Fat legs

[Trapper10]

Just wondering if anyone has issues with cellulite on legs ? This might seem minor to some but I'm suicidal about it, I have leaky heart valve but hasn't really bothered me I've recently been put on blood pressure meds and have fibromyalgia but I could cry looking in mirror and seeing my legs like this does anyone have ideas that work to help them fade I know you can't get rid completely.

[Yumz199725]

Im glad I'm not the only one I hate looking at my legs and seeing my legs like that, I have purple lines on my thighs aswell literally have the legs of a sixty year old. I also have a leaky heart valve is that a side effect of that then?? 😳

[Trapper10 in reply to Yumz199725]

Thanks for your reply I don't know if it's a side effect of leak heart valve cant seem to get a straight answer from doctor.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Trapper10]

Yeah I know what you mean I think maybe i will ask at my next check up x

[Trapper10]

Yeah me 2 if I can get an appointment if you find out please let me know thanks in advance x

[Tos92]

I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling like this. Do you have any symptoms such as pain or swelling in the legs?

Just a thought. There is something called lipoedema. It’s when you have an unusual amount of fat build up in your legs which can cause pain and swelling. There are different stages to it. Perhaps discuss this with your GP?

It might also be useful to speak about receiving some therapy too with your GP to help with the anxiety you feel about your legs.

Wishing you all the best.

Tos

[Trapper10 in reply to Tos92]

Thanks for your reply will talk again with doctor when I can

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Trapper10]

Hi, I started having a breakout in 2017 of blood and yellow puss both legs below the knee which burned so was seeing practice nurse at surgery before going to wounds clinic where they treated the legs for 9 months on weekly basis before self management at home Intensive Hydromol cream and Flexitol for feet after putting that on 1 hour later I put elasticated bandage on then compression stocking, it will never go back to normal leg colour as when flare up its red and purple with bits of blood and puss coming out of leg, when it calms down the legs are brown, but it can flare up anytime, also in the beginning I was putting betnovate steroid cream on to stop the burning and itching.. Even early this year a doctor I ain't seen before asked me how did I get this Lymphodema, I said to Dr I want to know where this come from!! Myself and majority that have eruption they will have discolouration for life but when it's calm that's all I want, it's been called by practise nurse Cellulitis and excema, but consultant said its Lymphodema, it effects life as i got to work around it about not wearing shorts because even when legs calm they brown and don't look nice, but I live and accept it now albeit a nuisance mate.

[Blearyeyed]

As TOS says , do you have other symptoms ?Are you talking about just cellulite, although I know it doesn't feel like " just" if it's very visible to you.

Drinking more water daily, hydration and a nutrient rich diet is key to solving a lot of skin symptoms , keeping your legs active even with walking and reducing saturated fat and processed foods are the basics. A good basic moisturiser applied after a warm shower or bath is also therapeutic. Keeping the legs raised while sitting also helps circulation which can help reduce toxins, swollen veins and water retention This can often also help with leg swelling in general.

Using gentle self massage to help improve the circulation in the legs and thighs or areas of cellulite in an upward brushing movement towards the heart helps some people. It can be hard to do yourself though so some people use a long handled soft brush or sponge wrapped in soft fleece or velvet to help to do their massaging.

[Trapper10 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Hi thanks for sharing I drink a lot of water I dont use moisturiser so will start that and massage I try walk most days but will discuss with doctor soon.

[BeeBee79 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Great advice above. I had great legs as I used to run 5 times a week. Always had cellulite even when I was 22 and was stick thin but running made a massive different to them. Since I have had my heart troubles, I know I’ve put weight on - it’s disheartening but I had a near death experience which made me go a lot easier on myself. Despite this I went on holiday in July and I was looking through some pics taken on the beach and found a great pic of my husband. I thought to myself “I’ll just crop out that old lady in the background” before realising it was me. I have to admit that I cried……

I think I’m going to invest in a personal trainer as I can’t run anymore but I want to do what I can to keep trim before I turn into my mum.

