Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Lymphedema rant.....
Wow. I wish I could get another tummy tuck. What kind of surgery is tkr? I've never heard of that one. I hope to be getting lymph treatment soon. I was on a waiting list for so long. The problem is, I had started seeing a lymph specialist for treatment. The problem is that my apartment is heavily infested with bedbugs, and the therapist said I can't go back to see her until it has been properly taken care of. My primary care doctor said the same thing. (I hate switching doctors. I am beginning to run out of doctors so I am trying my best to keep this one.) My landlord won't do anything about the bugs. He is trying to evict us, (me, my fiancee, and my 7 cats) due to the bug problem, and we are counter-suing him when we go to court. It's just taking a very long time, and my health and lymphedema are suffering and getting worse in the mean time.
I hope you can still find pretty shoes that you can wear anyway. Especially those cute peek-a-boo topped ones where your polished toes peek through.
I love cowboy boots, and ankle boots, and I can't wear them now either.
I will try your suggestion of looking confident at the jerks who stare. I also suffer major depression, and my body is med-resistant to allot of meds. I am allergic to Tylenol and most other pain killers, and antidepressants give me too many side effects and I don't usually respond well to them anyway. I am a complicated case!
Thanks for your support. Let's keep in touch.
I hope you can still find pretty shoes that you can wear anyway. Especially those cute peek-a-boo topped ones where your polished toes peek through.
I love cowboy boots, and ankle boots, and I can't wear them now either.
I will try your suggestion of looking confident at the jerks who stare. I also suffer major depression, and my body is med-resistant to allot of meds. I am allergic to Tylenol and most other pain killers, and antidepressants give me too many side effects and I don't usually respond well to them anyway. I am a complicated case!
Thanks for your support. Let's keep in touch.
Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? I say, what difference does it make--I paid for a full glass,so either way I am getting jipped!!!
Topic: RE: Lymphedema rant.....
Our stories are similar in that I had a panni first with the thoughts that it would kick a major weight loss movement in me. My pannus had a name and it was Ethel. I removed Ethel in 04 and once I was back on my feet I realized that I still had bad knees and couldn't walk with out pain. Since that time I had RNY in 06, another tummy tuck, panni in 08 and a tkr 3 weeks ago. You are very young and the staring, which I agree with you, still hurts, doesn't hurt as much when you look deep into yourself to see all that you have gone through and just how shallow or plain bad mannered people can be. I was 476 lbs. when I had my RNY and went down to 298. I am at 350 now but with the tkr I will be able to get back into the wl program. I also suffer from very debilitating (sp?) depression. Once I am back to work I will be getting into therapy. I am 56 and realized how much of my life has been wasted.
I can't make people stop staring but you do have the right thought about looking them straight in the eye, but when you do that look at them with confidence in your eyes. After all you have lived through some pain and heartache and you are still here to tell the story. Yes, you are beautiful, stumpy legs and all.
Do you go for treatment? do you where compression garments? Will you be seeking out the surgery?
Jeanne
Topic: RE: Lymphedema rant.....
I am 34 and have been fat my entire life too. I lost 120 lbs due to being sick and then had a panniculectomy to remove my over-hanging belly because it was pulling on a hernia. After all that, I looked great. Then my lymphedema kicked in and am now 140 lbs heavier, which puts me in the 400+ category. I will admit that not all of it is lymphedema, but a good 80-90 lbs of it is.
I was in a department store with my fiancee a little while ago where 2 kids about the age of 10 or 12 stared at me as I walked in the door. (they were waiting in line at checkout with their dad) I was looking at something in one of the isles when I heard whispering. I looked and there were the 2 kids pointing and whispering about me. They actually left the checkout line and followed me into the isle so they could continue staring. I was having a bad day anyway and there was no way I was going to tolerate such rudeness form kids who were definitely old enough to know better! I glared at them and said, "What the f*** are you looking at!" (normally I would ignore them and usually I don't swear at kids....but this really did peeve me off a bit) Long story short, the kids told their dad, dad told mom, (who was outside in their car) and mom came into the store and started hitting me. The store's employees had to pull her off of me. Sure, I shouldn't have sweared at her kids.........but it was extremely rude of her children to do what they did.
Now, I just glare at people (kids and adults) who stare and I look them up and down just as they do to me. If they don't stop staring, I rudely ask, You need something? Usually if you glare at people right in their eyes, they look away. But they usually just look again after a few minutes. And I still glare at them.
Staring and insults from kids (and adults!) hurt no matter what age anyone is. But thank you for telling me I'm beautiful. I don't often hear that.
You are beautiful too.
Sorry about your shoes. I've had to do that with clothes and just like shoes, they don't come cheap! I fall in love with shoes and boots but can't wear them because I can't wear anything over my ankles due to my lymphedema. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for responding and understanding.
