Born2lbfat

My life with Lipedema & Lymphedema...destined to be fat.

NHBPM Day 3: My Mascot!

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National Health Blog Post Month Day 3: My Mascot!
Give your condition, community, or self a mascot. Who is it? What do they represent? What is their battle cry?

My Mascot? My friends know my Mascot is my boyfriend. His online gamer name is Mascot, so I often refer to him by that, along with about three other “names” none of which are his REAL name. Mascot, my boyfriend, is also responsible for giving me the idea for my mascot, Princess Peach. When we first met he nicknamed me Peach because my initials, SMB, are the same as Super Mario Bros,  I have blonde hair (when I have highlights), and my real name, Sarah, means Princess…oh and I bake cakes!

peach

I’m not quite the damsel in distress like Princess Peach, I’m not one to just be waiting around to be saved. I am perfectly capable of playing the game, and facing the challenges of life on my own. However, I do suck at playing video games, so I would have to say I’m just a “support character” in that sense. And like Princess Peach, I do not have very good vertical jumping abilities. But I like a good adventure!

Lymphedema and Lipedema do often “kidnap” me. The pain and swelling associated with the conditions often limit my ability to walk and be as active as I would like. Treatment can be just as  limiting as the conditions. Being tethered to a compression pump for hours a day, or being compression wrapped like a mummy can be both a physical and mental struggle to manage.

I found these toy cars with Peach and Mario and we take them with us on our adventures. We now live 1000 miles apart so Peach and Mario are even more important to me as a way to keep connected. Like the game there are always different types of levels and worlds to challenge and achievements to reach. I have dealt with lymphedema and lipedema for more than a decade, and yet there are always new challenges and new opportunities on the horizon. This blog is one of them. My Mascot, the boyfriend, supports me through the challenges my condition presents. He is my support and my cheerleader, and Princess Peach reminds me of him and the super powers he gives me in life.

peachmario

NHBPM Day 2: My Big Caboose – Little Engine Remix

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Day 2 of National Health Blog Post Month and today’s prompt is “The Little Engine” taken from the children’s story, The Little Engine that Could:

Write 3 lines that start with “I think I can…”

Then write 3 lines that start with “I know I can…”

I had to laugh when I thought of the train analogy and my medical condition because my caboose is a much more prominent and powerful train car in my journey. Do trains still have cabooses? For a few years during my childhood I lived near train tracks and I would always love waiting for the end of the train to come by so I could wave to “Mr. Caboose Man”. My caboose (butt) is big because of Lipedema. But that size and weight does not hold me back, instead it is the real source of my power and strength. Living with Lipedema has made me strong, resilient, resourceful, and compassionate.

sassy

With that said…here is my Big Caboose – Little Engine Remix

I think I can be a catalyst for change.

I think I can encourage others to be their own advocates.

I think I can change society’s perception of obesity by sharing my story.

I know I can be myself.

I know I can survive.

I know I can win most battles with health insurance companies.

What do you THINK and KNOW you CAN do? What is your source of power and strength?