Lipedema

I have Lipedema also known as "painful fat syndrome". I follow the RAD diet plan, somewhat, mainly limiting my carbs and sugar intake. I've lost 30 pounds since July 16 by making this change. I'm using some Plexus products that have vitamins and minerals highly suggested by the leading Lipedema research doctor to help with the discomfort and inflammation associated with this disease.

Lipedema is an incurable, chronically progressive disease that occurs almost exclusively in women. You can't "diet away" Lipedema. The disease causes a symmetrical accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous tissue that disproportionately affects the lower limbs from buttocks to ankles. The legs may also be sensitive and prone to easy bruising. In some cases, the upper arms can also accumulate distinct patterns of fatty tissue. Lucky me I have Lipedema from my shoulders to my ankles. According the my Lipedema specialist, if you have Lipedema there is really no place on your body in which it won't affect, even your scalp and lips.

Lipedema is little known, under recognized, and generally misdiagnosed as simple obesity. Despite the fact that it's been named for over 75 years, it is only recently that interest and education about Lipedema is gaining in awareness. Estimates of the incidence of Lipedema vary widely, and range as high as 11% of the post-pubertal female population, with estimates of 17 million women in the US, and 370 million women worldwide affected.

So why am I telling you this?

In talking to my sister last night I made confession. Something I've never told anyone. I told her I have had the pains I can now associate with Lipedema for YEARS. Of course I didn't know then that the pain and discomfort I have was associated with a disease.

I didn't tell anyone about the pain I felt at the end of each day because I knew they would automatically attribute the pain to my weight. And honestly, if I had a dollar for every time I heard, "if you could just lose some weight" in my lifetime I'd be a millionaire. Did they really, truly believe I would choose to be big? And did they think saying those words would motivate me to lose weight? No, it would just lead to my feeling guilty for being overweight and making me want to hide every feeling or sensation I would have so I wouldn't have to hear those words again.

I have struggled with my weight since I was in 8th grade. I'd lose some, gain more. In 2005 my boss, who I believe truly cares for me, offered me a bonus plan. The bonus would pay for half the cost of the Lap-Band procedure that insurance wouldn't cover. I would pay the other half as a way of having "skin in the game". So I had the surgery and lost some weight. However, the weight wasn't coming off as quickly as my bariatric surgeon thought it should. On my visits he'd question me on what I was eating, how many calories, was I working out. I would tell him I was following his plan as instructed. He said I was being untruthful, it would be impossible for me to not be losing more weight if I was following his instructions. So what do you think happened? I stuffed down my feelings and decided it wasn't wise to share how I felt because now I'm a "liar".

Wow, I never realized how many psychological issues are tied to Lipedema. It's not just physical pain, it's emotional pain as well. Because I didn't want anyone to know what I was going through I would "fake" my way through each day. If I didn't act as if I was in pain then they would believe I was ok.

It is so sad what society has done to so many people like me. So now I feel I have to use my voice to tell people about this disease. I hope to offer inspiration to those with Lipedema to stop hiding in shame and to speak out about about their experience to their friends and families. It's not just that we are overweight and all we need to do is cut back on calories to lose it.

If only it were that simple.

If you have ANY questions about Lipedma please do not hesitate to ask me.