A victim tells: My life with lymphedema

Reader tells
My life with lymphedema

Alina (29) suffers from congenital lymphedema

© private

You don’t see it at first glance, but she suffers from a chronic illness: BRIGITTE.de reader Alina (29) has congenital lymphedema. Here she shares how she learned to deal with it.

I have suffered from primary lymphedema on my right leg since I was born. Lymphedema is caused by the increased accumulation of lymph fluid in the tissue that cannot be properly transported away. This causes the affected part of the body to swell, in my case the leg. Lymphedema can develop all over the body because we have lymph and lymphatic channels everywhere. Because of my illness, I have to wear a compression stocking for at least 14 hours every day.

“Elefantenfuß” and Co: As a teenager I was often insulted with stupid sayings.

In the past, I never felt comfortable in myself and often found myself ugly after such hostility. When swimming, I always ran quickly into the water and covered myself with a towel for as long as possible so as not to get any stupid sayings or looks. In addition, there was the daily struggle with pain: the water in the leg permanently creates a painful feeling of pressure.

I couldn’t take my self-pity any longer

But at some point the day came when I began to accept my fate. About two years ago I decided to stop being ashamed of my lymphedema and to draw attention to my chronic illness. I just couldn’t take my own whining and self-pity anymore and told myself that God chose me for this disease because I can bear to live with it.

Every day I tell myself that it could have been worse for me. I can run, I am independent and can decide for myself what kind of life I live. At some point I also learned to accept the sayings and looks. But sure, when I have a bad day, I’m still the teenager from back then.

I also think that a lot of people have no idea how hurtful staring at them can be. People with an apparent disability have always been appraised, whether out of curiosity or disgust. But even those who suffer from an illness want to be accepted by society.

Lymphedema is part of me

Today I sometimes wonder if I could even live without this disease. It’s always been a part of me, and I believe I was chosen to endure this physical and emotional pain. The handicap teaches me every day to be grateful and as an independent person to do the things I want. Of course, if there was one, I would still try a cure just to know what it is like to live without pain.

I would like to say to all other sufferers with lymphedema: Each: r of us is unique, we all have difficult times. And there are always people who are worse off than us.

The author: Alina lives in North Rhine-Westphalia. Since she often felt alone with her lymphedema, I looked for those affected to exchange ideas and have the Instagram account Living_with_a_ lymphedema brought to life.

Brigitte


source site