First, I need to say that because of the magic of the Internet and of, yes, Facebook, I met many wonderful ladies suffering from Lipoedema from all over the world!
We have support groups on Facebook, some of these women have websites, blogs and we are building up a strong community!
On the Lipese website...the idea came of starting a Lifestyle Challenge, which is all about making some changes in our eating habits, exercising, experimenting with supplements, treatments, etc...that can be resumed in 3 words: MANAGING OUR LIPOEDEMA.
My own personal changes started in November 2012, when I decided to go wheat and sugar free. Thought I would go nuts and end up like "Grumpy" but hey, was I in for a surprise!! I lost 10 pounds in a month!! Of course I had withdrawal symptoms: diarrhea, headaches, abdominal cramps but I persisted and now if I have something sweet I go "NAH!...this is WAY too sweet". Never thought I would pronounce this words in my sweet teeth's life!
My January challenge was to give up all grains!! At this point, in time, I no LONGER have bowel issues, no more loose stools, no more massive abdominal cramps. I had all of these even before giving of wheat!
I exercise 3 times a week too. And jog on my mini-trampoline. So far, this month, I have lost another 4 pounds. My non-lipedemic fat is melting!!
I also go to me MLD treatment once a week and do regular SLD!
I'm really proud of myself! Never thought I would have the determination to do all of this.
http://www.lipese.com/index.html
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
What is Lipedema/Lipoedema?
This is a question that has no definite answer yet to this day.
The medical community is still unsure what causes Lipedema, they still don't know what is abnormal to begin with, the increased fat or the lymph vessels and system not working properly? And what to say about the role of inflammation in it?
Now, where does that leave us? What do we know then?
Lipedema was initially described by Allen and Hines(1) in 1940; as mention before, its etiology remains unknown and it remains under-diagnosed.
So far we know that it is a condition affecting mostly women and consists of a bilateral and symmetrical enlargement of the legs with minimal involvement of the feet. Arms can also be affected in 30% of the cases. The body seems to have a pear shape. The trunk is much slimmer than the lower part of the body and the enlarged legs can be painful, easily bruise, and sometimes, an hypothermia of the skin is noticed on the affected areas. The excess fat can not be exercised away and is not affected by caloric restriction. Lipedema also consists of 3 stages. Since there is more to say about it, I recommend you go and read the following websites where you will find more information from the medical community and also from women suffering from the condition:
http://www.lipomadoc.org/lipedema.html
http://www.ofa.de/en-GB/understanding-the-health-issues/understanding-lipedema/?id=15682
http://www.bigfatlegs.com/
http://www.lipese.com/index.html
http://lipedema-simplified.org/index.html
Learning you have Lipedema, can be overwhelming at first but there are things you can do to manage the condition. Proper eating and exercising helps to slow its progression, there are therapies like Manual Lymphatic Drainage that helps with flushing away the toxins and accumulated fluid out of the tissues, bandaging is often prescribed and compressive stockings can be worn as well. Since the fat deposits, however, often can not be reversed by means of this Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy, some patients have for some years undergone successfully surgical adipectomy (liposuction) to remove these deposits and thus improve body shape.
1. Allen, E. V., and Hines, E. A. J. (1940) Lipedema of the legs:A syndrome characterised by fat legs and orthostatic edema. . Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin 15, 184-187
The medical community is still unsure what causes Lipedema, they still don't know what is abnormal to begin with, the increased fat or the lymph vessels and system not working properly? And what to say about the role of inflammation in it?
Now, where does that leave us? What do we know then?
Lipedema was initially described by Allen and Hines(1) in 1940; as mention before, its etiology remains unknown and it remains under-diagnosed.
So far we know that it is a condition affecting mostly women and consists of a bilateral and symmetrical enlargement of the legs with minimal involvement of the feet. Arms can also be affected in 30% of the cases. The body seems to have a pear shape. The trunk is much slimmer than the lower part of the body and the enlarged legs can be painful, easily bruise, and sometimes, an hypothermia of the skin is noticed on the affected areas. The excess fat can not be exercised away and is not affected by caloric restriction. Lipedema also consists of 3 stages. Since there is more to say about it, I recommend you go and read the following websites where you will find more information from the medical community and also from women suffering from the condition:
http://www.lipomadoc.org/lipedema.html
http://www.ofa.de/en-GB/understanding-the-health-issues/understanding-lipedema/?id=15682
http://www.bigfatlegs.com/
http://www.lipese.com/index.html
http://lipedema-simplified.org/index.html
Learning you have Lipedema, can be overwhelming at first but there are things you can do to manage the condition. Proper eating and exercising helps to slow its progression, there are therapies like Manual Lymphatic Drainage that helps with flushing away the toxins and accumulated fluid out of the tissues, bandaging is often prescribed and compressive stockings can be worn as well. Since the fat deposits, however, often can not be reversed by means of this Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy, some patients have for some years undergone successfully surgical adipectomy (liposuction) to remove these deposits and thus improve body shape.
1. Allen, E. V., and Hines, E. A. J. (1940) Lipedema of the legs:A syndrome characterised by fat legs and orthostatic edema. . Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin 15, 184-187
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