Born2lbfat

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

I Am Thankful For My Fat

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National Health Blog Post Month Day 28 – A Time to Give Thanks

What’s the one thing you’re most thankful for? Write a list of three things that you’re thankful for, excited about, or inspired by. 

I am most thankful for my fat. My fat is a part of who I am, more than just physically. My fat has made me stronger, kinder, and a more resourceful person. My fat makes me unique. Despite the challenges in life having Lipedema, and the excess fat, have presented I take every moment as a learning experience and I continue to move forward living the fullest and healthiest life possible.

I am most excited about 2014. I plan on attending several conferences, many to which will be first time conferences for me and I look forward to the information and opportunities.

I am most inspired by the new friends and fellow Lipedema patients I have made this past year.

Secure Your Mask Before Helping Others

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National Health Blog Post Month Day 19 – Top Three Tuesday

Give three pieces of advice you would give to a caregiver.

1. “Secure your mask before helping others” – Yes, the line from the airplane safety presentation, but it’s true for all aspects in life, especially for caregivers. Remember you need to be at your best in order to help others, that includes being physically and emotionally healthy. I will admit my first time being a caregiver was stressful, the hospital care the first night was not as I would have liked. I could have slept overnight in my friends private room but I knew I would not get as good as rest as I needed, and I the next day when I arrived back to the hospital the morning nursing staff had everything in order, my friend was in good spirits and ready to go home. I was well rested and ready to get him settled at home. Seek out a caregiver support group, and try to have back-up help. I know at my last job there was a Caregiver Support Network.

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2. Allow the patient to be as self-sufficient as possible – From my experience as both a patient and as a caregiver, both in short term care situations, the more the patient can do for themselves the healthier they are, and you will be also. (See #1) My mom is a nurse, and I am thankful she was able to stay with me after most of my major surgeries. As she would take care of drains, or bandages, she would explain to me what she was doing and why in case I needed to do it myself. Eventually she had me do it myself, I would joke that she was “a bad nurse” and she’d reply back “I’m making you self sufficient, it’s part of your recovery plan”. Of course not every patient is as able as I was, but encourage even small tasks, no one wants to feel helpless. It’s often difficult to accept help at all.  I know as a caregiver I appreciated when the patient did for themselves. My friend had a minor unexpected complication, I joked that my nursing fee had increased. However, in actuality they were a great patient. I would arrive with lunch, and they had already emptied drains and documented information. The only thing I needed to do was change bandages in an unreachable area. I would bring over food that just needed to be heated for dinner.

3. Be an Advocate – But do not be a bother. There is a difference between advocating for someone and hounding hospital staff, especially if it’s not the correct hospital staff. Remember healthcare should be a TEAM endeavor. Patient, nurses, doctors all on the same team with the patients health as the goal. If you want respect as a family member or care giver, and you want the patient to get the best care, communicate with calm respect. I know it can be difficult, as with illness many emotions are involved. However, it is key to getting your end goals met. Yes, sometimes you need to be a squeaky wheel but remember a squeak can be still be respectful.  I learned a lot from my mom being an RN. I understand the job the RN has, and the many other patients they have to care for in addition to me or my friend.

Sorry I need a another….

4. Make it Official – If you are the main caregiver in a serious medical situation, be sure the patient has given you the authority to make healthcare decision for them. Medical power of attorney, or healthcare surrogate. Do not ASSUME the patient’s wishes or your wishes will be honored at all times. Hospitals have laws to which they have to abide by, and often multiple family members want to chime in on what is best for the patient. Do not put the staff or your family in middle of a fight at a time when the focus should be on the patient.

What advice do you have for caregivers or patients?

NHBPM – Three Truths and a Lie

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National Health Blog Post Month Day 18 – Three Truths and a Lie

Tell us three things that are true about you, your condition, your Health Activism, or your life. Now tell us a lie. Do you think we will be able to tell the difference?

1. I’ve been told “you are what we read about in medical books.”

2. I once showed up in person to my insurance company’s office to check on the status of an appeal.

3. The sight of needles makes me squeamish.

4. Anytime I get new insurance coverage I request a copy of the Plan Document and I read it thoroughly.

Take guess…which one is the lie?

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Lipedema Treatment: Our Only Alternatives

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National Health Blog Post Month Day 10 – Alternative Medicine

Write about alternative treatments and regimens and tell us how you feel about them. What do you support? What is crazy? Have you used any?

