The Lympha Press Podcast

Gretchen Schackel considers herself a pioneer, particularly when it comes to lipedema surgery. Since age 13, she wondered what was "wrong" with her legs. Thinking it was lymphedema , she eventually discovered manual lymph drainage and compression stockings - but the lipedema fat remained. She took a chance after Googling lipedema and signed up to attend a conference with Dr. Karen Herbst. This led...

At 5'8" and 140 pounds, you might not think Andrea Wilson fits the mold of your average Lipedema Lady.  But the more we learn, we understand there IS no mold. Learn about her journey to finally achieve a diagnosis, her three surgeries to remove painful fat, and how she is successfully managing her condition. You'll be inspired! This interview was recorded in June 2020. You can watch the video...

Nita Clewis "always wanted a way out of the fat suit." Success with a low carb and keto diet helped reduce the pain - both mental and physical - that accompanies lipedema . She speaks to "the dark hole of misdiagnosis" and how it affected her outlook on opportunities (and herself). When diagnosed, she forged a way to manage her condition and her commitment to the lipedema community and her own hea...

At the May Lipedema Patient Roundtable, panelists shared gems of wisdom and inspiration from the Fat Disorders Resource Society (FDRS) Conference along with the joy of meeting in person for the first time: Cara (Pale Ginger Pear) , who never runs, literally sprinted across the lobby and practically dove onto Angelique Charles (The Lippy Butterfly) when sighted at the hotel! A big takeaway from the...

Carol Moody is one determined woman. At puberty, her weight skyrocketed by 60 pounds, though her eating and exercise habits hadn’t changed. Strict diets with no results followed and doctors suggested that she would eventually be bedridden. “I was determined NOT to be bedridden,” says Carol. The idea of being wheelchair-bound was a wake-up call. Carol was no stranger to adversity; legally blind, he...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the theme of mental and emotional wellbeing reverberated throughout the May Lymphedema Patient Roundtable. Our patients on the panel discussed the different ways they manage their emotional lows and avoid "comparison traps," and the therapists talked about the physical effects stress and emotional pain can have on lymphedema . Catherine Rosenberg brought u...

"I built the community that I didn't have." Amy Rivera is a powerful voice in the lymphedema community. Her Ninjas Fighting Lymphedema Foundation offers help and support that she wished for on the journey to a lymphedema diagnosis.  Misdiagnosed for 30 years, Amy was born with the right side of her body swollen. One doctor told her she'd be in a wheelchair by the age of 35. She fired him. A l...

In 2014, Susan Mortarelli was bedridden. She searched endlessly for answers while feeling like her skin was on fire. Today, she's a vocal and very present advocate for those with lipedema and Dercum's disease. She candidly shares her experiences with surgery, ICG lymphography, and lymphoscintigraphy imaging. Susan underscores the importance of using medical language to communicate with medical pro...

Mother-daughter duo Sonja and Tayler have a unique bond: they both live with chronic conditions. Tayler was born with lymphedema , and although her swelling was obvious from birth, she wouldn’t be diagnosed until she was twelve. Around the same time, her mother Sonja was diagnosed with lipedema . From the quest for a diagnosis to navigating treatment, going through the process together has allowed...

“To not be able to move as a dancer is to not remember who you were,” shared Beth McKee Elliott. This moving interview about her lipedema journey offers hope to other women with mobility challenges. A cortisol cascade changed her body dramatically and for years she went undiagnosed. She now says, “My legs look like old friends.” Find out about what she’s learned about self-acceptance through her s...

She was her mother's caregiver for her entire adult life and saw the loneliness and pain of immobility associated with lymphedema and lipedema . LysaMarie knew something was different about her lower body, but remained undiagnosed for years. Gastric bypass, endless exercise - nothing helped. It was only when she started connecting on Instagram that she saw other bodies like her own, which eventual...

To learn that the condition that had plagued her for decades had a name was a relief for Amy Vasquez. For years she heard "calories in, calories out" and was even accused by medical professionals of eating more than she admitted to. Amy ate clean; she was a gymnast and dancer in her youth. She saw similar, big thighs among her family members and thought there wasn't anything that could be done to...

With a host of other medical concerns, Stephanie Roache wasn't focused on managing lymphedema when she was diagnosed.  Soon, it became apparent that it could no longer be ignored. "I clicked on a coupon during Lymphedema Awareness Month," she shares. Amanda Sobey ( @am.sobey ) encouraged her that the best thing she could do was move her lymph.  Her renewed commitment to managing her lymp...

