No matter how hard it is right now, never let it take your smile away.

An experience story frrom an encourager and lipedema sufferer (Instagram account: saannii_sandra)

Eight years ago I weighed 196 kg and decided to have a gastric bypass. I was already told at the time that I wouldn't be completely slim because I had lipedema (stage 3 grade 4). At the time, I didn't know what the term meant. What is lipedema, I asked myself. I had already noticed that my legs were bulging and that the circumference of my arms would make Arnold Schwarzenegger pale. I would have liked some help, but in our village it was probably not known - thank goodness for social media and I soon knew what was wrong with me.

I went to the doctor and got my compression garments and lymphatic drainage.
The gastric bypass helped me lose over 80 kilos, but I realized that my legs and arms still didn't fit my body. I was approved for all the lifts, but not the liposuctions...something wasn't right...so first the liposuctions, then the lifts. With the help of the lovely Ruth Leitenmaier (lawyer) I got the liposuctions through. I need a total of 11 sessions. I have already had 6.

I would like to encourage you to fight for yourselves, to go the way that is right for you - whether with liposuction or without... it is your body.

I have several other illnesses and am currently struggling a lot with myself, including anxiety, panic attacks and depression. But I know that I will never let anyone take away my smile. I will always get back up and continue my journey in small, slow steps. The main thing is that I keep going and I sincerely hope that you don't give up either! You can be weak, sad or tired, but you can also be loud, proud, confident and sexy, because you are wonderful women, uniquely imperfect, perfect and good just the way you are. It's beautiful that we exist, that we are strong together, and that gives me strength. No matter how hard it is right now, never let it take your smile away.

Compression was also my best friend under my wedding dress, as it enabled me to keep going through my wedding last year.