'My boobs put me in a wheelchair!': Ex-triathlete, 26, says her 42I breasts have made her spine collapse as she tries to raise £7,000 for reduction op
- Debbie Horton, 26, has had several operations for multiple spinal problems
- She blames her size 42l breasts on her ill-health and wants reduction surgery
- She said she would be forced to 'live with pain everyday' without the operation
A former triathlete says her size 42l breasts caused her spine to collapse and left her wheelchair-bound.
Debbie Horton, 26, hoped to raise £7,000 for reduction surgery after the NHS refused to pay because she doesn't fit into a strict criteria.
The sales advisor, from Nuneaton, Warks., has already had multiple operations to fix her spinal problems but needs breast reduction to fix the source of the issue or else faces 'living in pain every day'.
'I really believe that having the breast reduction surgery would completely change my life - it would reduce the pain as I won't have the weight pulling me down. I think they must weigh a couple of stone each,' she added.
Debbie Horton, 26, hoped to raise £7,000 for reduction surgery after the NHS refused to pay because she doesn't fit into a strict criteria. Pictured left, before she hurt her back in 2016 Miss Horton was a fitness fanatic. Right, she now uses a wheelchair
The ex fitness fanatic, who completed a triathlon, has spent four years in a wheelchair after suffering spinal degeneration disc disease, fibromyalgia, prolapsed discs, spondylitis and kyphosis in her neck.
She said: 'The weight of my boobs is constantly pulling down and it causes so much pain. I live with pain every day.
'I can learn to get my spine back into the position it should be in - my boobs could have caused this whole problem. I've spoken to my doctor about getting it on the NHS but it's such a strict criteria.'
The ex fitness fanatic, who completed a triathlon (pictured), has spent four years in a wheelchair after suffering spinal degeneration disc disease, fibromyalgia, prolapsed discs, spondylitis and kyphosis in her neck
The sales advisor, from Nuneaton, Warks., has already had multiple operations to fix her spinal problems but needs breast reduction to fix the source of the issue or else faces 'living in pain every day'
Miss Horton, who works a customer sales advisor for Domestic and General and lives with her 32-year-old fiancé Lee Southwell, has to shop in specialist stores for her bras
Miss Horton first collapsed due to back pain in September 2016 whilst working at Aldi and, despite several different spinal operations, still has to rely on a wheelchair and crutches to get around.
Miss Horton, who works a customer sales advisor for Domestic and General and lives with her 32-year-old fiancé Lee Southwell, has to shop in specialist stores for her bras.
She added: 'With the less pressure impacting my spine, I can put more exercise in and doctors have said that it would help.
'I don't like to go out without Lee because I can't physically walk for a long time - I have to take my crutches and wheelchair everywhere with me.'
When Miss Horton was working in the supermarket, she bent over to pick something up when her back gave in and she had to be rushed to hospital.
'They found out that my spine was curved which could have been something I was born with - they're not sure,' Miss Horton added.
'I had to take two months off work and everything went downhill from there.
'The pain was horrendous and now I live with it everyday - it really makes you realise how much you need your back.'
Miss Horton waited three years before she went in for three bouts of surgery including a disc discectomy, disc laminectomy and spinal proctorial lumber in November last year.
But she still struggles to walk and had lupus added to her long list of diagnoses last week.
She added: 'With my illness, my skin can be so sensitive that I can't even put a bra on which makes the weight even heavier.
'It's too much for my spine to handle.
'One of my friends, Rita Bloomer, helped me to set the fundraiser up and I really think it will change my life for the better.'
Miss Horton has been with her fiance for ten years and says that she couldn't carry on without him.
'He's a mental health support manager and he doesn't get a break when he comes home because he has to come and care for me.
When Miss Horton was working in the supermarket, she bent over to pick something up when her back gave in and she had to be rushed to hospital. Pictured during a triathlon
Miss Horton has been with her fiance Lee Southwell for ten years and says that she couldn't carry on without him
'He's been amazing - I've told him that it's okay if he wants to go and find someone he can have a normal life with but he doesn't want that.
'I'm very lucky to have the support that I do'.
Miss Horton's Go Fund Me page explains her fall from an 'active triathlete in training' to 'a human with a very little quality of life'.
It reads: 'On a daily basis I rely on my crutches and most often my wheelchair to get out and about.
Miss Horton's Go Fund Me page explains her fall from an 'active triathlete in training' to 'a human with a very little quality of life'. Pictured during a marathon
'I have approached the NHS on numerous occasions to seek help to reduce my breasts for health reasons.
'Slowly over time spine is collapsing due to the degeneration and the weight of my breasts are pulling my spine out of shape causing me to be in absolute agony.
'I have already put my body through invasive spinal surgery to help correct but unfortunately this has not had a positive affect to what I would of hoped.'
The page, which has been live since August 16, has only one donation of £10 so far.
MailOnline has contacted Warwickshire North Clinical Commissioning Group for comment.
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