained since I was a teenager as far as being involved in training, fitness training, fitness conscious, fitness, training, fitness conscious. So when I got into competing, I'll just kind of go from there.
Speaker 1I was in my mid-30s.
Speaker 2It just happened to be a good time in my life I'd owned a business for five years that ultimately, I had to close and I wanted to do something with my time, to kind of keep me out of the doldrums. So my trainer at the at that time asked me if I'd ever if.
Speaker 2I'd ever thought about competing and I said well, you know, if any time was a good time, now would be the time because I have, you know, the time and the motivation to do so. So, yeah, I competed, you know, pretty much back to back. For you know, a couple months. I did two national shows. My second national show is when I, you know, won the overall and got my pro card.
Speaker 1What organization was that at the time?
Speaker 2NPC.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2I've only done NPC and IFBB. So NPC is the preliminary to the IFBB, ifbb is the pro league.
Speaker 1Okay, so is NPC all amateur.
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 1Okay, all right, and you were in your 30s when you started.
Speaker 2Yes, I was in my 30s when I entertained the competitive side of fitness.
Speaker 1But you're working out prior to that.
Speaker 2Yes, pretty regularly, you know, since I was in high school and you know my first husband talking about how many husbands I have my first husband was a bodybuilder. And he did some competitions. My first husband was a bodybuilder and he did some competitions, and prior to even that I had some friends that were also involved that I would train with, so it was always a topic of interest for me.
Speaker 1So it was basically worked out. It was just your trainer at the time saw obviously potential in you or they wouldn't have recommended to do a competition Correct, because it's not something you want to go out there and fall on your face if you're not ready. It's pretty nerve wracking.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, so what's so in the IFBB? How many times did you compete in that?
Speaker 2In the pro. I did three competitions in the pro league. So I, you know, I did my um, my pro debut shortly after I think it was like a month after, you know, I got my status and then, um, I had my uh, breast implant revision done. So I took some time off. And then, um, I, I did two other shows after that, two other preps and, you know, ultimately just kind of came to terms with um, you know where I was at in life in general, um, you know it was something that took precedence. Um, you know, my, my, my work life balance, so to speak, you know, wasn't, wasn't great. So, um, and then, you know, I, looking back, I realized that you know, my, my fatigue level was higher. I didn't have the, the energy that I had when I initially went into it. So I, just I took a different direction, took some time off.
Speaker 1Yeah, so are you happy with where you are, are so far at the time with with the physique competition, or is there something in you that says you want to do a little bit more?
Speaker 2Well, I always have that. You know, that little birdie that says oh you can do it, or why not do it again? You know it was something that you know really worked on my discipline Um, I learned a lot about myself. You know, um, a lot about you know fitness in general, diet, nutrition, training and you know lot about you know fitness in general, diet, nutrition, training and you know there's a plethora of information out there, so you know it's always something that I have you know, kind of you know in my toolbox right but you know, in the last, I guess probably eight, ten years it's, it's never been something that I have uh scheduled right
Speaker 1or really made a priority, you know so you, you brought up, um a few moments ago, the uh, you had some augmentation done, corrective, I think you said. So that's a good lead-in to the main reason you're here, that you wanted to talk about. So former IFBB pro physique competitions, um bikini specialty. For those that don't know, there's a lot of different categories, especially for the women, um, so yeah, so talk to us a little bit about the, the, what you've experienced with potentially, um how do you want to word it? Some problems from, maybe the breast augmentation.
Speaker 2Okay, yeah, well, first and foremost, why did I get breast implants? And my current breast implants is actually my third set, so over the course of 20 years I've had breast implants. So over the course of 20 years I've had breast implants. And this revision was done after I did pretty intense muscle training in fitness, because we always have to be careful with that.
Speaker 1For those that don't know, women that have had augmentation really need to watch chest exercises, bench press. Chest press flies things like that because it can cause a rupture.
Speaker 2Right, I didn't have a problem with rupture, but, um you know, they became deformed.
Speaker 1Okay, Um from training.
