My story begins in adolescence, when I noticed that my legs were starting to get bigger. I thought it was due to weight gain, since I have always had this problem, mainly focused on my legs. After pregnancy, I realized that my body would never go back to how it was before. Over the years, my condition worsened, and after the Covid infection, my mobility drastically decreased.

​

Suddenly, I couldn't do normal activities like before. In the morning, I practically dragged myself to work. Going up a flight of stairs had become so complicated. I sought help from doctors, but they didn't have the answers. All I heard was that I had to lose weight and do more physical activity. I tried all the diets and physical exercises, but they had absolutely no effect. I was even prescribed Ozempic, but even this medicine didn't give the desired results. The reason is that lipedema is unfortunately a disease that doesn't respond to diets or physical activity. The adipose fat that we have in our body is sick fat that decides to "go crazy", and you can't eliminate it anymore.

Yes, it's true, there are many conservative techniques, but the problem is that the pain doesn't go away. The effect of these treatments on me was only temporary. I traveled a lot for work, and after Covid, I couldn't imagine traveling anymore. Standing, running after planes in airports, eating poorly, and sleeping poorly didn't feel right anymore. My body was asking for help because it couldn't take it anymore. I decided to change jobs to feel more at ease and to see if my condition might improve. But it was no use. The pain was always there, and I saw that my legs were getting bigger and bigger. No one can imagine the desperation you feel, because I was aware of the fact that I wasn't eating excessively enough to justify this growth of my legs, with the skin that was sagging more and more.

I turned 40 and I felt like an old woman, with no energy or desire to live. At a certain point, I told myself that I had to react, I had to REBEL because this was no longer a life. Despite conservative treatments, my health did not improve; in fact, my legs continued to get worse. The worst thing for me was that no one understood how much I was suffering. Because no one can imagine what it feels like to have "sink legs", as I call them. No one understands why you are hurting, because it is not visible. Of course, you do not have a broken arm; you only have a deformed body and pain that does not allow you to get out of bed. For this reason, I created Lipedema Rebel, because I want to pass on my rebellion to other women who suffer from Lipedema. I would like to accompany them on this journey of "recovery" of their lives, helping them choose the best treatment that can give them relief. Someone who educates these women, but above all, who understands and reassures them that this pain is not just the fruit of their imagination. This pain is real, and until Lipedema is treated properly, their body will continue to get worse. Lipedema Rebel is designed to work with women with Lipedema and with doctors and healthcare professionals so that we can all one day wear boots again. :-)​​