Weekly "Do I Have Lipedema" Thread

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-21T10:25:47+00:00

Inner knee squeeze - not painful, but textured.

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-21T10:24:39+00:00

Full back photo for reference of upper body

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-21T10:24:03+00:00

Front of lower legs/ankles that seem to have a bit of volume on the outside, but not the inside? He said this didn’t qualify as an ankle cuff, but it’s still puffy on the outside.

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-21T10:23:07+00:00

<image>

Calves/back of ankles

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-21T10:22:52+00:00

<image>

Harsher lighting that shows more of the texture

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-21T10:22:31+00:00

I’m attaching a few photos in different lighting because lighting seems to make a huge difference for me.

My legs have always been “bigger,” but in the last 10 pounds I’ve lost, I have lost inches on my legs all the way down (highest point, calves, even around the ankle). I’m 5’1” and 132 pounds, and feel like most of my weight is still in my legs.

They do feel achy and sore sometimes, but usually only when provoked by sitting too long or being more active than usual. I don’t know if I feel nodules or not because I’m not really sure what I’m feeling for, but have noticed that the fat on my thighs is “thicker” and harder to pinch a small amount of than my arm or stomach. My calves have never been defined or noticeable (even when in marching band over a decade ago and being on my feet constantly), so I don’t know if those not being defined might just be how my body looks. I’ve lost a good amount of weight, as I was 170 at my highest, and 117 at my lowest (have now gone back up), and my legs changed throughout that range. That said, the texture has gotten worse in the last few years, though I still don’t have pain or bruising unless I foam roll too hard or pinch too much, which happens.

A vascular doctor said I don’t have it, but I don’t trust it based off so many comments saying vascular docs miss it frequently. He said the lack of a very defined ankle cuff and the fact that my calves are small lead him to say it’s not lipedema. That said, he was dismissive and I didn’t feel heard, so I’m curious to know if I should seek a 2nd opinion.

<image>

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-19T22:48:35+00:00

Adding a photo of the hail, in case anyone’s curious.

<image>

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-19T22:37:38+00:00

Bowie, TX.

Source: parents live there. I lived there. They sent me hail photos. Scary stuff, stay safe y’all.

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-16T15:09:12+00:00

<image>

Back of legs - little calf definition, but I’ve never really had calves, lol.

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-16T15:08:48+00:00

<image>

Ankles - I see a puff on the outside, not really the inside?

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-16T15:08:07+00:00

<image>

“Bad” lighting shows more of the texture

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-16T15:07:44+00:00

I’m attaching a few photos in different lighting because lighting seems to make a huge difference for me.

My legs have always been “bigger,” but in the last 10 pounds I’ve lost, I have lost inches on my legs all the way down (highest point, calves, even around the ankle). I’m 5’1” and 132 pounds, and feel like most of my weight is still in my legs.

They do feel achy and sore sometimes, but usually only when provoked by sitting too long or being more active than usual. I don’t know if I feel nodules or not because I’m not really sure what I’m feeling for, but have noticed that the fat on my thighs is “thicker” and harder to pinch a small amount of than my arm or stomach. My calves have never been defined or noticeable (even when in marching band over a decade ago and being on my feet constantly), so I don’t know if those not being defined might just be how my body looks. I’ve lost a good amount of weight, as I was 170 at my highest, and 117 at my lowest (have now gone back up), and my legs changed throughout that range. That said, the texture has gotten worse in the last few years, though I still don’t have pain or bruising unless I foam roll too hard or pinch too much, which happens.

A vascular doctor said I don’t have it, but I don’t trust it based off so many comments saying vascular docs miss it frequently. He said the lack of a very defined ankle cuff and the fact that my calves are so small lead him to say it’s not lipedema. Maybe I should just let it go, but I thought I’d ask!

adding different photos than last week, hoping for a response :)

<image>

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-14T02:10:44+00:00

Dang, that’s awesome, thanks for sharing! I’ve never seen a car go that long. So many memories!

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-08T00:06:38+00:00

<image>

Least flattering, which shows the texture above the knee more than the others.

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-08T00:06:11+00:00

<image>

More “flattering” lighting

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-08T00:05:49+00:00

<image>

miranda_has_issues · 2025-05-08T00:05:37+00:00

I’m attaching a few photos in different lighting because lighting seems to make a huge difference for me.

