“I obsessed over other kids’ legs,” shared Debrena “Bre” McEwen, who is known and loved by many as @TheBrenaJean on Instagram. “I remember wishing I could run.”
Embracing body positivity helped, but she knew something else was going on. As she approached age 40, her intent to live healthy led her to investigate reduction surgery. The procedure required weight loss, and she began tracking calories, and even surprised herself at how small her caloric intake was for a person of her size. Her research uncovered a potential answer: lipedema!
But attaining a diagnosis proved challenging. One hurtful doctor said, “All I see is a person that needs to go on a diet.” Heartbroken, but undaunted, she continued to pursue answers. Within minutes of a telehealth visit with Dr. David Amron, she had her diagnosis: Stage 3 lipedema, impacting her upper and lower extremities. Finally, someone believed what her body and mind were telling her!
Another game-changer for Bre was connecting with the online community. “They’ve taught me how to care for myself,” she says. “And care is love in action.” She saw Cara Cruz (known as @PaleGingerPear on social media) talking about Lympha Press and she experienced it firsthand at Dr. Emily Iker’s practice. Now she has a Lympha Press of her own and loves it. You’ll be inspired by Bre’s story and her encouragement to connect with others.
The Lipedema Channel interviews are brought to you by Lympha Press, which offers the Optimal Plus, the world’s most advanced pneumatic compression pump designed with lipedema therapy in mind. Find out more by visiting www.lymphapress.com or sending us a message.