Speaker 2Yes, from training, absolutely. Uh, the first procedure was done axillary, which is through the armpit.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2Um, so kind of believe and from what I'm, you know, being told the way that they were set in my body and you know, probably initially was a great idea. But then, after I got into training and you know was, you know training, you know the pectoral muscles, you know the back muscles, the lat muscles, etc. It pulled the implants apart. So I had a a pretty wide cleavage area and, um it, it just it looked hard, it didn't look natural, it didn't look feminine. So, um, I, I researched getting them, uh redone and moving into silicone versus the saline that I had, because it was more um silicone versus the saline.
Speaker 2that I had, because it was more um less pliable. I guess it was soft softer appearance. Um, yes, and you know the doctor that I um that performed the procedure. Uh, dr Otto Plastic, out of Chicago is a great doctor. He did a wonderful job. I'm by no means unhappy with the way that they look. Um you know I'll get a little bit more into that later, but yeah, he did the revision and even did a fat transfer to the cleavage to soften that area, Cause I was just so lean.
Speaker 1Right and you are lean.
Speaker 2Yeah, still lean yeah.
Speaker 1So you started to say what was your main reason for doing that to begin with.
Speaker 2So my main reason to begin with for that to begin with, so my main reason to begin with for, you know, in my early twenties, you know um was everything to do with aesthetics. You know, um, like I said, I was, you know, into uh, training and fitness and you know, uh, the way that my body looked you know I'm very vain and that helped to provide the symmetry and the balance, you know, to my overall uh appearance right and moving forward.
Speaker 2After you know, I went into the competitions and the current set that I had had at that time became deformed. I that's when I started looking into having them redone and went with went in the direction of the silicone. And you know the uh, the fat transfer to the cleavage.
Speaker 1Do the majority of women in um physique competitions? Do they have augmentation? The majority of them, would you say, in bikini.
Speaker 2I would say, um, yes, it's definitely. Uh, you know, a benefit, because the body gets so lean, you tend to lose breast tissue, natural breast tissue. You know, a lot of our breast tissue is formulated with fat.
Speaker 1Right right.
Speaker 2And you know, really, the bodybuilding is everything about. You know symmetry, right, right.
Speaker 1And balance. Okay, okay, right right and the balance. Okay, so you got them and now maybe do you regret it, or is it like what were some of the things you were experiencing, or experiencing now? That's maybe questioning whether you want to keep them?
Speaker 2Well, I wouldn't say that I regret it.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2You know, because I have, for the most part, enjoyed them I just think that right now, with some of the other things that are going on in my life Okay, you know because I have, for the most part, enjoyed them I just think that right now, with some of the other things that are going, on in my life.
Speaker 2I think that you know they're potentially not helping me Right. You know they may be a contributor to some of the you know health struggles that I'm currently having. I got sick right after I had them done. You know, looking back I was already very lean. Right, you know I got them done a month after I obtained my ProCard, so you can just kind of have an idea of you know how small I was.
Speaker 1Yeah, because right for people that don't know, when you come off of a competition for a month you're kind of unhealthy. Lean yeah, super lean yeah competition for a month.
Speaker 2you're kind of unhealthy lean, super lean, yeah, and I'm going to get into a little bit more of that later. Also, about you know where I'm at, you know, with my health and understanding. You know some of you know the possible, uh, reasons why I'm facing some of the things that I am, and I think that that might contribute to it as well. Um, but yeah, so I, I, I, I got pretty sick after I had them redone.
Speaker 1When you say sick, what were your symptoms?
Speaker 2I was very nauseous, um, I couldn't really eat much and I lost like 15 to 20 pounds. I was really. I looked. I mean, my best friend told me she's like my God, michelle, what is going on with you? You look really sick.
Speaker 1So yeah, so like you're 5'10". I'm 5'9" 5'9", and so when you were competing, you came off that show. What was your body weight?
Speaker 2I competed at 138.
Speaker 1So you're 5'9", 138. And then you lost how much.
Speaker 2Like 15, 20 pounds. Yeah, so I was like I was under 125 pounds, which, even you know, without the muscle that I put on through training, I've always carried a healthy 130 to 140 pounds. That's like my ideal If I get anything below 130, I don't look healthy.
Speaker 1Right, what are you now?
