Sunday, March 26, 2023

Do GLP-1 Meds Work on Lipedema?

We have been talking about the GLP-1 meds lately, and what impacts they may be having on our Lipedema bodies.

Most of us living with Lipedema have tried many things over the years in search of some relief in the heaviness and the pain we experience, and to help combat the loss of our mobility.

We have come to learn that while we share in having Lipedema, we can be very different in how we present, in how we progress, and even in how we respond to treatments, exercise, supplements, etc.

What we do know is that Lipedema tissue is unlike regular fat. It does not respond to things in the same manner. Which is why I was very interested in what some Lipedema patients taking the GLP-1 meds were sharing about their experiences...

1. Experience an almost overnight reduction of pain - ex. going from using daily pain meds to not needing any at all!

2. After a couple years into using the GLP-1 meds, they can no longer feel the Lipedema nodules (not saying they have dissolved, but definitely sounds like possibly shrinking to the point of no longer feeling them).

I feel the medications must have an anti-inflammatory component with the rapid relief they are feeling, and maybe an anti-fibrotic component, which I have read some medical studies (outside of Lipedema) saying the same about them.

As someone with late stage Lipedema, the top two things I deal with are #inflammation and #fibrotic tissue. They are what cause me pain and limit my range of motion and cause loss of mobility.

These two factors alone have me interested in these medications, and I would love to hear more about what others are experiencing.

Are you a Lipedema patient taking one of the GLP-1 medications? We would love to hear about your experience.

We need research and data. And we need people to share their experience, maybe in an anonymous manner; because from what I am seeing, is this could be huge help in late stage Lipedema treatments, when most who are in this stage, are typically told there is nothing we can do for you.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Lipedema Fitness: Living in Compression

MARCH IS LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS MONTH

Having #lipolymphedema means I wear #graduatedcompression every day for the rest of my life. 

I personally wear Juzo dynamic knee highs in 30-40 mmHg strength because of my secondary #lymphedema - I also prefer a cm silicone border to help them stay put and not roll down (which kills when it does). 

WHAT IS GRADUATED COMPRESSION: Graduated compression starts stronger at the bottom (40 mmHg) and gradually lessons (30 mmHg) as it goes up your limb, this helps your body push the lymph fluid up instead of it pooling in your limbs.

When I first got fitted for compression I cried. It was not easy to transition into it. 

At the time it only came in black or tan (now it comes in great colors), and was so thick; it took some time for me to get good at putting it on, we actually joke that putting compression on is the workout!

I’ve actually punched myself in the face on accident trying to pull up my compression leggings. Woof, and I know I’m not alone in that.

Wearing it under pants is challenging, and under workout pants can literally take your breath away - and wearing it in the summer can suck the life right out of you. 

BUT - I would much rather wear it than be without it, because when my legs swell up with lymph fluid - it is excruciating. 

The compression also helps my #lipedema and #hypermobileehlersdanlossyndrome by supporting my legs as I move, lipedema legs can be very heavy and the tissue moves freely (uncomfortable and painful) and the hyper mobile EDS means my joints can dislocate really easily. 

Having the support from the compression helps a lot. 

Let me know if you have any questions, and there is a great live product review of my knee highs in my Instagram video section from a couple years ago (click here).