Lipedema Patient Roundtable: July 2023

Two new hashtags were birthed following the July Lipedema Patient Roundtable's riveting discussion: #DoTheThing and #WearTheThing were shared by Pattie Cornute and Pale Ginger Pear. The message? Don't talk yourself out of trying something new for fear of what other people will think. Pattie's Lipedema Fitness group just celebrated its 10th anniversary! And the panelists also helped Brenda Viola say goodbye to her fifties, with an outpouring of love (and flowers). What do you do when traveling and your compression pump and other treatment tools are not available? Water! Expert guest Karen Ashforth, MS, OTR, CLT-LANA, talked about getting movement time in a pool to minimize the impacts of travel. If there isn't a pool, even movement in bath water can help. And water in terms of staying hydrated was also underscored as important when traveling, especially when temperatures are high. Summertime is also the season for bug bites, which can negatively impact lipedema limbs. Karen Ashforth touted the use of ammonia and Linda Anne Kahn recommended lavender oil. Using compression garments under your Lympha Press was a new concept for many attendees, and cautions regarding hot tubs, infrared blankets, and how fibrosis presents in lipedema patients were discussed. Special guest Susan O'Hara, an author and lipedema advocate, shared her exciting progress in creating fashionable footwear for lipedema feet and legs. Soon, animal prints, flexible boots that fit lipedema calves, and metallic styles will be available, which was met with great excitement by the panelists and attendees. "You may have lipedema, but lipedema doesn't have to have YOU" was a common theme during this inspirational and information-filled Roundtable. Special thanks to our anchor panelists and special guests: Karen Ashforth, MS, OTR, CLT-LANA (www.karenashforth.com) Jenny Beaujean (@Jenny_Beaujean) Siouxie Boshoff (@Lipedema.Living) Angelique Charles (@TheLippyButterfly) Pattie Cornute (@LipedemaFitness) Cara Cruz (@PaleGingerPear) Linda Anne Kahn (@LindaAnneKahn) Susan O'Hara (@legs_likemine) Linda Anne Kahn said it best during the discussion: "In my opinion, anyone who needs pneumatic compression should have a Lympha Press." If you would like help managing your lipedema, please contact us through our website. Join the Lipedema Patient Roundtable on the third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 PM EST, sponsored by Lympha Press to support and encourage the lipedema patient community. Thanks for listening to the Lipedema Patient Roundtable podcast! You can watch the video recording of this Roundtable on the Lipedema Channel on YouTube, or on Instagram at @lympha_press.