Kelly Bell has lymphedema throughout his body, and his excruciating journey to finally get diagnosed rendered him so depressed, he considered suicide. Be inspired by this retired Coast Guard veteran’s story of never giving up. He says, “I lost my life for 12 years but now, I am no longer a bystander. I am fully participating in life.” One of the tools that have been life-changing for Kelly is the...

For a decade, Alexa Ercolano has used her successful blog, www. TheLymphieLife.com , to educate and inspire her fellow lymphedema patients.  She wondered for years what was wrong with her leg and finally, at age 14, was diagnosed with primary lymphedema. Her candor in sharing challenges with an eating disorder and alcohol abuse - unhealthy methods to cope with her condition - is meant to enco...

Nine years after Angela Marquez survived cervical cancer, she received a lymphedema diagnosis. She hasn't let that stop her from being a fitness advocate or being a prominent voice to encourage the lymphedema community. This interview was recorded in December 2020. You can watch the video recording of Angela's interview on the Lymphedema Channel on YouTube , or on Instagram at @lympha_press . The...

Marie McGowan brings a wealth of medical expertise to this interview. She’s a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, a Senior Therapist at Prisma Health in South Carolina, as well as a Physical Therapist. Her unique empathy and passion to help lymphedema patients are, in part, because of her own lipedema diagnosis. This hope-filled conversation covers how to find the right therapist, being your own advoc...

The first signs of lymphedema presented when Ayanna Sealey was 14 years old. A dancer her entire life, this elite performer eventually faced eight bouts of cellulitis. At a critical juncture in 2011, she woke to a feverish infection; her limb red, hot, and hard. Would lymphedema steal her dream? “I was chosen to dance,” she says — and indeed she did! Though dancing in bare feet was no longer an op...

It was just a short time ago that Crystal was diagnosed with lipedema. Her journey to that point included a 100-pound weight loss, only to discover that taking in minimal calories and exercising hours each day proved fruitless. Her @CFITRevolution mission encourages other women to “Make it happen!” She posts inspiring content showing how she uses exercise to manage her condition and motivates othe...

In this powerful interview, Angela Jones encourages viewers to speak up and be their own advocates when it comes to their health. A certified health coach and former registered nurse, Angela only recently was diagnosed with lipolymphedema. The news was a relief to her! She knew she was eating clean and taking care of her body, but her size and scale didn’t respond normally. Once weighing over 400...

You might know her as The Lippy Butterfly on Facebook . Find out how Angelique Charles found her wings through a grueling journey to finally getting a proper diagnosis for lipolymphedema. Be inspired by Angelique's new approach to taking care of herself, planning healthy meals, and seeking to help others. You'll also be singing, "I get knocked down...but I get up again!" This interview was re...

Bethany Davis was on a trip to Disney at age 11 when she first realized she couldn't feel her ankle bones. A primary lymphedema diagnosis followed along with a lifelong quest to manage this chronic condition. From feeling shame about her condition to choosing NOT to manage it for a period, Bethany's candor is refreshing. Embracing a ketogenic diet was life-changing for Bethany. She lost over twelv...

"Extra is my ordinary." Today, Elise Sasso sweeps you up with her effervescence, creativity, and joy in life. Creativity and artistry were the keys to emerging from a dark place because of her lipedema and lymphedema.  Be inspired by her "medical roller coaster" story.  At one point she was 410 pounds, faced bouts of cellulitis, and couldn't even look at herself in the mirror. Once final...

It can be the most stressful time of the year, but the women of the Lipedema Patient Roundtable are facing the seasonal challenges with healthy doses of fun. A Secret Santa exchange, wishes for the New Year, candid conversations about managing lipedema, and an inspiring vocal performance by The Lippy Butterfly, Angelique Charles, make this Roundtable especially uplifting. A special thank-you to ou...

It's the holiday season, and this festive episode features frank talk about how to handle the challenges of lymphedema in what may not always be the "most wonderful time of the year." Special guest Kathleen Lisson, CMT, CLT, joins our regular panelists for a candid and heartwarming edition of this monthly Roundtable. A heartfelt thank-you to our group of panelists: Karen Ashforth , MS, OTR/L, CLT-...