#notfatflooded

DAY 120 POST-OP: If you haven’t figured it out yet, I spent the last week in #whitefish #montana to witness my dear friend @donahueandrea marry her best friend. While on the trip, we visited #BigMountain. I have never been a “full body picture” type of girl, until now. If you zoom in you can see the ankle swelling. This was a daily occurrence, but it didn’t slow me down. Thank you @drrepta_plasticsurgery for giving me my mobility back. I am feeling better each and everyday. Swimming has become part of my routine (which I didn’t do the past month). I got back in the pool today and kicked my way through a few podcasts and my legs were tired! #MakingMemoriesNotMillions #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #notfatflooded #floodednotfat #summer2018 #lipedema #1in9 #11percent #nevada #scottsdale #arizona #thatviewthough #educateyourself #educateotherstoo #kicklipedemaintheass @jlwilson3 @ms_jess_wilson #myjourney #lipedemajourney #lymphedema #lympathicsystem #movethatlymph #dontstop #medicaltribe #drreptaforthewin #drrosnerforthewin #nplaurieforthewin #livingmybestlife (at Henderson, Nevada)

DAY 169 POST-OP: #LaborDay was amazing! I went to the lake for the first time in almost 2 years. For the first time EVER jumping into the water and knowing getting out and back on the boat wouldn’t be a struggle had me so excited. The water is my friend and being out in Mother Nature was exactly what i needed. #notfatflooded #lipedemafighter #lipedema #kicklipedemaintheass #mylympathicsystemisfdup #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #1in9 #11percent #fulipedema #lymphedema #nevada #lasvegas #beyourownnumber1 #countrymusic #naturetherapy #lakemead (at Boulder City, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnSjWrtgYxX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fg41zb35zgd7

POST-OP DAY 162: Let’s talk living a life with #Lipedema but not even knowing that’s what’s wrong with you. It’s hard. It sucks. It is emotionally draining. It makes you second guess every single thing you put into your mouth. It makes you remember the comment someone once made on an airplane, “If you don’t need an extender, then I don’t either.” It makes you hate shopping for clothes. It makes you feel ashamed for reasons you don’t even know. It makes you literally feel like the marshmallow man. It hurts in your feet. It hurts in your hips. It hurts so deep inside your soul that you want to give up. * * * I experienced ALL of these things, and then some prior to my diagnosis. When I was finally diagnosed I wanted to #educateothers as much as I could. I wanted to take the bull by the horns and, well, I certainly did. Life after diagnosis and surgery has been amazing and it keeps getting better. I am not in AS MUCH pain. I am so much happier, not only because I look better, but because I am not carrying around extra pounds of fluid. This brings me to tonight’s pictures. My friend asked me to meet her family at the pool tonight. The old Jess would have passed completely. This Jess said, “I’m leaving now.” So happy Tuesday from my pool buddy and little Vegas girl Hunter and I. #notfatflooded #floodednotfat #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #alwaysfindthesilverlining #silverlining #11percent #1in9 #vegas #scottsdale #arizona #nevada #drreptaforthewin #drrosnerforthewin #nplaurieforthewin @lifetime.life #lipedemafighter #lipedemaawareness #lymphedema #mld #lipedemawontdefineme #kicklipedemaintheass @ms_jess_wilson (at Life Time Athletic - Green Valley) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnC8jGYgdHN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xtr1ezuv6h53

DAY LATE POST POST-OP DAY 161: @ Those are@some pretty good smiles considering it was a Monday. The kids were super excited because one of our favorites @savannahstithh stopped by to say hello! Let me tell you about that girl. Savannah is one of the kindest people I have ever met. She is an old soul and someone I truly admire. * * * On the #Lipedema side of things, I have really upped my water game. Thanks to the local pet store I get all the water I need and want! #notfatflooded #floodednotfat #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #mylympathticsystemisfdup #fulipedema #kicklipedemaintheass (at Henderson, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCqEtbAC1v/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mvzd9ufruqk

POST-OP DAY 160: Oscar & Rory enjoying this #SundayFunday & #NationalDogDay with some preseason football and belly rubs. * * * #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #notfatflooded #floodednotfat #silverlining #alwaysfindthesilverlining (at Henderson, Nevada)

1st surgery: 267 DAYS POST-OP 2nd Surgery: 156 DAYS POST-OP Well hello Thursday! I thought it was about time to show a comparison from the very beginning of this journey until today. I have so many things that I could write while looking at these pictures, but more than anything it’s just a big THANK YOU to anyone that has supported me during this journey. It has been a time of personal growth and learning to love myself and worth every single second. #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #11percent #1in9 #notfatflooded #floodednotfat #kicklipedemaintheass #lipedema #fulipedema #mylympathicsystemisfdup #drreptaforthewin #drrosnerforthewin #nplaurieforthewin @laurie_ann123 @drdavidrosner @drrepta_plasticsurgery @ms_jess_wilson @jlwilson3 #lasvegas #nevada #scottsdale #arizona #silverlining #alwaysfindthesilverlining (at Henderson, Nevada)

POST-OP DAY 155: Today’s smiles are brought to you from some of my very favorites @brennanwhitey__ @kaijumaxwell & @masonabercrombie Brennan has been part of the #silverlining and a wonderful role model, peer advocate and most importantly a friend to my students. He left for college today but took time out of his morning before going to the airport to stop by and say hello/goodbye to us. I wish every student could exemplify the attitude, work ethic & humor that Brennan does. He certainly has made a lasting impression on these two guys and I will forever be grateful to his parents for raising such a genuine soul. * * * On the #Lipedema side of things, my legs are tired today. However, I went and bought my first pair of jeans since my first surgery back in November (266 days to be exact). I’m not going to lie, it was a pretty good feeling to do so. Lipedema is a nasty beast, and it can certainly drain you emotionally. Whether it be not feeling comfortable in your own skin, or the judgement of others. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you, it sucks. But, there is some good news, you have the power to control how you react. I am not going to pretend that I haven’t cried, yelled, felt sorry for myself, or even wanted to throw the towel in, because I have. It’s the people that rallied around me when I was at my lowest that picked me up, and looked at me and basically said to go #kicklipedemaintheass And like always, this post wouldn’t be complete without giving a shoutout to those medical professionals @laurie_ann123 @drdavidrosner @drrepta_plasticsurgery @elevatespc THANK YOU! #notfatflooded #floodednotfat #fulipedema #mylympathicsystemisfdup #thegirlwiththeskinnyfeet #11percent #1in9 #tribe #scottsdale #arizona #lasvegas #nevada #iteachwhatsyoursuperpower #alwaysfindthesilverlining #room203 (at Henderson, Nevada)