Help change my life with Lipoedema treatment

Claire Oldfield is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi there,thank you for taking the time to visit my page and read my story.
My name is claire and I am a 36 year old mum to my 6 beautiful children.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/19/size-8-woman-debilitating-condition-makes-legs-size-20-11182817/

Above:me and some of my children.

Above:me and my daughters and mum.

When I was 14 i was diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune condition called Lipoedema nothing was fully explained to me all I knew was I had chunky legs.
I suffered quietly for a number of years and never spoke of my condition to anybody, but my condition started getting worse and worse.
I struggled through school getting bullied because of the size I was people saying you will be a rugby player when you grow up!
This stuck with me from that day and throughout my whole life time.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SBMYX3o5-_g

Above:showing the top half of my body,size 8/10

I tried every diet going and did really well with slimming world and I have managed to loose 3 stone unfortunatly due to this horrendous condition NO weight was lost from my bottom half resulting in me being a size 10 on top and 20 on the bottom.

My career/work was put in jeopardy from the illness and I am now no longer able to work due to this condition,along with fibromyalgia and depression.
As each and every year creeps up my condition's deteriorate I hardly leave the house anymore and if I do it's usually for medical appointments.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GkMWi-m3jjM

I am now secluded from friends some days I feel like I'm not living anymore just simply existing.
I miss the things that NORMAL people can do like wearing a skirt or shorts(something I've not done since I left school)run around the park with the kids or socialise with friends.

Above:pictures of my legs at the moment.

The depression I suffer is because of the mental stress I deal with having to live with this,I have at times wanted to end my life but my kids keep giving me the courage to fight through the pain and shame of this awful disease,but I have to fight back tears when I'm alone. At my worst times I have wanted to cut my legs off.

This condition will NEVER ever go away, if i cannot fund treatment i risk being in a wheelchair and having to live with chronic autoimmune complications for the rest of my life.

Above:me in hospital spending quality time with my little boy,I was too poorly to do much but cuddles were all we needed.

This time last year I was admitted to hospital for 5 weeks and since then my health had deteriorated at a rapid pace.
I also suffer with fibromyalgia and anxiety.
Sleeping is a issue as I get restless legs syndrome lucky if i sleep more than 3 hrs per night.
A cocktail of antidepressants,morphine and tramadol dont even ease the pain.
I have had aids placed in my home to try help me with my day to day life.
I use a bath seat to get me in and out of the bath and a bed loop to help me turn over in bed.

Experts believe that lipoedema it is an autoimmune disease which corrupts the body’s fat composition, leaving large (benign) tumerous deposits in large arms, legs and buttocks on patients.

Above:The stages of lipoedema.

http://www.curelipedema.org/

Medical professionals tend to mis-diagnose the condition as obesity for this reason but lipoedema is resistant to exercise and diet as the condition is caused by excessive fatty tumours.

Above:shows the difference in normal fat and diseased lippy fat.

They are highly painful, causing severe join pain, easy bruising and a crippling lower-back strain.
Surgery is the only long-term treatment but the NHS does not offer this as they see it as a form of cosmetic surgery. Yes some ppl have liposuction for cosmetic reasons. ME on the other hand I dont want to look like a super model I just want to look and feel NORMAL each surgery is roughly £6000 and I will need at least 3.

I attend a local clinic every 6 months for check ups and I walk in there with crossed fingers in the hope of good news..they have found a cure or they have changed their minds on funding it on the nhs.
But NO still the same old story.
Just a prescription for another pair of compression tights that do not help me in the slightest.

Above:me and my mum my rock.

I would need tumescent Liposuction under General Aesthetic or sedation. However, this comes with a staggering price tag something i could only dream of affording.

I have decided to harness the power of crowdfunding and corporate sponsorship. I really am so grateful for anything you can give to help towards the surgery i deserve. I am still only young (36) if I had this treatment it would life changing for me as well as my 6 children.

Thank you so much – even the smallest donations will really help.