Speaker 2I'm actually 136. Okay, so you kind of stay there. Well, I wouldn't say healthy, right? What are you now? I'm actually 136.
Speaker 1Okay, so you kind of stay there.
Speaker 2Well, I wouldn't say that I stay there. I do fluctuate and it has, um, you know, a lot to do with, uh, my health concerns right now as well. I mean, just in this last month I've I fluctuated like 15 pounds.
Speaker 1Wow.
Speaker 2You know, I think the last time you know know, we met and we did my measurements. I was 142 pounds, you were. I went through a flare um because I have. I don't think we've even talked about it that I have lupus, okay, diagnosed with lupus and I went through a flare and put on 10 pounds and then, you know, was treated for that uh with intravenous medication and you know all of the inflammation. The weight came off and I'm even lighter now than I was the last time I saw you.
Symptoms and Decisions Regarding Breast Implants
Speaker 2Yes so you know it's. For those that don't know what is lupus Lupus is an autoimmune disease and I don't quite understand it that well myself. To be honest, it can be very confusing Everyone who has been diagnosed with lupus. They're different.
Speaker 1Okay, they have different symptoms.
Speaker 2They have different challenges. I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago and I still don't necessarily accept that I have it, which is part of the reason why I'm taking the proactive approach to have my breast implants removed hoping that will clear up some of the things that I'm going through and potentially could be a cause if not just a contributor to my struggles.
Speaker 1What are those main symptoms that you experience?
Speaker 2The main symptoms that I experience is the brain fog, chronic fatigue. I mean. Every day is a struggle for me. My method to my madness, to getting through it, is to make sure I get up every morning and get ready for my day, and no matter how I feel right you know, because I can get to a point where, like, if I allow myself to settle in my fatigue, it's more about, it has to be more about my mindset suit up and show up suit up and show up.
Speaker 2Yeah, radons, which is something that you know was onset a year after I had my breast implants, yeah um, which really has been something that has been has stuck out all these years. It's like where did this come from?
Speaker 2right and if anybody doesn't want radons, it's rad, now it's. It's actually. It's not that uncommon, but you know temperature, you know cold, stress levels, stimulants, anything like that causes my my vessels to constrict and my hands go blue, then white and Then numb, to the point where you know I'm in the grocery store and if I'm there, you know too long. By the time I numb to the point where you know I'm in the grocery store and if I'm there, you know too long, by the time I get to the checkout I can't pull out my, my money or anything out of my billfold because I literally can't feel my fingers.
Speaker 1And that came on after the um breast implants.
Speaker 2Yes, yes.
Speaker 1Okay, that's interesting. And then I think you said you suffer some inflammation.
Speaker 2Yes, um, you know, in my hands I have swelling, like around my knuckles, and usually when I'm experiencing, you know, a flare which I'm still, you know, familiarizing myself with. As far as you know, what is you know? Is it just life happening? Am I just maybe a little stressed out today? Or maybe, you know, is you know, is it just life happening? Am I just?
Speaker 2maybe a little stressed out today, or maybe you know, the flower didn't bloom today like it did the other day, but I noticed some things in my hands and some things, like you know, in my arms, and you know, obviously you know the weight fluctuation between pounds, or as much as 10 pounds.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's a lot.
Speaker 2And there's not any real difference in what's going on in my life really.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2You know my diet's, you know pretty consistent.
Speaker 1You're clean, you eat clean.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1So what are you doing like prior to? So have you decided you're going to have them removed?
Speaker 2Yes, I have made that decision.
Speaker 1Okay, that sounds um, that sounds scary.
Speaker 2It is scary. It is scary, um. I've been preparing myself for it mentally because, you know, I've had breast implants for 20 years you know, so I see myself a certain way every day. Um, but I am in my mids and my lifestyle has changed. When it comes to the symmetry of my body, I'm not as concerned about that as I was in the past. My vanity has started to relax Competitions in fitness and all of that, you know, is not on the forefront, and so I feel that I've become more humble right you know, with the way that I look, the scariest part about the procedure is it's pretty invasive.
