 LIPEDEMA is one of the least diagnosed diseases in America. An estimated 6 to 12 million American women are presently undiagnosed. Lipedema sufferers seek medical attention as early as onset of puberty yet find no healthcare professional trained to recognize their symptomatology. Obesity, fibromyalgia, and arthritis are common c0-diagnoses.
LIPEDEMA women are ignored when they claim they eat very little and exercise a lot. Doctors prescribe water retention meds, diets, exercise programs, knee replacements, and bypass surgery, all of which are significantly contraindicated treatments for lipedema. By the time this disease is diagnosed, it is often end stage, meaning the lymphatic system has been compromised and the joints, especially knee joints, are permanently damaged. Also, wrong medical treatments administered over several decades have caused lipedema sufferers much psychological and physical harm. Because most doctors know nothing about lipedema, they blame the end stage patient's condition on addictive non-compliance of food intake. One out of every ten fat women you know has untreated lipedema and lives in shame and often isolation for a condition caused by her genetic history.
LIPEDEMA is a genetic fat suit. This fat suit is made of adipose, a kind of fat that layers first in the legs and ankles, thighs, lower belly, and buttocks. Lippies are often a few sizes smaller above the waist and have thin arms and face in early stage, regardless of their weight or size. It is the disproportion of weight between top and bottom or belly and arms that should alert professionals. No one who is oddly oversized in one or more areas of the body should be considered obese. Adipose in these accumulated areas WILL NEVER BE LOST BY DIET OR EXERCISE. Traditional medical approaches will only create anorexics underneath their fat suit.
LIPEDEMA strikes at puberty, birthing of children, birth control, female surgeries, and menopause causing female hormones or thyroid malfunction to deposit more adipose anywhere it can, including joints. In other words, every reproductive milestone in a lipedema sufferer's life may cause weight spikes and the reshaping of bodies to accommodate the increased fat.
LIPEDEMA sufferers often become anorexic and malnutritioned by losing too much of their essential body weight trying to lose adipose, or they give up, eat, and end up weighing 400 pounds. Lipedema is individual to each sufferer, ranging from symmetrical slight cankles to huge lower bodies. This insidious, progressive, seldom-diagnosed disease causes immobility, secondary illness, social isolation, and loss of self worth if not detected early.
LIPEDEMA was first recognized in 1941 by Mayo Clinic. Since then it has become well-known, treated, and researched in Europe and Australia. At present, surgeries are performed in England and Germany. New York State is the only state seeking funds to research all lymphatic disease including lipedema. The key to defeating this disease is educating the medical professionals in our communities.
Lipedema. fat, fat cells, Lipedema lymphoedema, lymphoedema fat legs, maggie McCarey |
