PHOENIX — Former Fear Factor contestant Angie Riggs now weighs only 96 pounds after years of health problems she says comes from her breast implants.
“I'm doing things for my three children to have them look up to me as a role model.” Riggs, 42, said during her appearance on season two of Fear Factor.
Her daughter, Bree, said she remembers her mother doing gymnastics in a field.
“She used to be so strong and now she is withering away, " Bree Riggs said.
More than a decade ago, after having three children, Angie Riggs decided to get breast implants. She said things were fine for a few years, then her health took a turn for the worse.
"At the age of 30 I had to have a hysterectomy, along with my gallbladder and appendix removed," Angie said.
Since then Angie said she has experienced numerous symptoms, from tremors, to "brain fog," general fatigue and more.
She says doctors have never been able to confirm what is wrong with her.
Angie Riggs said she now believes her symptoms to be the result of breast implant illness. There are dozens of groups on Facebook, the largest “Breast Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole” has more than 60,000 members.
The doctor who 12 News talked to Monday doubts its existence.
"There have been hundreds of studies of this issue without them able to identify breast implants as the cause of the symptoms." Dr. Pablo Pritchard, a plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, said.
Dr. Pritchard said breast implants have been the subject of scientific studies, including control groups which have not found any correlation between symptoms and breast implants.
While there has been no proof, explants can sometimes help provide a calming effect, and the symptoms those like Angie are feeling are very real.
“They are real-life events," Pritchard said. "What is causing these symptoms is up for debate, but I definitely want to help any patient going through these symptoms.”
Angie's family does not believe the cause is up for debate. However, insurance does not cover the expensive explant procedure, leaving them to try and scrape together the money.
"She will be herself again," Bree said. "I’ll have my mom back."
If you would like to help Angie with the cost of the procedure, her family has created a GoFundMe fundraising page that you can visit here.