Speaker 2Yeah, there's three different ways that it can be done. And on block is where you know they take the entire capsule. The capsule is the scar tissue that your body develops around the implant to protect your body from the foreign object, and so doing it that way is, you know, supposed to ensure that all the toxins are removed from the body as best as you know supposed to ensure that all the toxins are, um, are removed from the body as best as possible, you know, without the risk of of you know them leaking into the body and causing you know more issues.
Speaker 2And then there's you know where. You just take the implants out and you leave the capsule the scar tissue.
Speaker 1the scar tissue Got it.
Speaker 2Yes, um, and then you know, and I've, I've, I've really been leaning towards the on block because that just gives me the reassurance that you know I, I have done my best to take care of the issue and you know as symptoms or problems may arise in the future, then you know I don't have that question being, oh my gosh, well, should I have done the the on block. And you know, did I, you know, did I not, did I not fully, did I not cover all of my bases here?
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2But I, you know I was speaking to not only the research, but I was speaking to my doctor that performed the surgery initially and, um, you know he explained that. You know that's not always necessary. You know there's the breast implant illness where there's, you know the symptoms. But then there's also something that has popped up called associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, alcl.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2And you know that is not something that you know, um that I'm facing. So, that being said, the en bloc may not be necessary because the en bloc is pretty high risk so how would they know, though, because you don't have those symptoms, is that? Correct. I don't have those symptoms and the uh, the large cell lymphoma is actually um. It's a type of non-hododgkin's lymphoma.
Speaker 2So it's cancer of the immune system. So as far as the testing, there's no testing to diagnose or confirm breast implant illness. The only way you know that you're going to be better is to actually eliminate them.
Speaker 1Trial and error.
Speaker 2Right For me. My ANA levels, my anti-nuclear antibody levels, uh are elevated and that's what, um you know, brought on the the diagnosis of lupus.
Speaker 1That was a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2You said A year and a half ago.
Speaker 1So it's not like you're just um thinking this, like you've done your tests, like you you've done a lot of medical tests to determine, I mean the lupus I get, but I mean even, like some of the um, you know, the potential risks from the breast augmentation. I mean there, had there have been some markers that have said this could be what's causing the problems.
Speaker 2Right, well, and that's and that's important to um. You know, to explain also is the is the markers and the idea that you know I'm not naive to think that you know I'm gonna have this explant procedure done and all of my problems are gonna disappear right you know the women out there that have confirmed, you know, from the elimination of the expert implants and have gotten, you know, extraordinarily better to a hundred percent better.
Speaker 2You know it still took a little time after it could take anywhere from six months to a hundred percent better. You know it still took a little time, how long it could take anywhere from six months to a year.
Speaker 1You know they detox. Yeah, it's like the body needs to heal Right.
Speaker 2But also you know, I understand that I have led a pretty extreme lifestyle. You know, I've understood that. You know I haven't managed my stress well throughout my life. You know, I'm currently in recovery and working on all of those things and understanding that you know autoimmune which they don't really understand where that you know how that comes about, but stress is considered.
Speaker 1Of course.
Speaker 2So when you say in recovery do you mean like from alcohol or drugs, or, yeah, Alcoholism. I've been in recovery for alcoholism for a little over two years. I'm nine months consistent. So you know that has that has been, you know, a life-changing journey for me and definitely plays a big role in a lot of what I'm experiencing with this. I found out that I had lupus was probably about three to six months after, you know, I started my journey in recovery, so I'm grateful for that. It's like God has his way of lining these things up so that you know you can either better be prepared or, you know, hopefully have the clarity to be able to handle it.
Speaker 1Right, because how might you have responded if you weren't?
Speaker 2Correct.
Speaker 1You know.
Speaker 2I mean I, you know, I don't know, I just I just know that you know the path that I'm on. You know I have the ability to handle things with more faith.
Speaker 1And probably being sober now, like led to some of this clarity as well. Like you know, maybe it just wasn't an issue right During drinking days, party days, like you're not going to know, Maybe you were experiencing some of these things right, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 2You're not going to know, maybe you are experiencing some of these things, right, exactly, exactly. And and you know, um, I'm glad you went into that because I, you know, I, I'm looking back and I'm trying to figure out okay, where is this coming from? You know lupus, like what you know, I mean my family, I come from a, a genetic line that is pretty, it's pretty incredible. My father is 70 years old, you know. He's the guy that you know throws back a brew and, you know, smoke psychedelic cigarettes, but he's incredibly healthy.