I was in a department store with my fiancee a little while ago where 2 kids about the age of 10 or 12 stared at me as I walked in the door. (they were waiting in line at checkout with their dad) I was looking at something in one of the isles when I heard whispering. I looked and there were the 2 kids pointing and whispering about me. They actually left the checkout line and followed me into the isle so they could continue staring. I was having a bad day anyway and there was no way I was going to tolerate such rudeness form kids who were definitely old enough to know better! I glared at them and said, "What the f*** are you looking at!" (normally I would ignore them and usually I don't swear at kids....but this really did peeve me off a bit) Long story short, the kids told their dad, dad told mom, (who was outside in their car) and mom came into the store and started hitting me. The store's employees had to pull her off of me. Sure, I shouldn't have sweared at her kids.........but it was extremely rude of her children to do what they did.
Now, I just glare at people (kids and adults) who stare and I look them up and down just as they do to me. If they don't stop staring, I rudely ask, You need something? Usually if you glare at people right in their eyes, they look away. But they usually just look again after a few minutes. And I still glare at them.
Staring and insults from kids (and adults!) hurt no matter what age anyone is. But thank you for telling me I'm beautiful. I don't often hear that.
You are beautiful too.Sorry about your shoes. I've had to do that with clothes and just like shoes, they don't come cheap! I fall in love with shoes and boots but can't wear them because I can't wear anything over my ankles due to my lymphedema. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for responding and understanding.
Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? I say, what difference does it make--I paid for a full glass,so either way I am getting jipped!!!
Topic: RE: Lymphedema rant.....
Ms Kitty
If I am not being too personal, how old are you? The reason that I ask is that I remember a time when the stares bothered me and then somewhere along the line I just said what are you looking at. I was always fat, but as a young woman, up until I was 42 I wore high heels and really great clothes. Then I lost my mother, which I never properly grieved, then got the lymphedema and realized I would never wear high heels again. I took all my 100 pair of 4+ inch shoes and threw them in a closet. Two years ago, after losing 250 lbs with still another 100 lbs to lose I went into that closet and mourned not only the loss of my Mom but the loss of never being able to wear those shoes again and I threw or donated most of them. I just had my right knee replaced. I still have about 150 lbs to lose and then I need to get the knee replaced in the lympedemic leg. I am still fat, with a leg that is very badly misshapened. People can stare all they want. I am a beautiful woman, and even on my worse depressive days I never forget that.
Smile, my lady, you too are beautiful.
Jeanne
If I am not being too personal, how old are you? The reason that I ask is that I remember a time when the stares bothered me and then somewhere along the line I just said what are you looking at. I was always fat, but as a young woman, up until I was 42 I wore high heels and really great clothes. Then I lost my mother, which I never properly grieved, then got the lymphedema and realized I would never wear high heels again. I took all my 100 pair of 4+ inch shoes and threw them in a closet. Two years ago, after losing 250 lbs with still another 100 lbs to lose I went into that closet and mourned not only the loss of my Mom but the loss of never being able to wear those shoes again and I threw or donated most of them. I just had my right knee replaced. I still have about 150 lbs to lose and then I need to get the knee replaced in the lympedemic leg. I am still fat, with a leg that is very badly misshapened. People can stare all they want. I am a beautiful woman, and even on my worse depressive days I never forget that.
Smile, my lady, you too are beautiful.
Jeanne
Topic: Lymphedema rant.....
I try not to let people's ignorance get to me, but I just can't help it!
I feel like wearing a shirt that says.....I am not fat, I have lymphedema.....so quit your staring, gawking, pointing, whispering, etc.
I try so hard not to let it bother me, but it does immensely. I often times don't want to leave the house. I can't wait till my legs get back to normal......
I feel like wearing a shirt that says.....I am not fat, I have lymphedema.....so quit your staring, gawking, pointing, whispering, etc.
I try so hard not to let it bother me, but it does immensely. I often times don't want to leave the house. I can't wait till my legs get back to normal......
Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? I say, what difference does it make--I paid for a full glass,so either way I am getting jipped!!!
Topic: RE: Just wanted to let you guys know
I've had lymphedema for a few years. It was mild, at first. But soon after my surgery (not the typical WLS. I had a panniculectomy and had 20 lbs removed) my lymphedema swelled out of control. My surgeon warned me that ic could, and it did. I hop to start manual lymph drainage soon. There is a waiting list. Thanks for posting. It's always nice to see a new face.
Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? I say, what difference does it make--I paid for a full glass,so either way I am getting jipped!!!
Topic: RE: Just wanted to let you guys know
Yeah, it is a frustrating disease and NOONE during my presurgery process (weight loss center) really knew what it was (I was diagnosed a few years ago by a massage therapist and then saw a PT who provided me manual lymph drainage).
My legs have gotten a lot smaller but the cellulite look is awful. Did you consider plastic surgery when you got to goal? You were young when you had your DS so your skin was probably in much better shape than mine.
I just wish more people knew about lymphadema/lipedema and that your bottom half CAN get smaller post surgery.
Thanks for sharing.
My legs have gotten a lot smaller but the cellulite look is awful. Did you consider plastic surgery when you got to goal? You were young when you had your DS so your skin was probably in much better shape than mine.
