lymphedema
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Encouraged on several fronts
Things are happening—some by chance, some purposefully, all fairly positive, some even hopeful. First of all, I “met” Carol on Facebook in one of the lipoedema/lymphedema groups I follow, after she reported a seemingly miraculous transformation illustrated by pictures that were hard to believe. She, like me, has both lipoedema and lymphedema, and she, like Continue reading
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ACCESS granted…
I finally received my ACCESS identity card that will enable me to schedule rides in easily accessible vehicles to get to my doctor’s appointments, art seminars, or whatever. As the office had indicated, it took until late February to arrive, but now that I have it in hand, I can start thinking about leaving the Continue reading
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Transpo is in my future…I hope!
Today I finally had my appointment with ACCESS, the Los Angeles County service that will pick you up in a van with a ramp and take you places if you need a ride and can’t drive yourself. I had an appointment almost two months ago, but the drivers went on strike and the office workers Continue reading
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Good news
Today was my appointment with the cardiologist at Northridge Hospital to receive my electrical cardiogram treatment to shock my heart from AFib back into a normal rhythm. Kirsten and I both got up, as she says, “at the crack,” and she picked me up at 7:20 for an 8:30 check-in time. We arrived with plenty Continue reading
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A significant purchase
I tend to be the kind of person who uses stuff until it falls apart, and makes do with approximate solutions instead of buying the ideal, but every once in a while I quit looking with alarm at my dwindling retirement funds and do something big for myself, and this week is witnessing one of Continue reading
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Adjusting
It’s been a couple of years now of worsening symptoms and issues, and I am still not understanding how people do this. I mean, there are people with much worse disabilities than mine, who are still working full-time and keeping things together, so why am I finding this so ridiculously hard? I’m used to being Continue reading
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Brain fog…
The biggest enemy of self-care when it comes to lipoe-lymphedema isn’t physical tolerance so much as mental disposition. Yesterday was a good day, and I was able to think clearly enough to come to the realization that I have fallen down on the job and my recent poor physical response is a result of that. Continue reading
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Excessive caution?
Today I was scheduled to get a CT-scan of my abdomen and pelvis to show my doctor whether or not the kidney stone has left the building. I was scheduled at the radiology department at Northridge Hospital at 11 a.m., and my cousin Kirsten kindly came with me. Our plan for the day was to Continue reading
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A new voice heard from
On the advice of the ever-up-on-it Kirsten, I scheduled a one-hour Zoom consult that took place yesterday with a Naturopathic doctor currently out of Texas named Dr. Melissa Gallagher. She is a lymphedema expert (Vodder-trained Certified Lymphatic Drainage Therapist) and is also knowledgeable about and able to provide advice on the foibles of lipedema. I Continue reading
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Myopia
Myopia is the “fancy” word for nearsightedness, a condition in which close-up objects are clear, but things that are farther away appear blurry. Tonight I have been ruminating on the other, less flattering, metaphorical meaning of the word, which is “lack of imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight,” as exhibited by my current lot of doctors. Hell, Continue reading
About Me
I started this blog to talk about a genetic, fibrotic fat-storing (some say autoimmune) condition called Lipoedema, which is something I began to experience in my 60s, although some see early onset at puberty, or post-pregnancy, or at menopause. The other “L” condition from which I suffer is Lymphedema, as a common secondary effect of the fibrosis that blocks lymphatic drainage. Despite the fact that one in 11 women suffer from lipoedema, most doctors have never heard of it, so on top of the pain and embarrassment of this extremely obvious malady, millions of us are out there being fat-shamed for a condition that isn’t contingent on diet or exercise for its growth. This blog was intended to share my reactions.
I have, however, reserved the right to discuss “other stuff” here and, increasingly, since January 20th, 2025, that is politics, because what else, after all, are we legitimately obsessed with in this age of fascism in these United States of America? So while the “theme” of this blog may be confusing, it is my blog, where I can talk about whatever I wish. You are not constrained to read the parts you don’t like. But I feel compelled to write about them.
MEdoubleLL 