Growing up as a kid in Rye, New York, I was active in sports. I competed on the lacrosse, tennis and track teams and also exercised regularly on a road bike. Exercise was a big part of my life. I was in great shape and at a healthy weight.
When I turned 14 in 1990, everything changed. My feet and legs began to swell out of no where. The pain was excruciating and not a single doctor could figure out why I as barely able to walk. I was on crutches for months. The swelling never stopped, but the pain slowly began to decrease.
Not until 2001, when I went to see a podiatrist in Yakima, Washington, had anyone ever muttered the word lymphedema That was the first I’d ever heard of it.
The podiatrist recommended I get compression stockings, which I did. Since then, I’ve had many blood tests, MRIs, you name it, but no doctor knows WHY I have lymphedema.
Since it kicked in 23 years ago, my weight’s gone up significantly, I have minimal movement in my feet, and I can’t walk for more than an hour without pain. It’s completely changed my life and I have no idea why I have it.
The podiatrist told me that if I didn’t wear stockings every day for the rest of my life, I could end up wheelchair-bound by 50. I’m 37 now–and the disease is worsening. Compression stockings, by the way, are expensive, don’t last long, are not covered by insurance and are uncomfortable to wear–not to mention UGLY!
I’m self-conscious about how my legs and feet look and buying a pair of shoes is a major ordeal.
I’d give anything to have normal, healthy, pretty legs and feet. No one understands how people are “born” with this disease. I hope more funding goes into researching and possibly curing lymphedema so people like myself can lead happy, healthy lives again.
