“I wish I knew I had Lipoedema earlier on in life, and also that I was educated about it earlier. I would have done so many things differently, and maybe even continued with my basketball.”
What are the main challenges that Lipoedema has presented from an overall lifestyle point of view?
I used to play basketball for the state at an eleite level, until I realised around age 13 that my legs were so much bigger than the other girls, they were also sore. I didn’t understand because I trained 5 x times a week. Eventually, I stopped playing althogether because despite my slim body, my legs were big and I sensed people staring at me.
I felt embarrassed, and was suffering from mental health issues by age 18. Lipoedema has impacted me my whole life, especially now as a mother, as I won’t do fun things with my children such as go to the beach or the pool, because I’m embarrassed of the way my legs look. I have two boys and would love to try for a girl, however, I won’t now because pregnancy has affected my Lipoedema too much.
What are the main challenges that Lipoedema has presented from an overall health/wellbeing point of view?
Lipoedema has impacted my mental health and quality of life. Receiving the diagnosis from Dr Lekich gave me mixed
emotions. On one hand I felt relief, but on the other I feel as though there’s nothing I can do to help myself. I’m only 29, I’d love to feel confident in myself and enjoy my life now.
What do you wish you knew at the beginning of your Lipoedema journey?
I wish I knew I had Lipoedema earlier on in life, and also that I was educated about it earlier. I would have done so many things differently, and maybe even continued with my basketball.
What’s something that people often don’t know about Lipoedema?
People don’t realise that Lipoedema is so much deeper than the way you look, it impacts everything, your whole life.
What do you hope to achieve on your Lipoedema journey from here?
I will have surgery one day, I just wish there was some kind of financial assistance. I have a good job and work hard, but I am not my main priority anymore as I have a young family.
