Hi! I am a 48 year old widowed mother and grandmother in west Texas. I also have lipedema, fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and chronic depression. Strangely enough, considering my health concerns, I am basically a happy, friendly lady who enjoys the company of others. I know, the happy/chronic depression thing is a bit of a contradiction, but I try really hard to keep the depression under control.
For those of you who do not know Lipedema -- sometimes spelled lipodema or lipoedema -- is a hereditary condition which causes patients (almost always women) to store excess fat in the lower body, particularly the lower legs. The causes are little known or understood, but some sort of disruption of the lymphatic system seems to be passed from mother to daughter. Lipedema first becomes evident at puberty and often gets worse at pregnancy or perimenopause, many times progressing to lipo-lymphedema (painful swelling in the legs). It can be treated but not cured, and frequently goes undiagnosed (or misdiagnosed as ordinary obesity) for years.
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia does not cause body damage or deformity. However, undue fatigue plagues the large majority of patients with fibromyalgia and sleep disorders are common in fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is considered an arthritis-related condition. However,it is not a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) since it does not cause inflammation in the joints, muscles, or other tissues or damage them. But fibromyalgia can (like arthritis) cause significant pain and fatigue and it can similarly interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities.
Irritable bowel syndrome may occur with fibromyalgia. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia may include headaches, painful menstrual periods, numbness or tingling of the extremities, restless legs, temperature sensitivity, and cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as "fibro fog").
I have decided to begin this blog to share with others my road to better health and my attempts at getting treatment for these conditions. For those of you who also have any of these conditions, I hope that we will be able to share ideas and support one another in this journey.
