'My legs keep growing': Bristol nurse comes to terms with life-changing lipoedema

Little research has been done into the incurable condition

Author: Megan JonesPublished 11th Jun 2019
Last updated 13th Jun 2019

A Bristol Practice Nurse self-diagnosed herself with lipoedema after reading an article in the Nursing Press.

Rhiannon Williams only discovered she had it about a year ago.

The 53-year-old's been telling us her story:

"I'd had some swelling below my knees on and off for years, always bruised easily.

"I was reading an article in the Nursing Press about a year ago and could literally tick every single box.

"I've just started exercising regularly, three times a week, I'm on a low carbohydrate diet, I'm just doing as much as I can.

"My legs are gross"

"It does get me down, if they're really achy or if I catch sight of my legs in the mirror because they're pretty gross.

"I can feel a bit miserable some days, I'm not as disabled as other women are with it.

"I know it can be very, very painful.

Rhiannon Williams

"I still think it's quite early days, I'm watching with interest to see what happens.

"It's not cosmetic, women have reported (treatment) has made a profound difference to their mobility, that's got to be a good thing.

"I'm just going to see what happens, there doesn't seem to be any way of measuring how quickly it will develop.

"I asked my nurse this week, if once I finish the menopause is it likely to slow down because each time I've gone my legs have grown.

"I wish I knew. "

Rhiannon Williams