I was over 400 lbs last year and my arthritic knees did not support me anymore and thus put me in a wheelchair. With the hope of knee replacement, I underwent bariatric surgery and now have lost 134 lbs to date.
I have completely changed my life around and paid for physio to build up muscle mass. I was starting to think I would get back to my “former” life of working, driving, sitting on the floor, and playing with my grandkids. Then, boom, a disease called lipedema hit me. Virtually it is a build up of fatty cells in my thighs that will not go away without surgery. It has made me not “suitable” for knee replacement. It has made mobility difficult as it is above my knees to mid thigh.
I have regretted the decision of the bariatric surgery. At least then my body was proportioned now it is deformed. Thin calves, thin upper body and about 40 lbs of buildup in my thighs; I look awful.
Now my mental health, the government are big advocates about mental health, let me tell you about mine, these legs have made me pray to God every night that I don’t’ wake up the next morning and then I am angry when I do. I will not go out in public (thank god the world is accessible online). I don’t get dressed as I can’t handle the size on the tag. I go by the mirror everyday and say out loud, ‘you are ugly and useless and just die already.’ (I am not suicidal). I yell how much I hate myself, all because your government does not see my condition as a “medical” issue and more as cosmetic.
The only cure for me is expensive liposuction which is way out of the realm of things. Albeit even though I am in a wheelchair and work full time I don’t have the money available . I guess my questions to our health care systems are how can the government rationalize buying me a wheelchair, (approximately 10-15 thousand dollars) a walker, a cane, a commode, expensive compression garments the list goes on and on. Yet one cost of less than that of the wheelchair would solve the issue and that to me seems like a more fiscally-responsible solution.
How the government can deem this not medical when it affects mobility, health, both physically and mentally, yet sit and preach health and wellness and all the things they say about mental health yet don’t follow through. Hypocrisy at it’s finest, wouldn’t you say.
I thought I would let you know what really is happening with mental and physical health and how the government has let us down. Not surprisingly, I think the powers that be, Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau, should be ashamed of themselves. I have never been embarrassed to be a Canadian until now.
Julie P.
Brantford, Ontario
