I have lymphoedema in my left leg, not severe but I have to wear a Haddenham class II below the knee stocking. I go to a zumba class which is great fun and good exercise. Everyone else is in either shorts or cropped leggings and I wear long trousers because of my acute self-consciousness of my condition. Even my friends are unaware as I always wear long trousers or long skirts.
In this hot weather I am considering letting the world see that I do not have a matching pair of legs! I have bought a pair of cropped leggings and will try to summon up the courage to wear them and display my lovely 'apricot' coloured stocking. I know I sound pathetic but I think it's time to accept it and 'let them look'. I've had the condition for over 50 years for goodness sake!
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bathsheba
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My husband has literally just come back from the chemist with my new compression bandages which are apricot /flesh coloured and for the last 3 years I have been wearing black ones from my toes to my groin which no amount of long skirts /trousers hid and my main embarrassment was when the Velcro from one side attached its self to the other side, to which followed by either a loud ripping sound or me falling flat on my face. So I can't wait to try my new coloured ones. So go for it and be grateful they are not black ones
Hi bathsheba, I have bilateral full leg lymphoedema and Wear bilateral leg compressions I also wear cropped trousers, leggings and shorts, if people don't like my legs in my compressions it's there fault for looking you have nothing to be embarrassed about its a medical condition they might just be jealous of your compressions 😂😂😉 go for it girl be brave.
Like you I was wearing full length trousers even with dresses, but this spate of hot weather has made me go sod it!! If I wear the compression it can be seen, and if I don’t the view is the terrible purple red of my legs from lipodermatosclosis. In either case, if anyone asks (which they don’t) it only raises awareness. You have got to do what feels comfortable for you. They only have to look (and then go back to their more busy life 1 second later) you have to live with and manage it
When I was in my 20’s I didn’t try to hide mine as much as I did in my 30’s. And this was only due to some cruel....or maybe just nosy comments. One old lady came up and actually poked me, I thought she had bent down to speak to my toddler at the swimming pool, but no, she was taking a very close look, poked me in the shin and said’ what you done to your leg? In a very loud voice!
I’ve often been asked if I was aware I had broken my left leg. lol
But I think it’s down to confusion..when people can’t work something out, they look for longer. If they believe you should be in traction with a badly busted leg, they show shock on their faces, which we take to be repulsion, not concern. My feeling is that if my farrow wraps were bright pink with spots on, no one would notice. What I’m trying to say, is maybe we should be more obvious, let others know we are aware that something is wrong. Be proud of all we achieve, despite all we have to put up with. And if you’re managing to do zumba, then you’re a braver girl than I am already, wear whatever you like, I’m sure you’ll look fantastic! Maybe start by telling your friends so they can reassure and encourage you xx
That is such a helpful response. I think I have been in denial for so long that it is a huge step for me to reveal my condition. Your analysis of people's reaction is, I am sure, correct - it is concern or curiosity not revulsion. I think I would like someone to ask what is wrong with my leg so I can explain about lymphoedema, few people are aware of the condition and as far as I know no one in my small rural community has it, but I may be wrong. Three cheers for this forum where we can share our feelings with others who understand.
I spend way too much time worrying about what other people think. What a waste! I agree, if you can do zumba no one will pay attention to your legs! good for you!
I have primary lymphodeama affecting 3 limbs, I’ve kept my legs hidden like many people but can’t with my hand. I but brightly coloured and patterned hand gauntlet from a company called pebbles. I love them, I only wear them for going out and stick to my hospital provided ones.
In my late 30s and I have recently too. In actual fact few people ask. Mostly because they don’t want to seem insensitive. But to those that do I am happy to enlighten them to the world of lymphoedema.
Hi there, I'm new to this having only been wearing my full length stocking for a few weeks now. But I'm determined to be 'out and proud' about it. I draw strength from my experience some years ago when I was off work for a long period due to stress. When I went back I was honest with colleagues about the reason for my absence, and to my surprise this seemed to provide the space for a number to share with me for the first time that they or people close to them had had similar experiences.
My guess is that there are more people than you realise in your small community dealing with health or other issues that they keep to themselves for fear that others won't understand, or feelings of embarrassment.
Good luck with it, and keep on enjoying that zumba class, wearing whatever you feel most comfortable wearing.
Hi, I now wear compression stockings on both legs but when I had only one I found knee high stockings of a similar colour and wore one on the other leg so that both legs looked the same (almost ) colour. I could then wear skirts or cropped trousers and few people noticed. But whatever you do you should not be embarrassed it's just part of who you are.
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