Local doctor explains the cause for Lipedema and how he helps patients

Lipedema causes a disproportionate amount of fat to accumulate in the body, most often in the legs and arms.

[janonthemtn]

WHEN ARE INSURANCE COMPANIUES GOING TO WAKE UP AND COVER THIS SERIOUS CONDITION????

[gloriahofner]

My daughter's has had the surgery for this, legs first, arms this past week! 😢 Thank God she is doing well!

[Alibiify]

Crystal IS glowing! I'm glad she's finally getting proper treatment and is feeling better. I've been dealing with this since I was 8 (I couldn't wear the knee high socks - which were part of our uniforms - without them being stretched to the max. Roller skating and snow skiing? Forget it! I couldn't fasten the boots. Everything I suffered as a kid, i.e, dyslexia, ADD, lipodema, etc, now has a name --- I'm 43 and finally learning about my self and dealing with it.

[judiarter]

I started researching my condition more than 10 years ago, printing out all the articles I could find and giving them to my then physician. He kept correcting me when I said lipid ama and referred to my problem as lymphedema. Now three providers later I still cannot get them to understand and have all but given up. 40+ years of carrying this excess baggage on my legs has destroyed my knees, my balance and my self-esteem. Its too late for me but to all the younger women out your own advocate. Educate your doctors and if they won't listen, find someone who will and keep on trying. No one should have to buy pants three sizes too big just to fit their legs and no one should lose out on a full life because of lack of understanding in the medical community.

[CarolynForney]

Without a diagnosis I know I have lipedema. I don’t have pain, mobility issues or swelling. I do have varicose and spider veins mixed into the slabs of fat. The fat is in my thighs not to my knees . As I age it is forming in my arms. Since elementary school I noticed my legs looked different from other little girls. I’ve never worn shorts and only wear skirts as pants show up the large slabs of fat. I stay home all the time as it’s too much of a hassle getting dressed as I always have to make sure that I wear fabrics that don’t showcase the slabs of fat that push out to the front of my thighs and protrude through my clothes. Life is so much easier to stay home and be comfortable. This is my first time ever exposing this issue.

[christyanntexas]

This makes me want to cry. I’m stage 3 and there are no doctors that treat this within a few hours of me and I cannot afford to travel to St. Louis. It’s debilitating and very disheartening. I wish more doctors would do their research and that more were available throughout more areas especially mine.

[Jennifer_Lewis_Beach_Living]

I am so glad that lipedema is getting more recognized, and yes, unfortunately the only cure is surgery. Yes, practitioners will work on getting your weight down first BEFORE getting the surgery to reduce the “lifestyle fat” (their terminology). I noticed that some insurances are beginning to cover surgery for lipedema, but you will still need to jump through hoops to get it.

More and more evidence is coming out that lipedema may be an autoimmune disease, because patients with lipedema also have a co-autoimmune disease.

[kathleenthomas]

I have just been diagnosed a week ago, thank God i finally know!!! treatment has begun!

[karenwest]

No drs in England seem interested despite my pain physically and emotionally

[LalaBU]

The first person could easily be me. I was never diagnosed but I know I have it.

[socalfriend]

Swelling of connective tissue. Inflammation causing fluid to go into the fat cells, only certain areas, typically women

[wellwisher]

Great interview! I'm finally getting a clearer understanding of the difference between lymphadema and lipodema. Thank you

[StarOnTheWater]

I've had this since forever, it sucks. Never struggled with obesity issues. Thank god I'm mobile, but it hurts sometimes and when I was younger it really affected my self esteem.

[Kwize]

Is surgery painful?
What is recovery period ?
Still not covered by medical?

[TheThiaminBlog]

I have this. Inherited? Maybe—but if you go back to my grandmothers’ generations and before, nobody had anything like this. Hope people continue to look for causes…

[thediyandpianoguy]

Though the title says that the Dr explaims the cause of Lipodema, he really doesn't - but he does give a rough description of the characteristics of Lipodema.

The turning point in my understanding of this condition was when I learnt about the Lymphatic system in more detail (besr starting point by far).

My good lady is booked in for surgeries on her legs in April and July. She's had a lomg journey to reach this point, and self funding the surgery has taken a lot of work, but we're so hopeful that this will give a new lease on life 🙂

[sue-lou-star]

Trampolining is a natural way to help lymphatic drainage.

[mspeaches]

I had this for 30 years and never diagnosed!!!

[donnah]

Wow. I now believe this is my problem 😮

[hiddeninchrist]

Ooh my finally someone said the thing I suffer is a disease not my carelessness of eating to be obese. I wonder if this has come in Kenya.