Speaker 2Um, you know, my mom has bounced back from, you know, uh, a lot of complications from, you know, her alcoholism. I don't have a history of cancer or heart disease or anything like that in my family, so I would say that if my alcoholism was still active, I would be in denial. I would be so proud to say, oh, that's, you know, that can't be the case. I don't have lupus. In fact, when I was diagnosed with lupus, I wasn't denial, you know, because, um, I, I'm, I'm really not experiencing some of the extremes that that I'm reading, that others out there are experiencing. For that I'm incredibly grateful.
Speaker 1So extremes of lupus you mean, Correct?
Speaker 2Correct, you know. So then I go. Then I go into the idea that it's possibly the breast implants. I have a latex allergy so I'm like, okay, well you know silicone latex, you know how to. You know what kind of. Are they in the same family?
Speaker 1I don't know.
Speaker 2You know I got sick, pretty sick, right after I had them put in I you know I had the onset of Raynaud's a year after. You know, at the same time there were things going on in my life. You know I had the onset of Raynaud's a year after. You know, at the same time there were things going on in my life, you know, that that could have contributed to those illnesses. So if I was still active alcoholism I wouldn't be able to really narrow it down to what may be causing. You know the struggles that I'm currently having. But when I know that I'm doing the right thing and I know that, like you know, I'm, I'm, I'm not putting anything toxic into my body, that it it. It gives me um the ability to be able to um at least understand. You know how to approach it.
Speaker 1So when do you plan on doing this Cause we're definitely going to have a uh, a follow-up. You know, afterwards, you know, when do you think you're going to do this? Is this something you've scheduled or need to schedule? Where are we at in that?
Speaker 2Well, I will say that you know I was pretty adamant about having this done and almost impatient, because I just want to feel better and I just want to know that you know, like I'm not wasting any time to to take take action.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2Um, you know, that being said, I did have it scheduled for tomorrow and have decided to postpone it. Um, you know, some things you know have popped up, that you know, I think maybe I need to, you know, be a little bit more informed, or I need to do, you know, a little bit more, have a little more consideration as far as what my particular situation is.
Speaker 1Right.
Autoimmune Protocol Diet and Implants
Speaker 2And so I'm looking into, um you know the different procedures, um you know my uh situation with my uh you know my implant doctor, my cosmetic surgeon that did the implants, so that I kind of know what his take is as far as the safest way.
Speaker 1Could you trust him?
Speaker 2I do. I absolutely do trust him, and if anybody is going to know how to take them out, it'd be the one that put them in Right?
Speaker 1I mean, it makes sense that you're doing your research, your homework, yeah, so what are you going to do like in between? You had mentioned to me about your diet. Talk a little bit about that. That sounds pretty extreme right now, trying to eliminate stuff.
Speaker 2Right, right. The autoimmune protocol diet is something that I've been doing and I initially started that. I've known about it for a while. I just haven't taken action. I originally started it in preparation for the surgery and the detoxing after the surgery. The autoimmune protocol diet eliminates foods that are potential causes of inflammation in the body.
Speaker 1Dairy, obviously.
Speaker 2Right, right, you know dairy nuts seeds, you know what they call nightshades, and it's interesting because I call it the paleo diet on steroids.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2Because you know the paleo diet is nothing processed.
Speaker 1Right everything out of the ground or killed.
Speaker 2Food from the earth.
Speaker 1Yes, that's not easy to do nowadays. No In 2024.
Speaker 2It's not. It's not that convenient it can be done. I'm grateful that I have the experience and being disciplined with my diet. I think that would be helpful. But there are things on that diet that I'm not able to eat.
Speaker 1Because you don't like or just because you react in other ways.
Speaker 2Well, it's telling me to eliminate them like almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds.
Speaker 1That's why you say on steroids.
Speaker 2Tomatoes.
