Living With This Disease

A life-altering diagnosis that I finally feel at liberty to share

In 2023, I received a diagnosis. After over 30 years of stumping every doctor I had, this diagnosis explained everything. All the suffering, all the heartbreak, all the unexplained chronic pain and myriad other inexplicable realities I had learned to adapt to. Adapt, adapt, adapt. One learns to keep these things to oneself.

I never intended to share this publicly, but I now feel that it is my responsibility to do so, in order to help others suffering with this disease, which is estimated at fully 10% of women.

It is a disease that is, frankly, embarrassing. I cannot hide it, as it manifests physically. It is progressive and ultimately debilitating. The disease is called Lipedema. It is a disease of the connective tissue and lymphatic system.