On a serious note, please seek more professional help if it’s affecting you this much. 🙏

[Trapper10 in reply to BeeBee79]

Thankyou for replying after reading all my helpful replies I'm more determined now to get some help as yes it is affecting my mental health and I know I'm not alone 👍

[Hidden]

as it’s affecting your mental health so significantly that may need immediate support and help starting with GP. And there are helplines that can help when you are having suicidal thoughts. I hope you find some help. 👍

[Trapper10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes thanks for your reply I will talk over with doctor hopefully she will listen this time

[Hidden in reply to Trapper10]

They definitely will when mention suicidal thoughts. Good luck

[Tay99]

Hi there l have found body brushing very helpfull for my cellulite it makes it look so much better not so obvious l do it before getting into shower just dry brush always towards the heart legs arms stomach etc finish off after shower with moisturiser it's very good drains everything gets rid of toxins in the body

[Cloudy2]

I think it might be connected to Valve leak . i have the same problem never had these lumpy looking legs until i started on medication. walk everywhere. . i feel your pain it’s so stressful. don’t want to show my legs ever again . hope you get some answers xx

[iansHealth1]

some great advice here and I don’t profess to know too much about cellulite, but when I came out of hospital my legs were really bloated and I had to wear compression socks which were a nightmare, but my HF nurse had me on a fluid intake of 1.5 litres/day.

It was really hard sticking to it - having to measure every drop of liquid I took - but I did it and after six weeks the swelling went away and my fluid intake was increased to 2 litres/day for a month and then it was scrapped altogether.

I still watch my intake and I watch my legs for any sign of swelling, but it hasn’t come back.

I’m also on a diuretic which helps.

[fishonabike]

when you see your doctor about this it would be helpful if you could be clear about what your problem is: Cellulite is a very common skin condition that causes lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen.

Cellulitis is a skin infection that's treated with antibiotics. It can be serious if it's not treated quickly.

Oedema/Edema is swelling in the ankles, feet and legs, often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas - can be due to heart, kidney or other health conditions.

Lipoedema is an abnormal build-up of fat in your legs and sometimes arms.

there is info on the last 3 on the NHS website and other reliable sources of health info - cellulite is regarded as a "cosmetic condition"

[dikda]

Now, this may sound very odd as I have no direct knowledge, BUT a very close friend of my daughter had a 'really serious, very long term leg problem ' for many years due to fluid retention because the normal drainage route was impaired in some way - I have no medical details of the original 'fault'. However, I believe that they engineered considerable relief by re-connecting the normal drainage system to the 'vein' system with much success. It may be worth an enquiry!

[BeeBee50]

I had the swollen legs and as far up as my lungs, which the nurses drained 4 stone of water out which I'm now left with a leaky left heart valve so its the other way round but much the same issue. So I suffered heart failure because the doctor at the time misdiagnosed me for a chest infection for 4 months and I blame him for ruining my life xx I wouldn't hesitate to get an appointment with your doctor even if its a video call so you can show her/,him your legs. I wish you well xx

[Larneybuds]

Hi...have you been diagnosed with cellulite? I am only asking as if you have a leaky heart valve this could be fluid retention. I'm not medically trained and am only commenting due to my own problems with fluid retention on a couple of occasions when my legs got white large. If you don't know for sure that it is cellulite then it might be best to get checked at your gp surgery because if fluid retention is causing the problem it can be sorted fairly quickly with medication. I am sorry to hear this is causing you so much upset which is another reason for perhaps speaking with someone at your surgery. I hope you get sorted and can feel better in yourself x

[Bluecat19]

I had a spate when I put on a lot of weight and it really showed with cellulite on my thighs, which made me quite self conscious, especially in summer. So I can identify with feeling uncomfortable about how something looks. I sought advice from a nutritionist about my general health this year, as I had a lot of unexplained stomach pain as well as problems with oesophagitis and acid reflux. I moved to eating more protein and fewer carbs and started doing some very light weight training (I don't find exercise easy!). As well as feeling better in many ways, physically and mentally, from this, I lost quite a lot of weight. And that sent most of the cellulite packing! I'd say most of it was from the change in diet. Whilst I was suffering with the problem of overweight and cellulite, with, at that time, not much means to change it (I'd had a frozen shoulder and exercise felt out of reach for a good while) I tried to practice some self-compassion. I got some clothes that were quite flattering and didn't draw too much attention to that area.

I'm assuming you definitely mean cellulite as in the little blobs of fat that can even look like ripples, sometimes, on legs, etc. And not cellulitis, which can cause severe swelling all over the leg. I know someone who had that and they needed to go to hospital and have the leg bandaged, as it's invasive and corrosive - nasty stuff. They did get better from it, but needed quite serious treatment and promptly. Hopefully what you're dealing with is not that!