Started Feb 5th

Yes...it started I did not write to announce this date...just in case it got cancelled today. I was diagnosed with Lipedema and Lymphedema. I will give just a brief explanation of each. Lipedema is an abnormal pooling of subcutaneous fat in the areas below the waist to the feet. Not all Lipedema sufferers are created equal. Lipedema is hereditary and and it follows the females down a family line. I was blessed to have this all the way from my hips to my ankles. My mother has a similar shape to mine in the rear and stomach below the waist and thigh, only she does not have the calf issues, mine are huge.

I was measured that very first day, my ankle...yes, my ankle was 38cm in circumference. It goes up from there, She has all the measurements all the way up to my knees. Just below my knee the circumference was 72 cm. DAMN...no wonder I was in so much pain. That brings me to another point. Lipedema has been coined the term "Painful Fat disease/disorder" NICE, let me tell you it is appropriate as I hurt so bad some days I was brought to tears. I suffered alone, I could tell anyone who listened that I was in pain, but I know no one knew...really knew how painful this all was for me. Couple the leg pain with the back pain and Fibromyalgia and my life became nothing short of a living hell.

I could barely walk Feb 5th. When I did it felt like a struggle and if I needed to put my shoes on...I either had to slip them on or I had to pull my leg up as close as I could because my back would not let me bend over. My legs were heavy to lift, but it needed to be done, I was so physically exhausted all the time. The list of my complaints were long...so very long, and I was as tired of talking about them as I was living with them, I can only imagine what my loved ones had to do to listen to all the complaints without wanting to snap me in half. Luckily I have great kids and the most amazing husband. He is more than supportive. He has been doing most of the cooking (when I actually feel like eating, the pain has a tendency to be an appetite killer) Oh yeah and that brings me to all the medical professionals that told me I must be lying cause I was gaining weight...well DUH it was a ton of fluid in my freaking LEGS!!!! Let's not forget to mention limited mobility made exercise damn near impossible, no matter how willing my mind was.

I want to explain as much of how I felt that day so I can share my experiences with those who don't have it, and to also be able to help those who are trying to do some research on their own like I did. If you think you have this...Don't stop asking for help. Keep researching. You will be glad you did!!! I talked via email with a couple of people I found online with Lipedema and Lymphedema. They echoed the pain and frustration with trying to get help and wished me luck. They inspired me. I was impressed with their results. They all had the same long stories, refusal after refusal for help, advising to lose weight and accusations of cheating on diets they were being faithful to. Doctors saying there is 'Nothing further that can be done'...TO THIS I SAY BULLSHIT!!!

Most physicians don't understand it. Let's face it...there is so much to a human body and this rare condition gets overlooked quite easily. Most times physicians think that this is just your normal body shape...I have known for years I did not look normal...far from it, I was stared at, had so many comments made about my appearance. I was even in nursing school and I remember an RN teacher actually asked me "You could lose some weight, because you look like you have a health problem, and no patients wants to be attended by a nurse who looks ill" She was referring to my legs as school uniforms were the nurses dresses, we were not allowed to wear pants. That was one of the last times I wore that uniform, I left shortly thereafter realizing, if she was a nurse and a health care professional, I wanted NO PART of her world. I wanted to be a doctor, truthfully anyway, and being a nurse is NOTHING like being a doctor, but I digress.

I rarely wore dresses after that and back then, my legs were a lot smaller, this was before I had my second child so we are talking about 18 years ago now. It was the insults and constant comments on my size and weight, let alone the every so helpful comments of "You know you would feel better and get smaller if you just tried to lose weight" I HAVE BEEN TRYING, because I got no results they decided I was not trying hard enough.

OK! Enough with my tangent tirade here Back to Lipedema: This type of fat cannot be dieted off, nor can it be exercised off. That being said, I do take ownership of my weight issues as I am not skinny on the top half of my body either. I do believe this fluid accumulation had an effect on my metabolism and most definitely my activity level. Everything was compounding on me. My moods were becoming effected as well. I was slowly being convinced I would not live much longer feeling like I was. I was scared, but I kinda slowly started reminding my husband about my wishes 'should' I pass away. I also let him know about what insurances I have and what I want done with regards to funeral. In my case. I wanted no funeral, just a quick visitation by those I love the most in this world. Those who stood by me and NEVER ONCE made me feeling bad for who I was. They are Marshall, Christian and Breanna and Devin my new Daughter-in-law of course. Beyond that I wanted no visitation, no funeral, just cremation, no casket, I wanted it done as cheaply as possible so my family will have something to look after them once I am gone. But I have a feeling that won't be needed anytime soon...Thank God!!!! So now...on to the good stuff!!!!

I was wrapped on Feb 5th at 2:30, almost immediately I could feel the counter-pressure and it felt good...imagine that pressure on one of my sorest areas and it really felt good. She told me I needed to walk-walk-walk and it would help. At first I was scared because I knew I could barely walk anymore. I was wondering how I could make this happen. Then by Friday evening, the wrapping and my body let me know it is working and I would be able to walk. No, I am not hearing voices!!! The dressing was falling off my legs, and I could see why...they started shrinking! I could see some definition in the legs, I called Marshall and Breanna in to see and they could both tell the difference as well, so it was not just my imagination. I needed to be re-wrapped and since Andrea showed Marshall how to do it and let him show her that he could, he was able to get the dressings back on and tighter. That evening we went grocery shopping. It was payday and therefore grocery day. I like grocery shopping. and I was walking in the store and the pain was not there...not like it was before. I still had some minor hip pain...but not to the extent it was.

Saturday is chore day at home...I was moving more freely, doing the dishwasher duty, laundry and I was feeling overall better. Sunday came and I told Marshall I wanted to walk and where. He dropped me off in town at Harbour Passage, walking path along the port of the city.I asked him to meet me at the end, but thankfully he was not listening to me and met me halfway. My hip was really hurting, but get this, it was cold, and snowing (light snow) I had no gloves and no hat...but I was sweating...yup...I haven't broken into a sweat in years. Monday, I asked him to pick me up at a different location and that also gave me about a 15 minute walk, only it was windy, cold and I was in a sweat. Today is Wednesday Feb 10th, I am going to walk after work and get him to pick me up somewhere down the passage. I am going to strive to get further and do more walking today.

I know I jumped ahead a little but my next post will be about the appointment I had with Andrea Tuesday, Feb 9th. I have some wonderful things to share, including pictures and video. :o)