I loved this conversation - I am so here for the intersection of fat liberation and disability justice. I think about this all the time but FUCK the fact that insurance is just allowed to decide to not cover procedures that would provide relief (massages should absolutely be covered!!) is so cruel. Talking about these issues is such important work!
*CW for my own medical fatphobia experience* I don't have lipedema, but I do relate to a lot of this. I have long covid, which has included breathing issues. And also weight gain. Last week I had a follow up appointment with a respiralogist and my results don't make sense. It seems like I have asthma, but I don't respond to the bronchodilators. So he pointed out that I've gained 6 kg since May and have I noticed that? I need to become "draconian" with my eating habits. And told me not to put cream or sugar in my coffee (I drink it black) or drink juice (I don't). And then prescribed me a different inhaler (because maybe it will work this time if I also try to lose weight?) and he'll call me in 3 months. It's very frustrating and lonely and I'm trying to remove his words from my brain. But they are right there every time I eat and I really don't need this stress when food is one of my only pleasures right now. Maybe I'll watch the show you recommended, Virginia, and imagine my doctor as the husband. And I can be sympathetic that doctors aren't taught about everything, or in my case are up against something new (although post viral illnesses aren't new), but can they instead have some humility and say they will have to do some learning instead of blaming us for our bodies?
This conversation took me back 20 years to when lipodystrophy was a very upsetting consequence of HIV treatment with the early antiretrovirals. The medical community was very unsympathetic to the gay men who didn't want to take these medications that extended their lives, but caused abnormal abdominal fat distribution onto their otherwise gaunt bodies. Another case of blaming the already marginalized victims by saying if you weren't sexually promiscuous gay men you wouldn't have HIV and wouldn't have to take medication that destroys the shape of your familiar bodies.
Thank you for this. I found it enlightening and enraging, and am just so shocked I have never even heard of lipedema before. These health issues that exist at the intersection of fatphobia and misogyny – I mean, what a great way to pinpoint that exact place.
Oct 6, 2022·edited Oct 6, 2022Liked by Virginia Sole-Smith
Thrilled for this interview. Linda is one of my very favorite follows online and we often have great discussions in the DMs. Several of her blog posts have really shaped my thinking on various topics. As someone in healthcare, lipedema is really not talked about (ever?), so this is a conversation we really need to be having!
Yes! I am shocked to learn it impacts 11 percent of women worldwide and yet... it's NOWHERE in healthcare conversations. (And agree, Linda is such an excellent human.)
And more thoughts as I get through the episode! I really want to have a greater conversation among HAES clinicians about where to go with healthcare and our careers. I am a brand new dietitian currently working as a supplemental inpatient dietitian in a hospital, and I understand the desire to flee to private practice where I could practice more aligned with my values. But it's also nice to try and offer patients a positive experience while they're in the hospital or push back against doctors who give consults for weight loss (so many consults for weight loss!!!). However, it sucks to do so much weight monitoring per hospital policy, and it's exhausting to absorb a lot of weird food stuff from patients and their families all day. Mixed feelings. But I do think that HAES people giving courses and webinars and conferences to other HAES people isn't moving the needle in wider healthcare.
Oct 7, 2022·edited Oct 7, 2022Liked by Virginia Sole-Smith
This is one of the best episodes of your show. I felt all the feelings! Including just absolutely dumbfounded that I'd never heard of lipedema before. Up to 11% percent of women. It' s hard to fathom, as a lay person, never hearing of something that is this common. It's harder still to fathom the fact that GPs haven't heard of it. The HAES discussion was really good, too. Health at Every Size, but that also includes the fact that people experience illness at Every Size, (chronic and acute). It felt like it should be obvious but hearing you talk about it, i could understand some of the points about why it was fraught.
Just catching up on some previous pods. Linda, I was so moved by what you have been, and are currently going through. Please accept a cargo container full of empathy, love, and support. Thank you for sharing this with us! <3 I am also in the white hot anger category at how you and others have been treated by everyone who is supposed to be helping you. No. Excuses. Patriarchy, misogyny, fat-phobia all suck so much and I am so sorry you are in this shit. I applaud you for your amazing mental health and ability to untangle exactly who is and is not responsible and at fault here, from Calvin (the old dude, not the cartoon!) to your local clinic. Keep up the take-no-prisoners fight for what you need and deserve. Kitty love cannot be underestimated in staying sane. Big love to all.
