Now that you’ve been to the doctor and have gotten your lipedema diagnosis, what now?
Well, you probably already know from all the literature on the internet that there’s really not much to do. Lipedema can’t be prevented and there is no lipedema cure. However, it can be managed and there is a special liposuction available to get rid of the lipedema fat.
Lipedema Management Options
If you have stage 1 lipedema, chances are you don’t have lymphedema and you don’t have that horrible fat cuff around the ankle. Aside from watching your diet and exercising, there isn’t much more to do.
However, those who have progressed to stage 2 and beyond where secondary lymphedema has started, there’s a few options.
- Manual lymph drainage massage
- Compression garments
- Compression wrapping
- Compression taping for lymph drainage
- Dry brushing
- Diet
- Exercise
- Liposuction
Yup, that’s pretty much it and it’s frustrating and saddening. However, if you have some lymphedema in conjunction with the lipedema, some of the pressure pain and bruising can be reduced by MLD and compression.
That’s the good news…the bad news is MLD and compression garments aren’t cheap. Some of us are lucky enough to have insurance that covers it. A lot of ladies in the US don’t have insurance, or insurance won’t cover it. Or, some of the complaints I’ve heard from the UK is MLD is few and far in between and where some people need treatment 2 or more times a week, maybe get it once a month due to the waiting list.
I get it 1x a week and I can tell you that the skin therapist office I go to that treats edema is always BUSY. My therapist is booked solid and making new appointments is always so much fun.
Diet is pretty darned important for lipedema patients. It’s not a license to go hog wild on all that good food out there!
I can’t repeat it enough, even after you get a diagnosis and find out your weight isn’t your fault, you can’t start eating everything in sight. A surplus of calories creates more fat which gives your body a bigger chance to create more lipedema fat. NOBODY wants that.
Since this is an inflammatory condition that often brings on lymphedema, I’ve actually found the keto diet (a super low carb diet) to be beneficial. It’s kept off the extra water and it keeps my joints from hurting. I’ve noticed that when I cheat and go on a carb binge for a weekend that the fluid really packs into my calves and getting it massaged out again HURTS more than it did before the binge.
There’s another anti inflammatory diet called RAD. Like keto it’s anti inflammatory but it kicks out red meats, processed food, dairy, simple carbs, etc. Personally, since a carb binds water (which brings on water weight), RAD just doesn’t work for me since it still allows whole grains and fruit, which is all broken down into glucose.
Not to mention, when I eat carbs (even good carbs) my blood sugar will plummet if I don’t eat every 2-3 hours and I turn into the wicked witch. But, the important thing to remember is what works for me may not work for you. Experiment and figure out an anti inflammatory way of eating that works for you and make sure you limit your caloric intake so you don’t overeat and make more fat.
And of course exercise is super important as well to get the lymphatic flow going!
Exercise is important since it keeps your body healthy. You don’t need to go nuts and get yourself overuse injuries or burn yourself out, but you should get at least an hour 3x a week in doing something you enjoy. Walking, cycling, swimming, zumba, weight lifting are all pretty good exercises since it encourages your lymph system to work.
Of course what’s super important here is to do what you can manage. I personally can’t jog anymore so I’ve started cycling and spinning. I weight train (with a personal trainer to keep me from hurting myself as I push myself to my limits) but sometimes can’t squat because my knees or back are bothering me. I don’t focus on what I can’t do and instead my trainer and I focus on modifications so I can give 100% to what I can do. Heck, I found out during my first spin class in years that I can’t do the really fast cycling because it bounces me up and down on the seat which hurts due to the pressure on the lipedema fat on my bum.
So instead, I apply a little more resistance and spin on my merry way.
The most important thing is I’m out doing SOMETHING and this is probably a big reason I’ve managed to hold the progression back between diet and exercise.
Oh, and because I’ve lost all of the normal fat on my shoulders, I can see my muscles up there. That’s pretty cool!
NEXT: Surgical intervention – liposuction for lipedema