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The Unseen Weight: An Image Obsessed World Although my swelling might not look as extreme as the images that appear when you Google "lymphoedema," the mental and emotional strain it causes is very real and often invisible. As a young woman living in a society that places so much value on appearance, managing this condition can feel debilitating. Whether I’m on a night out with friends, in a dance class, wearing shorts or a bikini in summer or trying on a pair of jeans that d

The Wrap-Up: IPTC Three & Four / Four - The Results Following my previous sessions, I’ve now completed the full two-week course of intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPCT) with two final appointments. Both sessions followed the same procedure as before with the Flowtron machine set at 40 mmHg, providing firm and consistent compression throughout the treatment. At my final session, the wrap from the previous treatment was removed and I was pleased to see that there ha

Stepping Up The Pressure: IPCT Two / Four Two days after my initial appointment, I returned for the second session of my two-week compression drainage therapy. The process was very similar to the first. My previous compression wrap was carefully removed and I began another 30 minute session with the pneumatic compression machine. However, this time there was a notable change. The pressure setting on the machine was increased from 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg (millimetres of mercury). T

Steps Into Treatment: IPCT One / Four Today marked the beginning of my two-week intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPCT) treatment. Leading up to the appointment, I was feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. This was the first active treatment I’d received beyond wearing compression garments so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Before the session, I performed a full simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) massage, as recommended. Once at the clinic, the treatment began with a

The Strength Behind Me: Family & Friends Throughout the diagnostic process, the support I’ve received from my friends and family has been nothing short of incredible. In every low moment, in every wave of doubt, they’ve reminded me of my strength, helped me see the positives and encouraged me to love myself exactly as I am. What’s meant just as much is the kindness I’ve experienced from new people. Whether it’s been on nights out, at university, in new jobs or simply those wh