Lipoedema/Lymphoedema

[damemaggiescurledupperlip]

Would it be possible to have a section for these two (somewhat related) issues within Health? A great many women are affected, but NHS resources are tight and behind the curve. Mumsnet is the ideal place for the sharing of experience and resources: I have learned a great deal from reading existing threads on Mumsnet, but they aren’t easy to find

You can start a thread within the health topic. You don't need a separate topic for a specific condition

but it would be handy

I thought they were the same thing. What’s the difference please?

But why do you think there is enough traffic and discussion for a whole board? Start a support thread, people will either post on it or they won't, that's how other people use the site. I can't imagine why you'd need a whole board to cover one fairly uncommon medical condition.

Hi OP

Thanks so much for the suggestion. We create and merge topics based on interest level - if it looks like lots of users would use a topic, we'd then discuss opening it. We'll keep an eye on this thread and see what people think.

There is an overlap. Lymphoedema is chronic swelling of legs and arms caused by a blocked lymphatic system; Lipoedema is chronic accumulation of ‘diseased’ fat,in the lower body usually, sometimes the arms too.

neither is curable, though they can be ‘managed’ and arrested.

about 11% of women will suffer one or the other , but many are not diagnosed until it is too late for meaningful intervention

the impact on mobility in later life is very great. Pain is also a factor, and also mental health issues.

I think it would be easier to raise awareness and also for people to gain from others’ experience if all the threads were in one place.

many of you who are looking at your ‘cellulite’ are actually looking at early lipoedema. I was. Diagnosis has come as a hell of a shock

I have fairly bad lipodema, probs stage 3 on my thighs then the rest of my legs are fine except around my knees. I have shapely ankles etc. Would love a thread or topic. At 52 I fear it is too late for me to have a meaningful intervention.

I can’t post links at the moment but will do some of stage 1, 2, and 3 lipoedema when I can. stage 1 looks like cellulite. Stage 3 is scary

I’m not sure that worrying women unnecessarily about their cellulite or describing it as “diseased” fat is going to lead to better outcomes! There are better resources than mumsnet and “health” covers all topics at the end of the day if people do want to discuss!

I think there will be a lot of interest in this, it’s more common than you think!

It’s not just legs and arms that lymphoedena affects

Bumping...