Geelong residents Jessica Radford, Roisin Carnie share struggle of living with lipoedema

34-year-old Jessica Radford didn’t realise an auto-immune disease was the cause of the body-image issues that started in her teens.

From a young age Jessica Radford struggled with body-image issues, not realising an auto-immune disease was the culprit.

The 34-year-old was diagnosed less than a year ago with lipoedema, a chronic condition affecting one in 10 women.

The usually progressive condition leads to a build-up of fat cells in the body, typically in the legs and arms, and was only recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2018.

Ms Radford said she had suffered body-image issues since puberty because of the then-undiagnosed condition.

“I’ve had insecurities my whole life about my legs,” the Highton resident said.

Ms Radford said until she hit puberty, she had “normal” legs. She said the change was “overnight”. Picture: Supplied

“I had normal athletic legs. I was healthy, fit, young.

“Around the time that I got my period, (it was) an overnight change, and they just became large.

“The appearance is … like a severe cellulite.”

Twenty six-year-old Roisin Carnie, who was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 24, had a similar experience with her body image.

Ms Carnie said she always had “bigger” legs, but was aware of the possibility of having lipoedema because a family member also suffers from it.

“I had suspected that I had it for such a long time,” the Geelong resident said.

Ms Carnie said learning there was nothing to be done about her condition was the hardest part of the diagnosis. Picture: Supplied

“I think the biggest thing about the diagnosis was more so learning that there’s nothing that I can do about it.

“I’d hoped that it was something else and that I could fix my legs naturally.”

Lipoedema can’t be addressed through traditional dieting and exercise.

There are some treatments available to manage the pain, but the removal of the fat cells requires surgery, which both women are pursuing.

Ms Radford said there was a grief process that came along with her diagnosis, due to knowing how severe it could become and the realisation she had lived with it for more than two decades unknowingly.

She said it was “very expensive” to manage, and estimates she’s already spent “thousands and thousands” of dollars.

“I have weekly appointments for (manual lymphatic drainage) massage, I see a nutritionist to help me follow a low-carb diet, I’ve got custom-made compression stockings,” she said.

Ms Carnie said her legs felt sore and heavy “all the time”.

“I’m only 26 – my legs shouldn’t feel like this,” Ms Carnie said.

“It doesn’t matter how much I exercise or what I’m eating, how much water I’m drinking – they’re just sore all the time.”

June is Lipoedema Awareness Month, and to mark the month, Lipoedema Surgical Solution arranged a professional photo shoot with 12 women who live with the condition, including Ms Radford and Ms Carnie.

Both women said it was a positive experience.

“Meeting other local people … (and) chatting on social media frequently has been very comforting,” Ms Carnie said.

Originally published as Geelong residents Jessica Radford, Roisin Carnie share struggle of living with lipoedema