Hi, my name is kellym73!

Hi, I am a sufferer if lipoedema, fibromyalgia and also have ptsd and depression.
Daily struggles just to maintain a “normal” lifestyle.  
My disabilities are not seen as such, everyone assumes I am that I have the same capacity physically and mentally which I do not.  
I’ve had to learn my new boundaries and abilities.  Don’t get me wrong, I often push myself to try and exceed those and not settle for anything less than what I think I should be able to do. This often comes back to bite me in the bottom as I overstretch myself.  People can’t understand why I need to take time out to lick my wounds. My lipoedema is also misunderstood, often just looked upon as obesity, and stigma attached to that.  I often feel like people think I’m making these conditions up, especially as I haven’t always had fibro, ptsd and depression.  The lipoedema is something I’ve had my whole adulthood so that’s the condition I can deal with the best.  I’m sure I’m not the only one here, that is made to feel awkward with their disabilities.  I do try to let it be water off a duck back and just get on with it.  Some days that’s easier to do than others, I have come to accept that that’s ok too.  It’s taken a lot of support to adjust to be happy with myself, and finally I’m winning that at least, not setting myself up to fail; not taking things to heart that are said.  I now consider myself a lot more resilient because I’ve adapted to this new me.