Speaker 1Yes.
Speaker 2Potatoes.
Speaker 1Yeah, no potatoes, huh.
Speaker 2No well, sweet potatoes.
Speaker 1Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, right. What are there other grain sources that you can eat or carbohydrate sources that you can eat?
Speaker 2Well, fruits and vegetables, because it's no quinoa.
Speaker 1So you can have sweet potatoes bananas.
Speaker 2Yeah, fruits and vegetables.
Speaker 1Apples.
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 1So what kind of fruits would you have to eliminate?
Speaker 2I don't believe there really are. If there are any fruits on the list or not, any that I have in my regular diet.
Speaker 1I should have brought that list with me. I'm just curious, because that's going to be pretty, that's hard.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, I mean, and I'm already like my weight is already like You're going to have to eat a ton.
Speaker 1You're going to have to eat a ton of sweet potatoes.
Speaker 2You're going to have to eat 10 sweet potatoes a day, I'm going to have to eat a lot of something in order to not linger away Like what's going to be your protein source Chicken, fish, chicken, yes, fish.
Speaker 1I do plant protein Right? Yes, you said that.
Speaker 2Shakes every morning, and that was something you know that I started doing consistently because I was having a hard time keeping weight on.
Speaker 1Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2Yeah, broccoli, you sow veggie. Vegetable, proteins. Yum, huh, yeah yeah veggie, vegetable proteins.
Speaker 1Yeah yeah, it's not like you can go to Starbucks and get a nice bagel, cream cheese and a frappuccino.
Speaker 2Right, yeah, I'm not going to be. I probably will be the most boring date, because that's for sure.
Speaker 1Going to have to go get some sweet potatoes and mahi. Yeah, it's actually not that bad.
Speaker 2Right.
Speaker 1Well, we got a few minutes left here in interview number one. What do you want to tell people? I mean, you told them a lot already, but what do you feel like you need to get across in this? I will say for you, I think you did a really good job of like you're not making any accusations. I like that You're just saying you know, you don't know for sure, but there's a possibility that the breast augmentation implants could be causing some of this. And for you, you want to see. I mean, I think that's a pretty good way to approach it, you know. In other words, you're not going to get the people coming at you, going. You know it didn't happen to me.
Speaker 2It's like you're not saying it did like you're not saying it did correct, correct, well, and that's um, that's definitely important to uh, to know and and you know I I'm hyper responsible sometimes yeah, I think taking responsibility is, um, you know, is huge for growth, right? So I would say, um you you know a program, right?
Speaker 2Yes, yes, so I'm kind of tripping on my words here, but to get to answer your question, I would say that, um, you know, if you're considering, you know, putting anything into your body that you know is foreign, and so you know we're speaking of breast implants. So if you're considering breast implants, you know, for your personal reasons, whatever those might be, you know take responsibility and do your research and know enough about your body and your family history to know what those risks and complications could be and, um, you know, be self-aware about what's going on with your body. If you decide to get them done and what is going on and so that you can address that, you know be prepared financially, you know, to have them taken right back out.
Speaker 1Isn't that more expensive than putting them in?
Speaker 2Well, I mean when I had them. When I had them done, it was pretty expensive because I had a revision. Right Um but yes, it's, it's. It's pretty expensive 10,000, right. Um well, I was quoted 13,000 just to have them explanted.
Speaker 1Because I have had a client had this procedure done A couple years ago they had them. I think it was somewhere in that ballpark of $10,000 to $15,000. So that's not cheap and obviously it's not insurance paid.
Speaker 2No, insurance will not cover it. It's not a recognized disease or illness. There's no way to test for it, so there's no real diagnosis. It really is just. You know.
Speaker 2I say like this you know, if I have a wool sweater that looks great on me but it breaks out my skin every time I wear it and I decide, okay, well, I'm just going to take this, you know, antihistamine before I wear the sweater, you know, so that I don't break out as bad. But I'm still going to have, you know, my body is still going to be put under some sort of toxins because I'm taking you know something to it's a reaction. It's a reaction you know.
