Ida commented on Our Voices Our Experiences

     I am an eighty one year old retired nurse and my heart goes out to all of you younger women who are suffering with Lipoedema, I have always had 'plump' legs - and hips larger than I would have liked - but it was not until I reached late middle age that, what I now know as lipoedema, started it's terrible' take over' of my body. It has been a gradual process and I cannot count the munber of times the medical profession has told me to lose weight. I cried when I reached home after my doctor looked at my legs and just said 'adipose tissue - adipose tissue ( ie. FAT - FAT) .. He told me to exercise more - even though I had told him that we had two dogs that I exercised reguarly - that we went on walking holidays in Scotland etc., etc., He just carried on about losing weight, as have every single doctor si nce then. I am, as mentioned, 81 years old, but only fairly recently my doctor arranged for me to attend a ' weight clinic' where I would be helped with diet and exercise !!!!
     I do not have to tell you all about the pain I have - for you suffer as I do - but I do want to say how much I feel for you. I consider myself lucky that I have only a relatively short time to suffer as I do. There is no treatment for our condition - none at all BUT I do feel very strongly that if we all go to our doctors and say 'LOOK AT ME-- LOOK AT ME cannot you see -feel- the pain I am in. Do you really think that I would be so stupid as to overeat - to under exercise if doing these things are the cause of all this horrible ugliness that engulfs part of my body and causes me so much pain - and restricts my enjoyment of life.

      Can't you just LOOK and say the words that I want to hear - YES doctor - words - words of understanding. I want you to look at me and say that you know I must be in a great deal of pain & discomfort, that I have lipoedema through no fault of my own and that the medical profession does not know how to help BUT that you understand and ar e there for me when things get too much - just to talk - explain and understand as best as you can.' Of course I am no saint and would likke to say a lot more re my feeelings toward the mendica lprofessionals who use overeating and lack of execise as the cause of our terrible condition.  

I had better stop now before you give up, but I think of all you younger people with lipoedema and wish you well. Do as best as you can to enjoy this wonderful life and the people who love you. One day our condition wil lbe accepted and recognised for what it is. Meanwhile my love and best wishes go out to you all. Best of all I wish you a sense of humour for you need one and mine has seen me through all these years (so far !!!) God Bless and be with you now and always.

 Ida from England.