Hello, my name is Rachel Creegan and I truly appreciate you taking a moment to read my story.

Over the past few years I've been experiencing lots of health issues that have drastically been affecting my life. It has taken me so much time, money and research but I've finally found answers to why I'm having so many problems. I have what is called Breast Implant Illness, or BII. Breast implants can cause all kinds of autoimmune reactions in your body because of all of the chemicals used to make breast implants. I wish that this was more well known and I'm hoping my story can help other women out there suffering from the same things I am, and I plan on spreading the word for years to come so that others do not have to go through the same thing.

I got my implants about 20 years ago to help build my confidence, not knowing that years later they would do the exact opposite and destroy my health at the same time. I WISH I could go back and tell my younger self "you are perfect the way you are, don't change a thing!" But you live and you learn and these are the consequences I'm dealing with now.

Before I got them, I was very fit, active and in great health. I never had any issues with getting sick aside from the occasional cold, like most people. Now it feels like I can't remember what it feels like to not be sick. I am ALWAYS sick now. I used to run, lift weights, snowboard, wakeboard, surf, hike, swim, play sports, pretty much do anything I wanted and my body would allow me to. Shortly after getting my implants, I noticed a great decrease in my energy and ability to be active like I used to. It only got worse after having my daughter Nixon. Like other women have said, I think my pregnancy really triggered certain things and made them come to the surface. I got gestational diabetes even though I was young and not overweight, which is pretty uncommon. After that, I was never able to get back to my pre-baby weight and I could not figure out why, no matter what I did. I was only 23 at the time. I figured that was just normal after having a baby but something still seemed off. I felt sick and old and I was still so young.

BEFORE IMPLANTS: Healthy and active

Over the years, I continued putting on weight which of course led to more health issues. I went down many paths like trying to change my birth control and regulating my hormones. Nothing worked. I could deal with the weight gain and started to accept that maybe this is just where my body would be for the rest of my life. But I could not deal with what was to come.

After having my son Dash, I started getting severe neck pain. I would have tension headaches every day and nothing would make them go away so I just had to suffer through them. Fast forward a few years and my neck pain has spread to my back, my shoulders, my hips, my knees, my feet and my hands. Every day I'm in constant pain.

On top of that I'm experiencing many other symptoms that are associated with Breast Implant Illness such as:

*Low immune system- difficulty healing and getting over illnesses

*Hair loss- hair coming out in clumps

*Memory loss and brain fog- short term, long term, difficulty remembering simple words or how to spell or simple math

*Dry bloodshot eyes and puffy undereyes

*Heart Palpitations

*Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing

*Chest pain and stabbing pain in breasts

*Muscle weakness and pain-weak grip, trouble with motor skills

*Arthritis in hands

*Extreme fatigue-I could sleep all day and not feel rested

*Extreme anxiety and depression

*Temperature intolerance

*Feeling like I'm PMSing all the time

*Dizzy spells/lightheadedness

*Blurry Vision

*Sensitivity to sound

*Ringing in ears

*Decreased libido

*Night sweats

*Liver issues

*Thyroid issues

*Pancreas issues

AFTER IMPLANTS: Chronic pain, inflammation, brain fog, weight gain, hair loss, muscle weakness and more

I thought I was going through perimenopause but that was not the case and nothing I took helped to regulate my hormones. The toxic chemicals in implants can affect every system in your body, and with me they definitely have. Endocrine, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, skeletal, and integumentary, all of it! There is not one thing in my body that they have not affected.

So now, my only goal is to get these things out of my body so I can start healing. Since this was an elected surgery, removing them is considered "cosmetic" regardless of the damage they are doing, and unfortunately THOUSANDS of women are in the same boat. This surgery is not covered by insurance. Also, getting them removed CORRECTLY, will cost double if not triple what you pay for your original surgery. Doctors in Utah charge anywhere from $11,000-$14,000 to remove them. I decided to shop around and find a more affordable doctor, but it was also important for me to find a skilled doctor with lots of experience with BII.

The doctor I have chosen to do my surgery is Dr. Kunkel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many women have traveled to him because any surgeon can put implants in, but taking them out via en bloc capsulectomy, takes skill and patience to make sure nothing is left behind to contaminate your body. Luckily, Dr. Kunkel has made explant surgery much more affordable to women because he cares about this cause.

Any funds donated will go to costs associated with my surgery:

Surgery including anesthesia- $7,000

Travel expenses- Flights to Oklahoma for Mike and I, one night in a hotel room after surgery and return home the next day- about $1,000

Time off work-about $2,000 for expenses

I will need to take at least a month off of work. I won't be able to drive or lift my arms for 2 weeks, and after won't be able to do any heavy lifting for a while. I'm trying to save up as much as I can on my own, and may be able to get to my goal sooner, but with the fatigue and pain, working more is not an option as even the days I work really take it out of me.

I'm hoping to raise this money to get my life and my health back. I just want to feel like myself again and be able to be active with my son and do all of the things I love to do. I feel like I've been living in someone else's body for 20 years. This has taken such a toll on me physically but also mentally, and I'm doing my best to stay positive and realize this won't be my life forever. But every day my symptoms get worse and worse, and I'm hoping I don't get to the point where I'm bedridden like many other women have become from implants, or get breast implant related cancer. I'm hoping to save up the money by this summer when Dash is out of school so driving will not be an issue.

I truly feel blessed that I have such a great support system from family and friends, so thank you for all of your love!!

Any amount you're willing to contribute is greatly appreciated, and if you are not able to contribute, a share with family and friends would mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and please pass this information along to anyone who might be suffering from Breast Implant Illness. Thank you!!

Love, Rachel :)