June is Lipedema Awareness Month, and the Lymphedema Patient Roundtable spent the hour highlighting this often-painful disease estimated to affect up to 11% of women worldwide. After a quick explainer on the differences — and similarities — between lymphedema, lipedema, and lipolymphedema from certified lymphedema therapist Karen Ashforth, the Roundtable passed the mic to their special guests to hear their own lived experiences.
Tamara Carroll and Sarah Bramblette live with lymphedema and lipedema and their vulnerability in sharing their stories helped attendees feel validated in their own personal journeys with these conditions, not to mention inspired to advocate for themselves and their treatment: “I didn’t want to be treated like that,” said Tamara after a clinician brushed off her lipedema. “I wanted to be treated, and for somebody to hear me.”
Whether you have lipedema, lymphedema, or both, the evening was an encouraging testament to the power of community and advocating for oneself!
Warm thanks to our gracious guests this month:
- Karen Ashforth, MS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA (@karenashforth_cltlana)
- Sarah Bramblette, MSHL, Lymphedema and Lipedema Patient, Advocate (@born2lbfat)
- Tamara Carroll, Lymphedema and Lipedema Patient, Advocate (beautifullycurvedtcarroll.substack.com)
- Alexa Ercolano, Lymphedema Patient and Lympha Press Marketing and Communications Associate (@lymphielife)
- Angela Jones, Lipolymphedema Patient and Health Coach (@2018gethealthy)
- Catherine Rosenberg, Lymphedema Patient (@crosenberg1982)
- Amanda Sobey, Lymphedema Patient, Certified Personal Trainer, and Nutritionist (@am.sobey)
Links and Resources mentioned in the video:
Lipedema Resources
- Lipedema Foundation: https://www.lipedema.org/
- Lipedema Awareness Month Toolkit: https://www.lipedema.org/lipedema-awareness-month-2024
- Lipedema Simplified: https://lipedema-simplified.org/
- Heart to Heart Circles (lipedema meet-up groups): https://learn.lipedema-simplified.org/heart-circles
- Fat Disorders Resource Society: https://www.fatdisorders.org/
- Lipedema Diagnosis Explained video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbI4vxKSG3o
Lipedema, Lymphedema, and GLP-1 Drugs
- Lipedema Patient Roundtable discussing semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVfqJEuDEMs
- GLP-1 receptor agonist as an effective treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a case report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11063291/
Treatment and Insurance Coverage
- Lymphedema Treatment Act Coverage Details: https://lymphedematreatmentact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Coverage-for-Lymphedema-Compression-Supplies-copy.pdf
- Support the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act: https://www.obesityaction.org/troa/
Lympha Press is proud to offer these monthly Lymphedema Patient Roundtables and support the lymphedema community. The Roundtables are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 PM EST. Sign up to attend any of our live webinars at https://linktr.ee/LymphaPress.