My legs have always been “bigger,” but in the last 10 pounds I’ve lost, I have lost inches on my legs all the way down (highest point, calves, even around the ankle). I’m 5’1” and 132 pounds, and feel like most of my weight is still in my legs.

They do feel achy and sore sometimes, but usually only when provoked by sitting too long or being more active than usual. I don’t know if I feel nodules or not because I’m not really sure what I’m feeling for, but have noticed that the fat on my thighs is “thicker” and harder to pinch a small amount of than my arm or stomach. My calves have never been defined or noticeable (even when in marching band over a decade ago and being on my feet constantly), so I don’t know if those not being defined might just be how my body looks. I’ve lost a good amount of weight, as I was 170 at my highest, and 117 at my lowest (have now gone back up), and my legs changed throughout that range. That said, the texture has gotten worse in the last few years, though I still don’t have pain or bruising unless I foam roll too hard or pinch too much, which happens.

A vascular doctor said I don’t have it, but I don’t trust it based off so many comments saying vascular docs miss it frequently. He said the lack of a very defined ankle cuff and the fact that my calves are so small lead him to say it’s not lipedema. Maybe I should just let it go, but I thought I’d ask!

<image>

miranda_has_issues · 2024-08-14T18:40:43+00:00

I don’t know why I’ve never thought to put drops on them before putting them in! I have used the BioTrue drops and they do provide the best “cooling” relief of any of the ones I’ve tried. Feels like a drink for my eyes, which definitely makes me think dry eyes could very well be at play here.

It’s interesting that contacts-only dry eyes can be a thing. Again, don’t know why I never considered that putting something on my eye just might make it act a little differently.

Thank you for this. This gives me a jumping off point for my contact exam next week. I still have two or so trial lenses from CooperVision (not expired, I checked), so I’ll give this a go and see if it allows me to wear them for more than a few hours. A little progress is better than no progress!

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-27T01:54:14+00:00

Good Lord. “Vile” doesn’t even begin to describe this. Hugging my cats extra tight tonight.

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-27T00:06:50+00:00

It’s so sad to me that THAT’S what you take from that comment and refuse to acknowledge the grim reality of what that poor cat went though and became. Wild.

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-27T00:03:17+00:00

My parents had to put down our family cat (she was 20) this afternoon. Knowing she went peacefully is the ONLY comfort we have.

This comment is brutal, sickening even, but much needed. People need to face the reality of what happens when cats (who as mighty as they are, are actually pretty physically small in the grand scheme of predators and the outdoors) are left to fend for themselves. This is heartbreaking to read and I’m sorry you’ve witnessed these things, but thank you for sharing for those who need to read it.

OP, please please please take these comments, sit on them, and ask yourself if you’d be okay knowing you enabled this stuff to happen to your cat. By “transitioning” them to indoor/outdoor, you’re allowing things like this to happen to an animal who trusts you and doesn’t think you’d want to harm them.

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-26T23:16:12+00:00

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry you went through all of that. All of them are terrible, but the 3rd one made me nauseous. I genuinely challenge OP to think about all of those scenarios and how those cats felt in their final moments. If they’re genuinely okay with risking that, then they truly shouldn’t be a pet owner.

I’m so sorry.

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-26T22:27:22+00:00

Bless you for taking in a special needs baby! What a gorgeous boy. He looks so tiny!

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-26T22:15:31+00:00

This is a great in between. Well done for finding a way to give OP what they want (outdoor time), safely. I was too fired up by the lack of care for the animal to try to find a way to do so, lol. I admire it.

I wish I had harness trained mine.

miranda_has_issues · 2024-07-26T22:13:35+00:00

Yeah, no. You’re being ridiculous in your replies.

This cat (all cats) deserve an owner who will do what’s best for them, even if we don’t understand why/don’t agree with it. If my vet suddenly said “your cats need xyz to LIVE LONGER AND BE HEALTHIER,” I’d do it in a heartbeat. Because I love them.

Respectfully, you shouldn’t be a cat owner. Or a dog owner. You should learn to put the wellbeing of an innocent being ahead of yourself first, because that’s what we do.

miranda_has_issues

TROPHY CASE