2 weeks post-op update

 Follow me at the link below to see photos and daily updates on my progression through surgery and recovery!
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Taking my life back- The first week after lipedema Liposuction

This past 8 days has been a whirlwind, we arrived in Georgia August 27th, we checked into our hotel. I definitely recommend Extended Stay America Alpharetta, Georgia. They definitely make it feel like home there. The next day the kids and my husband went swimming, then in the afternoon I got to have a consult with Dr. Byrd (my wonderfully awesome surgeon) to talk about the surgery and all the pre-op stuff. The very next morning I woke up and at 830 am I went into surgery! This was the day that will change my lipedema story forever, the day that I waited 11 years for, hoping to regain control of what was robbed and taken from me! During this 3 hours water assisted liposuction surgery about 6.5 liters of fat were removed from my buttocks, hips, legs and inner thighs. The world revered Lipedema surgeon from Germany was in the U.S. overseeing surgeons perform surgeries and he officiated in mine he is absolutely remarkable and knowledgeable.

4 days and counting

After 22 years of battling lymphedema and lipedema and not knowing it I know it, I formally have a diagnosis, a set of surgeries scheduled. ( water assisted liposuction) and a clearer path for a hopeful long term treatment. I am investing all of my faith, money, and energy into this, and hoping at the very least I will regain mobility and be able to chase my children when all is said and done. I need and WANT to stop the progression of Lipedema before it is too late for me. I once was 500 pounds, I do not want to get back to that place and end up bed bound once again.! Please follow my facebook page, and this blog to keep up to date with further advances in my surgery, before and after!Lippy Leigh Facebook page

21 Days

 I cannot believe it is only 21 days until I leave Virginia for a week and drive to Georgia. It will be a interesting trip for sure, we will be staying in an extended stay hotel with a pool and kitchen for 5 days or more. The drive alone is 8 hours plus stops for gas and bathroom breaks, I can imagine it is very hard on 3 little kids to sit still for that long as well as hard on my lippy body. I am excited to start the journey of stopping the progression of Lipedema and regaining some of my mobility back. My dream would be too run and chase my kids, to exercise without being in pain, and let me just say the pain is very intense with Lipedema. I have the Fibromaylgia, Ehler's Danlos and Chronic fatigue ON TOP of Lipedema and none of these compare to the deep sharp aching. My fundraising efforts are futile and I am okay with that I am so thankful for those that believe in my cause and are sharing my journey and even more blessed for those that have donated. Every cent helps and will go towards my recovery.

Who am I and what am I doing here?

2014 200  Pounds

Leigh in 1981 5 months old

I am 32 a mother to 3 children and suffer multiple chronic illnesses, these include Lipedema stage 3, Ehler's Danlos Syndrome hyper mobility type, PCOS, ADD,insulin resistance, hypothyroid. It has been a whirlwind journey to get where I am today. I am happily married to my wonderful husband and he has been nothing but a complete angel since I've met him.  I have always been bigger from the bottom down and smaller waist up. I started gaining significantly at 12 years old *Puberty* and got up to about 190 pounds until 2003 in which I rapidly gained almost 300 pounds within a year! I found  Amy's Butterfly Journey while Googling, fat legs,swelling and other terms and she looked just like me! I started treatment right away and my legs went down some but not much.
My dream is to inspire,teach and spread awareness about these rare disorders, and if you retain nothing else from my blog know that you are not alone! There are 17 million other people out there just like ME and YOU!

1990

1999 Senior Year

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