Zahra shares her story of discovering she had Stage 1 Lipedema in her early teens. She details the frustrations of misdiagnosis, finding the right surgeon, insurance battles, weighing surgery vs conservative treatment, her experience with liposuction, and how she maintains a healthy mindset living with a chronic condition.
This episode covers:
Realizing something was wrong in puberty and early symptoms
The mental toll and body image issues that started young
Finally getting diagnosed and the validation it brought
Dealing with doctors who didn't recognize it or believe her
Traveling out of state for surgery with an experienced surgeon
Navigating insurance coverage for liposuction
Recovery, swelling, and when she saw results
Her diet, exercise, and conservative treatment methods
How she stays motivated and positive with a chronic disease
#lipedema #lipoedema #lipodema #stage1 #youngadult #diagnosis #surgery #liposuction #chronicillness #invisibleillness #raredisease #podcast
