It’s been a while. Seems that’s often the case. I’ve made some progress. Steps forward. Changes. Physical changes, spiritual changes, social changes, emotional changes. Some great successes, some struggles — but that is all life, isn’t it.
I’ll start with the physical stuff:
After years of working on accepting where I was at physically, and becoming okay with the discomfort of Lipedema (and secondary Lymphedema), which is had been told over and over again was not curable and “sorry we can’t do anything” (any treatment I might have had as an option was not going to work for me due to other complications). I was still quietly on a quest for better health. Something. Progress. Somehow.
I went to a new (to me) massage therapist, thinking at least getting a massage would be a bit pampering, but also helpful on both the emotional and the physical level (especially remembering the daily massages in Bali for three weeks in ‘17 that helped me relax enough that my grey hair disappeared and went back to blonde again!)
So, since my chiropractor had a massage therapist start renting a room in his office, I scheduled an appointment with her.
It wasn’t what I expected. This wasn’t your normal massage. She used several different modalities concurrently and immediately laser-focused on lymphatic drainage. Not the usual totally ineffective lymphatic drainage I had in the past, either. She honed in on lymph nodes and lymph lines and instantly targeted problem areas that were clogged or blocked to coax them open. I could actually actively feel what she was doing opening up the flow in my body.
The progress was slow at first, going only weekly. We decided to speed it up and in April, I began to go twice a week. By May the progress was visible. In June even more so. I looked like a different person. By late July, although the shape was similar to June, I looked younger!
The progress was most visible in my face and neck, but was also going on in my legs and arms. What was initially stuck, inflamed and swollen, began to move and the swelling went down. I have a more visible waistline from the back, not as much of a gut in the front, and the “shelf” hips I had developed are more sloped than they were, but still need more focused work. We are getting there. I am impatient, but learning to take it a step at a time.
One side is shifting more quickly than the other. I have decided to call one side the tortoise side and the other the hare side. One is slow and steady, the other goes in quick sprints and naps. 😆 They each have their strengths and weaknesses, but they’re both capable of achieving a great finish.
In November of ‘23, I had had to have something removed on my calf that required 16 stitches (8 internal, 8 external) and due to lipid and lymphatic inflammation in my legs, my skin was compromised and delicate and the stitches didn’t want to hold and tore and swelled and didn’t heal for four months!
Once it was finally closed and safe from infection, my usual six month check up was in late July. I had undergone the massage treatment and shape shifted so much that my skin was no longer taut and my stitches were not only healed but the angry purple/red scar was already fading. The dermatologist was astounded with my progress and the visible palpable change in the health of my skin. He said it was in the best condition he had ever seen it. A cursory exam indicated no red flags and I was given a clean bill of skin health with a full year before my next checkup.
I have not dieted. I have not exercised. In fact, I was told not to exercise while my system relearned how to properly function and move internally. I do not know how I look so different but have not lost any weight, but I am told the weight loss will come as I progress with treatment and I believe it.
One of the funny things about the shift has been learning to be okay with flab. Flabby, compared to Inflamed, is a GREAT thing, so at the moment, I am grateful for flab. The “wings” under my arms are sufficiently hanging to see my actual arm shape above them when I hold my arm out. This is an amazing evidence of progress! My legs are not stumps and are beginning to show similar leg shape and softness as the lymphatic – and lipid – sheets that were hardened and inflamed break down and begin to move. It is amazing.
I am encouraged with the visible progress. I still struggle with not seeing it in the numbers on the scale, but there is no denying the visual evidence of change.
I am off of *all* my prescription meds (anti-viral, blood pressure, anti-anxiety) except for thyroid which I will have to take for the rest of my life regardless (post radiation – I have no thyroid). I’m also off all my formerly-regular OTC meds (for heartburn and allergy) only taking holistic allergy meds on occasion and Excedrin as needed (still dealing with frequent migraines and chronic back pain).
I’m honest: I still keep the blood pressure, antiviral and anti-anxiety meds on standby, should anything unexpected flare up, but I am at present – cautiously successfully – finding other ways to try to meet those needs without medicating, and that’s exciting!
I’ve been given the green light to take up my Pilates again. I need to clear the room where my machine is, and begin to add that to my health routine, which now includes the regular use of herbal mallets, gua sha stones, and taking vitamin and herbal supplements, turmeric ginger tea, and daily electrolytes in plenty of water. And working on better sleep habits.
Still needing to accommodate my executive function issues, I’ve switched from Factor meals (which used to focus on organic and gluten free but no longer does) to My Metabolic Meals which still focuses on gluten-free, grass-fed and organic as much as possible. It’s been a good switch.
It is good to look younger, and be able do things I previously struggled with – like having better balance – and getting dressed without having to lean on something!
So – yay for progress! I am excited to see how far I can take it!
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