“However, having a community and seeing people share their Lipoedema journey makes it all feel a lot less lonely. Success stories and case studies also help motivate and keep the hope alive as well.”
How would your friends and family describe you?
While I’ve always struggled with my weight and legs I first suspected I had Lipoedema in early 2020 right before covid started. I was 8 months into a super strict health journey I gave myself in 2019; exercising 6 x a week, eating a low carb/inflammatory diet, sleeping 8hrs, water etc. All of this just so I could finally slim down my legs as they’d always been a problem for me. After months of consistency, my face was slimmer, I had a slim waist and abs, andoverall extremely healthy…except my legs and my arms did not change in size. I was so heartbroken and thought “surely I’m not the only one struggling with this” After a good google search, and deep dive through instagram , I found Dr. Heck in Germany which then led me to Dr. Lekich and Walk With Freedom, where I finally booked in for a consult and got my diagnosis.
Can you describe what symptoms Lipoedema presented for you and how these may have changed over time from your first awareness/diagnosis?
My symptoms include no response from diet or exercise, night cramps/restless legs, sensitivity to the slightest touch, bruising, and painful tough nodules under skin. As the years have gone by I’ve felt a lot more sensitivity in my arms (they’ve also grown in size), and my legs are a lot more sensitive and heavier than before despite losing weight.
What are the main challenges that Lipoedema has presented from an overall health/wellbeing point of view?
Mental health for sure is a big one. It can be so difficult staying motivated to keep healthy habits when the mirror doesn’t reflect the efforts made on the daily, and people not understanding the non physical impacts of this disease and how or why we feel the way we do. Prices of various garments, supplements, and lymphatic massage can become quite expensive and stressful when factored into the rest of life’s living expenses. On top of that, trying to save for surgery and feeling like it’s miles away can really take a toll. However, having a community and seeing people share their Lipoedema journey makes it all feel a lot less lonely. Success stories and case studies also help motivate and keep the hope alive as well.
What do you hope to achieve on your Lipoedema journey from here?
I hope that with more awareness and people becoming educated on Lipoedema , medicare recognises this disease so that the option of surgery is not just a dream but becomes easily accessible to those who need it.