Lipedema does not yet have a diagnosis code, let alone a known cause or effective treatment options. Lipedema is an abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous tissue aka FAT. However, lipedema fat cannot be reduced by restricted diet or exercise. Treatment options focus on the inflammation and swelling associated. Some lipedema patients, such as myself, also development lymphedema. Compression therapy has done wonders for my lymphedema, since it pushes the fluid out of my legs, however compression can help maintain lipedema progression the effectiveness is not as successful. There is a promising information for liposuction for the treatment of lipedema, while it doesn’t not address the “cause”, it does relieve the symptom. Currently, the most knowledgeable and experiences surgeons performing liposuction on lipedema patients are in Germany. There are plans for US doctors in New York City to begin performing liposuction for lipedema in 2014. The next challenge will for us to get insurance to cover the treatment, I am currently advocating for passage of legislation to cover compression therapy for lymphedema.

Reid Sleeves - Nighttime Compression

Reid Sleeves – Nighttime Compression

Current treatments lipedema patients use to reduce/manage symptoms:

  • Manual Lymph Massage
  • Compression Wraps
  • Compression Pumps
  • Compression Garments
  • Compression Sleeves
  • Supplements
  • Lymphatic Brushing
  • CVAC
  • Vibration Plates
  • RAD Diet
  • Detox Bath Soaks
  • Liposuction

Each of these options deserve a blog post of their own for explanation, I will have to expand on them at a later date.

If you are a Lipedema patient, share with me what options you have tried and if you found any relief.

Admit It: You Drink Diet Soda

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National Health Blog Post Month – Day 9:  Just admit it!

It’s taboo. Write about something that people do but don’t like to talk about or won’t admit to doing.

With a STRAW!

With a STRAW!

Nothing stirs up debate within the weight loss surgery community like a discussion about drinking diet soda. Rumors and scare tactics surround  the consumption of carbonated beverages from being the cause of regain to causing pouches to explode. Surgeons’ post-op protocols vary on whether or not weight loss surgery patients should consume diet soda. Some surgeons say NEVER, some say whenever as long as the bubbles don’t bother you.

My surgeon’s protocol was the latter, actually my nutritionist’s recommendation was I could try diet soda, and if it didn’t bother my stomach I could have it in moderation. So I did, and I do drink diet soda. The moderation part….um not so much.

My name is Sarah and I’m addicted to Diet Mtn Dew.

There I said it. I admit it. I do not deny I drink diet soda. It is probably my one unhealthy habit. I do not drink alcohol, I do not smoke, let me have my diet soda!

I’m not the only one. Yes, I do know many post-ops who have forever given up their bubbly soda. Kudos to you. You are stronger than I, although I’m sure there is something you enjoy, and enjoy probably a bit more than you should. Don’t we all have something we over indulge in?

Drinking diet soda is so taboo that many post-ops hide their drinking. Which is odd in a community that so opening partakes in drinking alcohol. At an event a few years ago I actually had a fellow post-op question why I was drinking Diet Coke, when I should be well aware of it’s relation to regain. He was drinking bourbon or whiskey on the rocks. Really?

It’s interesting watching fellow post-ops “hide” their diet sodas at events. I’ve seen it poured into cups to hide, or taken in grocery bags  to rooms for private consumption. As if there is an “image” to uphold and we must not let others see us being real humans who drink diet soda. When I attend events I drink my diet soda straight from the original bottle or can, and in public. It’s interesting to see others reaction, I was even asked “where I got the contraband?” Seriously, it’s diet soda, not crack. Are we not adults capable of making our own choices?

It could be worse, it could be regular soda. Right? I know, the studies say…………..

But there are so many chemicals. Excuse me but take a look at the ingredient list on your protein shake.

So let’s be real each other, we are humans, we are not perfect…actually I have a confession to make. The other day I mentioned that I took a couple Advil for pain in my legs. I was asked if I ate something with them since NSAIDS are also a supposed “no – no” in the WLS world. I assured the person I take proper precautions, as I also take a daily aspirin for medical reasons.

The truth is yes, I ate something…I washed the Advil down with Diet Mtn Dew and two cookies.

So tell me, do you drink diet soda? Energy drink?

 

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.

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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?