To our partners – How to best support your partner with lipedema

It is certainly not always easy with us. Lipedema is omnipresent in our minds and therefore also in everyday life and in relationships. Sometimes we would like to escape from it ourselves and just live a normal life, but it is not so easy.
If we have someone by our side who loves us even though we can’t do it ourselves, it helps us a lot and strengthens us. For many partners it is difficult to understand their partner’s doubts and limitations due to lipedema. Out of sheer ignorance, misunderstandings often arise on both sides, which cannot easily be cleared up between the parties involved and can often be unintentionally very hurtful.
If you would like to support and understand your partner more, but you do not know how, I would like to give you a few helpful tips.

Inform yourself about lipedema

The most important thing is that you also inform yourself and know about the lipedema disease and its causes and symptoms. Lipedema not only leads to external dispoportions, but is also associated with sometimes severe pain and physical limitations. If you know this, you can be more careful in dealing with your partner and show her understanding. You are already helping her a lot.
Due to an increased tendency to hematoma and pressure pain, we can, for example, already feel pain in the affected areas and get bruises when fooling around and tickling on the sofa. The psychological burden of not being able to look as healthy as we would despite a hard struggle is difficult to comprehend, but informing yourself in forums or on expert websites may help you put yourself in your partner’s shoes a little better.
At LIPOCURA® we place a lot of emphasis on education, feel free to look around our website and you will find some important information about lipedema, the stages and also liposuction for lipedema. If there are any unanswered questions after that, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are also always happy to support inquisitive relatives.

Frustration with lipedema – help for self-help

Sometimes we are stuck in a tunnel by the confrontation with the disease and can no longer find a way out of the frustrating situation ourselves. The measures of conservative therapy restrict everyday life, surgical lipedema therapy is not covered by health insurance for the most part and we do not feel taken seriously.
If you have the feeling that your partner is gradually losing her zest for life or cannot bring herself to change something about her situation on her own, try to show her ways and let her know that you are ready to support her on her way. Unfortunately, many doctors are still not very familiar with lipedema and the treatment options or liposuction for lipedema. Find out for your partner which doctor might be a good contact. Self-help groups or forums can also help.

Free space without pressure for lipedema patients

Some things that are so trivial for you and for healthy people, such as buying pants, going to the swimming pool or eating ice cream outside, are not so easy for us at all. Pants never fit, which frustrates us, when swimming many lipedema patients feel ashamed (although this is not necessary) and when we eat something unhealthy in public, we are immediately afraid it will affect the lipedema or someone is watching us and condemning us for it. Do not try to push us to do something that you think is easy. An open conversation and a little patience can help.

A sympathetic ear for your partner with lipedema – Take away her self-doubt

At some moments, you don’t have to say much; a hug and a few sincere words can have a big impact. The person in the partnership often thinks that you know you love each other and are there for each other. Sometimes, on the other hand, you don’t see the obvious and are very happy when it is said again. Especially in phases in which one cannot love and accept oneself well.

You are not alone. While we may be the only person with lipedema in the relationship, knowing that someone is there for us, shares our concerns and has a shoulder to lean on helps immensely.

I have a sympathetic ear for you. We feel bad when we make the disease the focus of the relationship and talk about it often. We don’t want to annoy those around us or be a burden to anyone. Knowing that your partner can share all her worries with you and that you are listening even for the 3rd time a day without making her feel bad will surely make her happy.

You are important to me. The self-esteem of a woman with lipedema is not particularly strong and we are often plagued by doubts that go far beyond the physical lipedema. We often think we are not good enough. Knowing that there is someone who cares about us just the way we are can boost our self-esteem.

You are not the lipedema. Lipedema patients are afraid of being abandoned due to strong self-doubt, because of the appearance and the burden on the partner. Lipedema takes up so much space in our lives that we reduce ourselves only to it. Knowing that we are more than just lipedema for the partner – a unique personality, a great character and an enrichment – is balm for the soul.

I Helping you. Many patients are afraid of the first time at home after surgery. Show her that you will support her, help her and take care of her.

Distorted body perception in lipedema: be honest, but not hurtful

Especially because of our often distorted body perception, we are dependent on honest words from a trusted person. Unfortunately, we often react very sensitively to our body and to statements about it and are quickly hurt, even if nothing bad was actually said.
Just choose your words a little more carefully and sensitively. For example, if she asks your opinion about an outfit, never say that she looks fat in it or that she should not wear it with her figure. It’s better to say: “I liked the other outfit better” or “I really like skirts on you, what do you think?