Hello I am Tammy Sandra's sister. My story: I lost over 100lbs  after starting to get serious about my health in 2006 and have kept it off but could loose no more no matter what I did. In 2012 I underwent a Gastric Sleeve, which removed 80% of my stomach, and I lost only a few more pounds. Now physically unable to digest a glutton's amount I still am not an "average" size. Can you imagine my frustration I am eating 1200 calories maximum daily. Until a recent health issue that required a long hospital stay I was regularly in the gym six days a week. I was in the top five month after month on the YMCA tracking system of weights lifted and hours of cardio performed. Everyone who was around me daily begin to admit they could not possibly understand how I was not able to lose anymore weight. I could tell those closest to me hurt for me. 

Finally I found the answers of why, I have discovered I have Lipedema. I had a bowel blockage caused by fibrosis or "scar tissue". I believe the Lipedema may have been responsible for depositing that fibrosis through out my body, the disease is not well understood so I can't be sure. The ordeal has left me in a weaken state. I felt I was not recovering my strength and found my iron levels were so low I needed iron IV to help restore them. I am due a recheck on my iron level and I predict more iron via IV as my energy level has failed to return. I am fighting to get the swelling under control as well. 

My prayer is to get back to running 3 miles 3 times a week and 3 cardio/weight lifting sessions a week. It won't be so I can loose weight as much as it it will be because I don't want Lipedema to win and put me in a wheelchair! Until my energy level is improved by my iron levels leveling out I am walking to stay active. There is so little known about Lipedema and the treatment plan is so undetermined that I have heard mixed advice on weather I should attempt to run or exercise the way I did before. It could be it was leading to increasing the fibrosis and it could damage the legs. However I know I was stronger then, so I am searching to get strength back. I will carefully explore returning to exercising in these ways as my iron levels come up so I can.

My eating plan is undergoing a revision. Before discovering I had lipedema I followed a low carb, low fat, high protein diet. Now research suggested that either the RAD diet or a Ketogentic diet may be more helpful. The difference will be that good fats will be higher than they were before. I am working on an infusion of the two. I will in following posts give more details of my daily food choices to any who are interested in fight inflammatory diseases with food choices.  Also I am posting a link to my personal myfittnespal account if any would like to friend me or review my daily food choices:  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/kapoorvilla

When I hear people talking about others being fat I often feel their maybe a lot to the story that is not known. I have never publicly shared this much before about my own weight however in an effort to stop others from being hurt let me say be careful what you say because there can be so much going on with them that you have no idea of! I have sat through and endured that pain and shame when people assume all weight issues are due to lack of self control with food and laziness. I know the hurt well and if sharing my story can help others then I will gladly try to let you all in my world of medical struggle so maybe you can be helped. 

So here is a small glimpse of my world: I wear compression  24 hours a day/ 7 days a week with the exception of removal for showering and for undergoing therapeutic lymphatic pump therapy. I will have to do this the rest of my life. I spend hours everyday managing this disease and trying to learn about it because not many doctors know much about it if they have even heard of it. 

This video is from an awareness campaign that was ran in 2014. I found it on youtube and I certainly felt drawn to it as I have a teenage daughter who is worried she too is showing signs of Lipedema. Like the young lady in the video she is currently a healthy weight and I pray it does not develop in her as years go by. 

I hope this blog can reach others and help them discover answers if they are fellow suffers of this disease and that we can together find hope for our daughters, nieces, and granddaughters that one day this will be a well understood and well controlled disease. 

I (Sandra) also had the Gastric sleeve surgery, my height  weight was around 450lbs my current weight is 350lbs. Wow that was harder to admit publicly than I thought it would be but like Tammy if it helps anyone it's worth it . One difference with me is I never got to the exercising point at the start of our gastric sleeve surgery I was in a wheelchair unable to walk and was out of breath just getting around inside the house. I did with the weight lose from surgery begin to be able to walk and breathe better. I was just improving when simply walking across my kitchen my Achilles' tendon tore putting me in a walking boot for six months, but I couldn't walk in the boot because I was still  so obese the boot rubbed my foot causing skin breakdown and putting me off my feet again the boot also makes your balance horrible and I had to resort to a walker for support. I am out of the boot now but still using the walker outside of my home because of balance issues.  Why does a non athletic person acquire an Achilles' tendon tear ? Obesity maybe or maybe lipedema and lymphedema ? I too now am in compression garments 24/7 and will begin using a pump soon as daily routine. Looking back I now know earlier diagnosis could have keep me more mobile longer. I plan to honestly share my feelings through the journey as to be of the most benefit to others, that being said I hurt daily, I struggle with everything from dressing to bathing and even simply walking, I am often depressed and disgusted and sometimes want to give up but by the grace of God I keep going because I have a 23 yr old boy with cerebral palsy that is totally dependent upon me along with three other amazing wonderful Sons who too often have to help me more than I am able to help them. My latest inspiration is an adorable 3yr old grandson that I want to see grow into a man. My husband has also stood by my me although at times I think they all question at times is this all for real or is she just lazy? That is one of the most painful things seeing them work to help me when I know they are tired or would rather be doing other things. I know without a doubt I have been looked at as lazy, gluttoness, and simply not trying by many who have been bold enough to say so as well as those that verbally keep quiet but still you know they think your disgusting. If I do go out to shop I have to ride on a scooter because I cannot even with my walker  hold out to make it for very long and believe me people look at me like her fat self needs to walk, if only they knew but would they believe? That is why we must raise awareness.

liplyp sisters introduction

My name is Sandra,my sister is Tammy we are creating this blog to share our discoveries,experiences, challenges, opinions,and journey with both Lipedema and Lymphedema. We have just begun this journey are newly diagnosed and will be learning as we go. We both are in therapy and are currently wearing wrappings on our legs awaiting delivery of our customized compression garments. These conditions are obviously hereditary but Lymphedema can be caused from trauma to the lymph nodes and or system due to cancer treatment or surgery. My sister and I both have primary Lymphedema which is inhereited, as we are learning we can see how many relatives must have had these conditions but were never diagnosed to our knowledge. These conditions are more common than most may realize but are not as publicized as other conditions. My (Sandra's) objective is to raise awareness with this blog and find support and encouragement throughout this journey. I will let Tammy make her own statement as to her objective. Please google Lipedema and Lymphedema to get a better and more thorough definition of these diseases, their symptoms, causes and available treatments. You may also want to print the information for your doctors benefits if you feel it applies to you most have heard of them but may not have not dealt with  them. There is no cure but many treatments available to minimize the pain and suffering and research is being done to find cures. Sandra is older (51) and more advanced with the progression of the conditions than Tammy. The earlier you are diagnosed and treatment begins the better so please don't wait your mobility and quality of life are at risk, I will wait for Tammy's opening statement before going further.