Finding Answers: My Journey with Lipoedema

I was 21 when I set off on my first overseas adventure—a white Christmas in Austria, full of excitement and the promise of skiing for the first time. I bundled up in my new winter gear, signed up for ski school, and made my way to the boot fitting shed. That’s when I had my first inkling that something wasn’t quite right.

The guy fitting my boots—a friendly New Zealander—struggled to get the buckles done up around my lower legs. He looked up and said with a laugh, “You don’t need to wear 10 pairs of socks, lady!” I only had one thick pair on, and at the time I was a small-framed size 8. No one else in my group had the same issue. I ended up stuffing socks into oversized boots just to get on the slopes. That was the first time I really started wondering, Why are my legs different?

This was the early ’90s—no internet, no Google. Information wasn’t at your fingertips like it is today. When I finally brought it up with my GP, she dismissed me, saying I was being ridiculous and overreacting about the shape of my legs (a feature I now know is called cuffing). Still, she reluctantly gave me a referral to a plastic surgeon.

At my consultation, the surgeon took Polaroids of my legs and drew black dotted lines all over them—marking areas he deemed “abnormal.” He handed me the photos along with a brochure on liposuction and a quote that was completely unaffordable. That was the end of that conversation.

Over the years, things only got worse. I love to travel, but long-haul flights became unbearable. My legs would swell and ache until it felt like I was wearing cement socks. They were heavy, full of fluid, and constantly painful. Doctors kept telling me to lose weight and my legs would go back to “normal.” But no matter what diet I tried—no matter how many gyms, personal trainers, or alternative therapies—I saw no change. I was exhausted and traumatized by it all. I eventually swore off gyms completely.

I’ve spent most of my life hiding my legs. Wide-leg pants, maxi skirts, and long dresses became wardrobe staples. I never wore shorts in public. Knee-high boots? Forget it. Shopping for jeans? Impossible. Even intimacy was a lights-out affair. Oddly enough, spray tanning became my only confidence booster. It made me feel slimmer and more in control—which probably explains why I ended up opening a spray tanning studio. I wanted others to feel that little lift in self-esteem too. Still, looking at other people’s legs all day just reminded me how different mine were.

Fast forward to now: I’m in my 50s, menopausal, and my legs have become even more difficult to manage. A chance hospital visit to see a neighbour led me to a vascular surgeon who took one look at me and said, “You need to see Melody Brown.”

Melody, an incredible occupational therapist, has truly changed my life. She diagnosed me with Type 4 (full legs and arms), late Stage 2 to early Stage 3 lipoedema, and slight lymphedema in my left leg. I burst into tears when she gave me the diagnosis—it was the same overwhelming wave of validation I felt when I was diagnosed with ADHD. Finally, someone listened. Finally, I wasn’t being dismissed. I wasn’t “just fat.” There was a name for it—and a way forward.

My nighttime compression socks and Soxy!

So, what exactly is Lipoedema?

Lipoedema is a chronic condition marked by an abnormal build-up of fat and connective tissue, mostly in the legs and sometimes the arms. It’s often symmetrical, affects women far more than men, and can cause pain, swelling, and easy bruising. Unlike regular fat, lipoedema doesn’t respond to diet and exercise. The cause remains unknown, but it’s believed to be linked to genetics, hormones, and possibly inflammation.

There’s no cure yet, but there is hope. Treatments can help manage the symptoms, improve quality of life, and slow the condition’s progression.

Managing Lipoedema: What My Day Looks Like Now

Thanks to my diagnosis and support from my team, I now follow a chronic care plan that includes:

• Wearing full-leg medical compression stockings day and night

• Using intermittent pneumatic compression pumps (45 minutes daily)

• Daily manual lymphatic drainage massage

• Gentle rebounding on a mini trampoline

• Standing on a vibration plate

• Herbal medicine and an anti-inflammatory diet

• Low-impact exercise like walking, swimming, and Pilates

• Daily skincare to prevent dryness

• Psychological support—and learning to truly love my body again

Getting to this point has been a long road filled with frustration, shame, and confusion. But now I have answers. I have tools. And most importantly, I have hope.

If you’ve ever felt like something wasn’t right with your body—if you’ve been brushed off, fat-shamed, or misunderstood—I see you. Keep asking questions. Keep advocating for yourself. You deserve to be heard.

My full leg compression stockings

Resources and help:

Jean Jarrett (my amazing naturopath and nutritionist)

Melody Brown (my wonderful occupation therapist)

Earth and Owl (rebounding exercises)

Eligned (lymph movement and vibration plate routines)

Lympha Press (pneumatic compression boots)

Comfiwave (thigh high compression garments)

Lipoedema Australia website and Facebook page

Vibration for Fat Disorders Facebook page

CzSalus leg compression stockings

*Cuffing refers to the characteristic appearance of the condition where swelling and fat accumulation in the legs and arms stop abruptly at the ankles and wrists, leaving the feet and hands relatively normal in size.