I just wish more people knew about lymphadema/lipedema and that your bottom half CAN get smaller post surgery.
Thanks for sharing.
Topic: RE: Just wanted to let you guys know
Hello!
My legs did greatly decrease post DS, they are actually pretty much "normal" sized legs now. I no longer have extra fluid in my legs but I do have a bit of permanent swelling in my lower left leg (it was the biggest part of my leg that was most effected by lymphedema) but otherwise they are pretty normal looking.
My feet use to swell badly as well, to the point where I could no longer wear shoes or barely walk.
I am happy to say that they have not gotten swollen since surgery. Also the severe sensitivity in my legs has gone away, they can still be a little tender (I know there is no cure for lymphedema).
Some-days I do notice my leg might appear a bit bigger but sometimes I think that's just my mind playing a trick on me due to my strong feel of my intense symptoms returning.
Besides that unstable mental outlook everything is going very well.
And I do too as well wish there was more people here, I know for a fact I was misdiagnosis/un-diagnosed for a very long time before I finally found out what was going on with me.
-Jessy
My legs did greatly decrease post DS, they are actually pretty much "normal" sized legs now. I no longer have extra fluid in my legs but I do have a bit of permanent swelling in my lower left leg (it was the biggest part of my leg that was most effected by lymphedema) but otherwise they are pretty normal looking.
My feet use to swell badly as well, to the point where I could no longer wear shoes or barely walk.
I am happy to say that they have not gotten swollen since surgery. Also the severe sensitivity in my legs has gone away, they can still be a little tender (I know there is no cure for lymphedema).
Some-days I do notice my leg might appear a bit bigger but sometimes I think that's just my mind playing a trick on me due to my strong feel of my intense symptoms returning.
Besides that unstable mental outlook everything is going very well.
And I do too as well wish there was more people here, I know for a fact I was misdiagnosis/un-diagnosed for a very long time before I finally found out what was going on with me.
-Jessy
Hello, my name is Jessica 
I'm 20 and I got my DS!! check out my page.
I love my DS!!!!
sw(535)/cw(220)/goal (?)
Wanna learn about the DS? Come to the DS forum or check out these websites:
http://www.dsfacts.com/ OR http://www.duodenalswitch.com/
I'm 20 and I got my DS!! check out my page. I love my DS!!!!
sw(535)/cw(220)/goal (?)Wanna learn about the DS? Come to the DS forum or check out these websites:
http://www.dsfacts.com/ OR http://www.duodenalswitch.com/
Topic: RE: Just wanted to let you guys know
Hello!
I look on here every month or so and was glad to see a new post. I have lipedema and have struggled some with the fluid since surgery but started manual lymph drainage again and am doing well. Did your legs greatly decrease post DS? Any extra fluid in your legs now?
I wish there were more people on this forum as I KNOW there are many who are affected by this but undiagnosed.
Jennifer
I look on here every month or so and was glad to see a new post. I have lipedema and have struggled some with the fluid since surgery but started manual lymph drainage again and am doing well. Did your legs greatly decrease post DS? Any extra fluid in your legs now?
I wish there were more people on this forum as I KNOW there are many who are affected by this but undiagnosed.
Jennifer
HW/232 CW/145.2 GW/???
Topic: Just wanted to let you guys know
Hello everyone!
I see this board doesn't get much action but I just wanted to post because the issue of Lymphedema is very close to my heart!
I had the Duodenal Switch surgery 7/11/2009.
A couple months before surgery I was diagnosed with Lymphedema, mine was pretty intense and VERY painful. My legs were at least double maybe even tripled in size. I know the pains and frustration that come with having such a debilitating condition. I just want everyone to know that I am here for you if you would like to discuss anything, and that there is hope to live a life without the horrible symptoms of Lymphedema!
Ever since losing over 310 pounds I can proudly say my lympgedema no longer effects me!!
-Jessy
I see this board doesn't get much action but I just wanted to post because the issue of Lymphedema is very close to my heart!
I had the Duodenal Switch surgery 7/11/2009.
A couple months before surgery I was diagnosed with Lymphedema, mine was pretty intense and VERY painful. My legs were at least double maybe even tripled in size. I know the pains and frustration that come with having such a debilitating condition. I just want everyone to know that I am here for you if you would like to discuss anything, and that there is hope to live a life without the horrible symptoms of Lymphedema!
Ever since losing over 310 pounds I can proudly say my lympgedema no longer effects me!!
-Jessy
Hello, my name is Jessica I'm 20 and I got my DS!! check out my page.
I love my DS!!!! sw(535)/cw(220)/goal (?)
Wanna learn about the DS? Come to the DS forum or check out these websites:
http://www.dsfacts.com/ OR http://www.duodenalswitch.com/
I'm 20 and I got my DS!! check out my page. I love my DS!!!!
sw(535)/cw(220)/goal (?)Wanna learn about the DS? Come to the DS forum or check out these websites:
http://www.dsfacts.com/ OR http://www.duodenalswitch.com/
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