I loved this conversation - I am so here for the intersection of fat liberation and disability justice. I think about this all the time but FUCK the fact that insurance is just allowed to decide to not cover procedures that would provide relief (massages should absolutely be covered!!) is so cruel. Talking about these issues is such important work!
YES the insurance game is truly wild.
*CW for my own medical fatphobia experience* I don't have lipedema, but I do relate to a lot of this. I have long covid, which has included breathing issues. And also weight gain. Last week I had a follow up appointment with a respiralogist and my results don't make sense. It seems like I have asthma, but I don't respond to the bronchodilators. So he pointed out that I've gained 6 kg since May and have I noticed that? I need to become "draconian" with my eating habits. And told me not to put cream or sugar in my coffee (I drink it black) or drink juice (I don't). And then prescribed me a different inhaler (because maybe it will work this time if I also try to lose weight?) and he'll call me in 3 months. It's very frustrating and lonely and I'm trying to remove his words from my brain. But they are right there every time I eat and I really don't need this stress when food is one of my only pleasures right now. Maybe I'll watch the show you recommended, Virginia, and imagine my doctor as the husband. And I can be sympathetic that doctors aren't taught about everything, or in my case are up against something new (although post viral illnesses aren't new), but can they instead have some humility and say they will have to do some learning instead of blaming us for our bodies?
I am SO SORRY you are dealing with this. It is so completely not okay.
So not OK.
This conversation took me back 20 years to when lipodystrophy was a very upsetting consequence of HIV treatment with the early antiretrovirals. The medical community was very unsympathetic to the gay men who didn't want to take these medications that extended their lives, but caused abnormal abdominal fat distribution onto their otherwise gaunt bodies. Another case of blaming the already marginalized victims by saying if you weren't sexually promiscuous gay men you wouldn't have HIV and wouldn't have to take medication that destroys the shape of your familiar bodies.
yes, yes, yes
Thank you for this. I found it enlightening and enraging, and am just so shocked I have never even heard of lipedema before. These health issues that exist at the intersection of fatphobia and misogyny – I mean, what a great way to pinpoint that exact place.
I am also shocked I'd never heard of it. Up to 11% of women have it???
Thrilled for this interview. Linda is one of my very favorite follows online and we often have great discussions in the DMs. Several of her blog posts have really shaped my thinking on various topics. As someone in healthcare, lipedema is really not talked about (ever?), so this is a conversation we really need to be having!
Yes! I am shocked to learn it impacts 11 percent of women worldwide and yet... it's NOWHERE in healthcare conversations. (And agree, Linda is such an excellent human.)
And more thoughts as I get through the episode! I really want to have a greater conversation among HAES clinicians about where to go with healthcare and our careers. I am a brand new dietitian currently working as a supplemental inpatient dietitian in a hospital, and I understand the desire to flee to private practice where I could practice more aligned with my values. But it's also nice to try and offer patients a positive experience while they're in the hospital or push back against doctors who give consults for weight loss (so many consults for weight loss!!!). However, it sucks to do so much weight monitoring per hospital policy, and it's exhausting to absorb a lot of weird food stuff from patients and their families all day. Mixed feelings. But I do think that HAES people giving courses and webinars and conferences to other HAES people isn't moving the needle in wider healthcare.
Yes, I selfishly want you to keep fighting the fight in the hospital system! But I get how complicated this is.
This is one of the best episodes of your show. I felt all the feelings! Including just absolutely dumbfounded that I'd never heard of lipedema before. Up to 11% percent of women. It' s hard to fathom, as a lay person, never hearing of something that is this common. It's harder still to fathom the fact that GPs haven't heard of it. The HAES discussion was really good, too. Health at Every Size, but that also includes the fact that people experience illness at Every Size, (chronic and acute). It felt like it should be obvious but hearing you talk about it, i could understand some of the points about why it was fraught.
Just catching up on some previous pods. Linda, I was so moved by what you have been, and are currently going through. Please accept a cargo container full of empathy, love, and support. Thank you for sharing this with us! <3 I am also in the white hot anger category at how you and others have been treated by everyone who is supposed to be helping you. No. Excuses. Patriarchy, misogyny, fat-phobia all suck so much and I am so sorry you are in this shit. I applaud you for your amazing mental health and ability to untangle exactly who is and is not responsible and at fault here, from Calvin (the old dude, not the cartoon!) to your local clinic. Keep up the take-no-prisoners fight for what you need and deserve. Kitty love cannot be underestimated in staying sane. Big love to all.