To go to GP because I think I have lipoedema

[TuaTia]

I saw on another thread where the OP said she had lipoedema. I'd never heard of it before however from the NHS page I'm pretty certain that I have it.
I always had fat thighs; I remember kids making fun of them when I was at primary school school. When I saw the picture on the NHS website I was genuinely shocked as the example photo looks exactly like me. Sort of smoother on top and then fatter, dimpled legs. The legs are exactly the same shape as mine! It was quite shocking as it looked so similar to me.
I'm also pretty sure my mum has it too; she can't lose weight, ever, despite a lifetime of eating really healthy food, going on long walks, being active, etc. Family members used to remark on her figure (not that they were right to!) when she was younger as she was a regular size on top and had a "big bottom" or was "pear shaped". I think it's more than that though, as the texture of both mine and my mum's legs/ thighs / bum is different to the the rest of us. We both bruise really easily on our legs / thighs / bum and I will often have really cold skin on my legs for no apparent reason (e.g. the rest of me is warm)

I keep going to the doctor at the moment*, I am starting to think that they will think I am a nuisance. But at the same time, if I do have this condition, I might be able to get help??

So WIBU to contact my GP about this?

*Recent trips (last 6 months) to GP have been:
Severe eczema flare-up, in-person, was asked to come in
For referral for DC to have SALT, in-person
For GP to look at DC's ankles as they are hypermobile, in person
For referral for women's health physio, in-person and had to have a physical exam
For DC to be referred to CAMHS ND pathway, in-person
DC to have multiple verrucas looked at, in-person
For migraine - in person
(NB: Patients have to fill in a triage form and then they decide whether it'll be in-person appointment or a phone appointment)

Lots of the other appointments weren't for you
What's the worst that can happen anyway?

I am a GP. I wouldn’t blink twice. You need your GP to tell you.

It depends what you want to happen as a result of going to the GP.

They won't give you liposuction on the NHS unless it is extremely severe and debilitating. There is not funding for it.

All that will happen is they will give you advice to eat healthily, exercise, wear compression stockings and look after your skin.

So it depends if you think it's worth it?

It might be worth discussing it with the GP if you are worried or if it affects your quality of life. There is no treatment, though, as PP mentioned so, unless you need to manage the symptoms like pain and varicose veins, there is not much that GP can do for you.
I wouldn't worry about being a "frequent flyer". If you need an appointment, you need an appointment.

I have lipoedema, GP agrees. My legs are fat, they bruise easy, ache all the time and very tender to touch.
They can’t do anything for it. If you want treatment you need to go private.

Your GP might not even know what it is. When I went they kept saying Lymphodema and that is a different condition.

In fact, I went to see three private specialist consultants to get a diagnosis and one said I didn’t have it and two said I did.

The best lipoedema group on Facebook is: Global Lipodema Awareness- Surgeries/Doctors

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. I don't really know what I would want the GP to do, it might be useful to have it on my medical record or something?! I have put on weight lately and I can't shift it so maybe some advice about that. I really really don't want to be viewed as a frequent flier although I guess they do triage everything! When I told my mum she said she didn't have lymphodema! I think the two are often confused!! That is wild you had to go to 3 different doctors, @Cherryana. Thank you so much for the recommend for the FB group ❣

So I had to see three because I saw one in 2016 and he said I didn’t have it. I was only about 8 stone at the time and I think that confused him ?

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that really I did. My legs were a really odd shape. So in 2019 I went to see another consultant and she said I did.

So then I had to see a third specialist to find out if I did or didn’t - and I went to see a German surgeon in 2020 and she said I did. I was a classic case and I went on to have two surgeries with her.

But it goes to show it’s worth getting a few opinions.