09/10/2024
In the earlier stages, symptoms of lipedema can be subtle to the eye, and most women are not believed when they talk about their symptoms to people around them or even to the medical world. Although the legs may look mostly like completely healthy legs, they may constantly ache, bruise easily, have very subtle fatty knees, be painful when touched, feel spongy, or feel reeeeeally heavy. Not everyone has all the symptoms, but they are all completely normal to have from the early stages of lipedema.
Most doctors (probably, and unfortunately, 99.99% of all doctors) will dismiss a woman with early-stage lipedema with a comment like “Your legs look perfectly normal,” and then that’s the end of that story. Well, at least for the doctor.
But for the woman - or even young girl, it is devastating not to be believed. And it may lead to years of progression of the disease because she’s not getting the management advice and help needed to reduce symptoms and prevent progression. This can lead to a life of pain, discomfort, and, in the worst case, immobility if the lipedema goes bananas.
It is critical that we start believing these women and spread the knowledge about the disease to doctors and the larger society.
11% of all women are estimated to have lipedema, and it is believed to be a progressive and chronic disease. But, with early intervention, it is possible for most to keep the symptoms at a level that is bearable to live with and to avoid a progression that goes bananas.
👉 Have you been told this by your doctor (or anyone else), not believing that something could be up with your legs because they looked "normal"? Please share in the comments! 👇
