Life with lipodeama

There are so many ways this has affected my life, I cannot wear the clothes I used to like wearing, no lovely short dresses, no high heels, no nice jeans, no boots, which in turn created no confidence, no socialising like I used to, no long walks like I used to do, no taking part in activities with my grandchildren, no nice clothes on holiday, just long frumpy dresses that are alien to my personality. This is a huge part of my life that has been taken from me. And that’s only the mental aspect of this cruel, horrible condition. The health aspect now is.....chronic pain, legs are constantly sore, no having my little Lhasa apso sitting on my knee, no being able to scratch an itch, no kneeling to do housework as I now have 2 knees which are riddled with osteoarthritis, no walking without a walking stick, going through hell to squeeze into compression garments, having to get family to help me in and out of baths, to help me moisturise my legs as I can’t reach all parts, having fallen arches due to wearing flat shoes constantly, painful feet. Having to get a new chair for my sitting room as my furniture is too low for me to get up with the knee pain, this list goes on and on. I didn’t do anything to ask for this condition, I have nothing to look forward to with this condition, my life has been taken away from me and I have a new one which I struggle to live with. It has affected my marriage, it has affected my relationship with my grown children and my grandchildren. How can one condition be allowed to do this to a human being and not get the only treatment that can help. A condition that is recognised by the NHS, a condition that can be treated, but a condition that is denied treatment. And yes...I’m in tears again writing this, not only for me, but for EVERY single woman who has to suffer with this !