Check Out the Lumpy Louise Store

Please check out the store.  If can be found on the Store tab above or just click on picture:

Right now there is just 7 items up but keep checking for new items. 

Thanks!

There is No Way of Making Dercum's Pretty

Before I read the article from the Columbia Daily Tribune, Dercum's Disease a Painful Mystery (click picture below to link to the article), I was already toying with the idea to make a Louise cartoon about how adiposis dolorosa was such a nicer name than Dercum's disease. So I would like to dedicate this one to Glenorah and all the others who are trying to spread awareness of this disease be it in the name of Dercum's or AD.  It takes lots of guts and persistence to put yourself out there and I, for one, thank you all so much for your efforts.

Article: Dercum's Disease a Painful Mystery

Even Aiko wanted to get in on this one too!

Hypochondriac vs. Chronically Ill

If you have an invisible illness you have been there.  People and even doctors have basically made you feel or have come right out and said you are a hypochondriac.

For Louise, her diagnosis of Dercum's was actually a happy moment.  A moment that truly only lasted a few fleeting seconds but happy nonetheless.  She finally had validation that what she was feeling almost her whole life was not in her head.

Louise never takes it lightly when people say they are sick because she knows the frustration of people not believing you. However, there are people who are truly hypochondriacs that make it hard for chronically ill people to be taken seriously at times.

Besides the obvious fact that hypochondriacs are not truly physically sick there is one other difference Louise would like to note. Oh, and apparently Louise likes to flex her muscles sometimes to show that she is feeling well. Hopefully, she does not scare you off.

Rare

Rare Diseases are any disease that affects less than 200,000 people.  There are over 7000 different rare diseases and over 30 million people affected in the United States alone.  For more information on rare diseases, please visit the National Organization of Rare Disease site (NORD) at:

http://www.rarediseases.org/about

ALONE WE ARE RARE. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG.™

Now Louise will poke a little fun at that slogan.  She wouldn't be Louise if she didn't.

Weathering Through the Pain

Extreme temperature and humidity can be tough on someone with a chronic pain condition.  Whether there is proof to blame the weather or not, we all feel it.

Louise lives in New England and definitely feels the ups and downs with the humidity and temperature changes but she has friends in the Southwest that feel just as bad in warm, dry weather.  So who knows what might set off your symptoms.

Whatever weather condition is worse for you, I hope you have found ways to avoid it. 

Lumpy Louise is No Match for Ice Cream

Along with Dercum's, Louise suffers from IBS and has a low tolerance for lactose but still one of her favorite foods is ice cream.

Normally Louise is pretty good with her diet.  She tries to keep from eating processed foods and stays away from dairy and red meat for the most part but there are those days when will power just doesn't cut it.  With all the heat and humidity this time of year she once again loses in a battle of wills of her mind pitted against her stomach.  Can you blame her?

Just a Regular Day with Pain

If you suffer from any sort of chronic pain or fatigue, both of which are prominent symptoms of Dercum's, you know that it is not so easy to make many plans.  There is also a mask that you wear to try to hide some of the pain from others.

Sometimes this can be hard on your loved ones but hopefully they understand.

Oh, That Swell!

Lymphedema is caused by a blockage of the lymphatic system. Swelling will happen mainly in your arms and legs.  (Note: edema translates to swelling).

The affected limbs may also feel heavy, tight and/or achy.  Some people say they can actually feel the fluid flowing under their skin to the limb(s) when the swelling starts to occur.

There are 3 stages of lymphedema:

          Stage 1:  The limb usually starts off a normal size in the morning but swells during the day.

          Stage 2:  The swelling becomes irreversible but the skin still has a spongy feel to it.

          Stage 3:  Still irreversible but now the affected area starts to harden.

Lymphedema should be treated with manual drainage massage, wrapping and compression garments.  If this is happening to you, please talk to your doctor but for now you can follow this link for more detailed information:

And now for a little humor about swelling. (You didn't think Louise was going to let it just be about the dry, boring facts, did you?)

Bad Flare Day

A flare is an increase in symptoms.  For a DD person this can mean lymphatic swelling (usually around the belly and in the limbs), a whole bunch of excessive pain, dizziness, tingling, ringing in ears, fever, nausea and brain fog, just to name a few...

No Sleep...Again!

 

Insomnia, yet another symptom of the already fatigued Dercum's sufferer.

 

It's Getting a Bit Foggy in Here

 

Brain fog or mental clouding is a symptom that happens a lot in people that have debilitating diseases.

 

 

Tough Morning

Staying in bed always seems like a great option for Louise.

 

Introduction to Lumpy Louise and an explanation of Dercum's Disease

This is where it all began.  This presentation is an explanation of the rare and painful disorder known as Dercum's Disease. 

 

Click on the image.  It will take you to the YouTube video.