Now that you know you have Dercum's and, if you're like me and many others, lipedema, do you find yourself viewing the world differently? Are you more aware of body shapes than you ever were? See people who look a lot like you?
I'm finding that to be true for me and pretty common for most of us judging by the comments I've gotten. I see people like me everywhere! More women than men but I do see both. The top and bottom being out of proportion is the telling sign of lipedema and often Dercum's. In fact, one of Dr. Dercum's early pictures of a person with Adiposis Dolorosa shows the Rubenesque figure.
I've been certain for some time that there are way more of us than are diagnosed. How many of them have no idea why their body looks that way? How many are suffering the mental anguish as we did and often still are? It's rather mind boggling.
One of the things we hope to do at Cure Dercum's is put together some materials and start getting information out to medical professionals. But we're new and we're cash poor so it will take some time. Just know we will be working on that! In the meantime, we personally take every opportunity to educate and encourage you to do the same. The more people who know, the more people who can be diagnosed and helped.
Take care!
THE MYTH: Only overweight, postmenopausal women have Dercum's Disease. THE TRUTH: Anyone can have it. Both men and women have been diagnosed with DD. A person with Dercum's is not necessarily overweight and some patients have developed symptoms as early as their adolescent years. If you have painful lumps, you may have Dercum's Disease.
