Help me fight to walk from Lipedema
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I am scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday, February 24th @ 10:30 and my second surgery will be March 25th for moderate Lipedema- Stage 3-4. Lipedema, known as lipoedema in Europe, is a chronic disorder of adipose tissue generally affecting the legs, which causes the legs and sometimes the arms to accumulate fatty tissue and can eventually affect mobility. It has been really taking a toll on my body. To give you an idea of how big my ankles and calves (I had to measure for my garments today to wear after surgery) my calves measures 23 inches around when normal range is 16. And my ankles (normal size is 9-10) one ankle is 16 and the other is 18. I feel like the elephant man in the making lol. I have been on disability since October 31, 20I14 and properly diagnosed December 8, 2014. I have not been able to leave my house due to the pain and immobilty. My pain level from 1-10 is a 8-9, my surgeon Dr. David Amron said it should go to a 2 after the first surgery. He will be doing liposuction on the calves, ankles and upper arms on Tuesday. And cannot do my upper leg and buttocks until a month later due to the swelling of the previous surgery. He said that he will lipo about 4.5 liters per procedure of lymph fluid and fat which weighs according to him 10 pounds from legs and arms.
Health insurance will not pay for the procedure needed. It is really sad that they do not recognize the disease. There are alot of people, mainly women around that has this disease but the doctors were not taught and have no knowledge of the disease. Patients are told they have Lymphedema when actually they may have Lipedema. It happened to me until I seen Dr. Emily Iker in Santa Monica that is aware of both diseases. Doctors that are aware are trying to get the insurance to recognize this but I believe they are leary because in order for it to be cured, the procedure needs to be done by a cosmetic surgeon. When they see cosmetic surgeon they think we are getting it done for beauty but in reality we are doing it so we will not be wheel chair bound.
Both procedures will cost us $22,950. Harold and I have received medical loans thru Care Credit and one other bank. But we will be paying close to $800 a month for the next three years. I am currently taken out some money from my 401K to help pay some of the cost of the surgery. It's crazy but I need to do what I have to in order to walk. I had to pay for garments which cost me $630 that I need to wear after the surgery. Also pay a lipedema specialist after the surgeries to do lymphatic drainage massage a couple times a week at $210 a visit in LA because Bakersfield only has 2 in the whole Kern County and believe it or not one of them is on maternity leave until the end of April and the other is going to RN school in March. So I have no one locally.
Please view this link below. It will give you a better understanding about Lipedema. Dr. Amron in the attached video is doing my procedure.
http://youtu.be/_lhqAztpsgU
http://youtu.be/vcXcT5rV0TM
I don't normally ask for money or anything but when it becomes a financial burden and added stress to my family I will do anything. Every bit helps.
Please help by making a donation. I want to walk and not to be in a wheel chair. I still have a 7 year old to raise and grandchildren to play with. Also share this link to spread awareness of this disease. You may know someone that might have this.
Thank you in advance and God Bless.
Saijo
Just want to add a picture of stages of Lipedema. It is graphic but would like to show you the stages of Lipodema. I was diagnosed Stage 3-4.
Health insurance will not pay for the procedure needed. It is really sad that they do not recognize the disease. There are alot of people, mainly women around that has this disease but the doctors were not taught and have no knowledge of the disease. Patients are told they have Lymphedema when actually they may have Lipedema. It happened to me until I seen Dr. Emily Iker in Santa Monica that is aware of both diseases. Doctors that are aware are trying to get the insurance to recognize this but I believe they are leary because in order for it to be cured, the procedure needs to be done by a cosmetic surgeon. When they see cosmetic surgeon they think we are getting it done for beauty but in reality we are doing it so we will not be wheel chair bound.
Both procedures will cost us $22,950. Harold and I have received medical loans thru Care Credit and one other bank. But we will be paying close to $800 a month for the next three years. I am currently taken out some money from my 401K to help pay some of the cost of the surgery. It's crazy but I need to do what I have to in order to walk. I had to pay for garments which cost me $630 that I need to wear after the surgery. Also pay a lipedema specialist after the surgeries to do lymphatic drainage massage a couple times a week at $210 a visit in LA because Bakersfield only has 2 in the whole Kern County and believe it or not one of them is on maternity leave until the end of April and the other is going to RN school in March. So I have no one locally.
Please view this link below. It will give you a better understanding about Lipedema. Dr. Amron in the attached video is doing my procedure.
http://youtu.be/_lhqAztpsgU
http://youtu.be/vcXcT5rV0TM
I don't normally ask for money or anything but when it becomes a financial burden and added stress to my family I will do anything. Every bit helps.
Please help by making a donation. I want to walk and not to be in a wheel chair. I still have a 7 year old to raise and grandchildren to play with. Also share this link to spread awareness of this disease. You may know someone that might have this.
Thank you in advance and God Bless.
Saijo
Just want to add a picture of stages of Lipedema. It is graphic but would like to show you the stages of Lipodema. I was diagnosed Stage 3-4.
Organizer
Saijo Kephart-Bryan
Organizer
Calders Corner, CA