Speaker 2So I look at it as you know. Okay, yeah, you know I maybe maybe it's something that I feel looks good on me, but if it's going to be something that is going to get in the way of my overall health and wellness, then it's something that I don't really need.
Speaker 1And then ultimately, then it won't look good on you, right?
Speaker 2Right, because your health is going to go down the toilet and yeah, so I'm not going to have the energy or the stamina to be able to really be enjoying the moment.
Speaker 1Right, right, and you know you said about specifically breast augmentation, but you know people are doing other implants. Nowadays they're doing butt implants.
Speaker 2Oh, exactly, exactly, you know.
Speaker 1I mean, I've seen it. I literally was like there's no way that that's a normal butt, right. I've seen it in my own life with people. I'm like so it's not just breasts now, right. I mean people are doing other things, it's not?
Speaker 2just breasts? Now right, I mean, people are doing other things. It's not just breasts, you know, and we're talking specifically about, you know, implants that are silicone-based or are, for, you know, vanity. Right, right, but there's other things that we, you know that we have as implants. You know, everything from you know tooth repair to knee replacements, replacements, shoulder replacements, etc.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2You know that very well could considerably have some of the same risks if the body, you know, reacts to them.
Speaker 1But I guess the difference is one they're for vanity versus the need. The person right has to feel better. So yeah, I think that was a very good. The wool sweater is a great example, a great analogy on that as well.
Speaker 2Yeah, do I need it. Right, that as well, do I need it.
Speaker 1Right. Do I really really need it? Do you have anything else you wanted to share?
Speaker 2I think we pretty much covered everything you know. There's of course, like you know, a lot to be discussed always, but I think that we covered all the important factors.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2I'm sure there's going to be a lot that's going to come up, you know, for our part two, after I have explained it?
Speaker 1Yeah, for sure, and you'll be available, Like if anybody contacts me, are you open to them calling you, Like if they have their own concerns, they'd like to get some more you know, absolutely.
Speaker 2I think that that's important and that's you know.
Speaker 2That's why you know we're here today is, you know, because you know sharing your story and your experience, you know, helps someone else to be able to put it into perspective, possibly for what they're experiencing. And, you know, with something like this, where everybody is, you know, has different symptoms or different lifestyles or et cetera, you know you really kind of get you get, um, you get, uh, become more comfortable with understanding, um, you know what is going on when you can talk to someone else about it. So I'm definitely open to anybody you know who wants to share their experience with me, you know, cause that would help me as well.
Speaker 1Right, and I don't know really anything about the subject. You know um, which is why it was great to have you on. I will say, though, like the last thing is, you brought your puppy.
Speaker 2I had, yes.
Speaker 1So if anybody heard a little doggy barking, you know that's because what's your dog's name?
Speaker 2Chico. If anybody knows me, they know that Chico goes everywhere.
Speaker 1Chico goes everywhere and Chico's a cute, cute little pup just not even a pup anymore sitting in your lap. Being good, he just wanted mommy's attention there. So that's probably a better way to deal with stress than some of the old former ways right, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2I have definitely.
Speaker 1I've got much better tools in my toolbox today than I did in the past Puppies and animals, and you know, working out and being healthy and all that good stuff probably is better, you know. So that was great. So let's see I will. When you contact me we'll know exactly. Well, you're going to be in contact. But I mean when you know when that's all scheduled. What I'll do is I'll let all the viewers know and when you're going to be back on again and we can kind of do a post wrap up.
Speaker 2For sure, for sure, that sounds great.
Speaker 1I hope everybody enjoyed that interview. I know I certainly did. Michelle is an outstanding individual who really really works hard to better herself and really tries to help people Like that's the one I really so respect in her is the fact that she really does everything with the best of intentions, to really try to help her fellow citizens and animals, which I think is awesome. Speaking of animals, have you met Zach Hawk, the owner of Overhead Door Company? That guy is in here and he is a beast. But more important than that, he and his dad, jeff, have the absolute best garage door company in the state of florida and we're fortunate enough to have them here in daytona beach. If you need any help, please give them a shout at overhead door daytonacom. And, by the way, please download all of these podcasts and share them on your social media. It is so appreciated if you do that, because then it really really spreads. All right, see you next time.
