Today, Kirsten went to Walgreens to pick up my first month’s Zepbound prescription, and I injected myself for week one this afternoon. It’s no big deal—sort of a spring-loaded syringe that pops once when you push the button and again a few seconds later once the entire dose is delivered, with hardly a twinge. I was dreading the thought a little, but worried for nothing.

I also dug out and changed into an old bathing suit top and bottom in which I would not currently be seen anywhere but in the privacy of home, and posed for Kirsten to take “before” photos so that if this works I can someday also take the “after” ones and I and others can marvel at the contrast between the two. (I’m going to make sure that no one else has access to these unless I decide to share them—great blackmail material.)

I have to say I was shocked by my shape overall, but especially by the prominence and definition of the “lobes” of fibrosis behind my knees—they are like foreign growths that should never attach to the human form! It’s no wonder I have trouble walking and that my knees are pain central. I was also dismayed by the discoloration of the skin of my lower legs, swollen now pretty constantly for a few years.

I keep reading triumphant stories on the Facebook lipoedema pages about people who have lost more than 100 lbs. on Zepbound and, even more important to me, all their inflammation, swelling, and joint pain. I’m clinging to the hope that this result will come to me as well.

Stay tuned.