This is Lipedema Insured, a newsletter about getting diagnosed, treated, and obtaining insurance coverage for Liposuction surgery for Lipedema.

Lipedema is a loose connective tissue (adipose) disorder that affects women. It causes excess fat to accumulate in the lower part of the body and involves the buttocks, thighs, calves, and upper arms. It’s a condition of non-metabolic, diseased fat tissue that doesn’t decrease with diet and exercise. It’s a chronic, progressive disease that will worsen even with healthy habits.

Lipedema is not well-known, even by the medical community. Instead, it is misdiagnosed as obesity or primary lymphedema (different than lipedema) or many other physical and mental conditions such as fibromyalgia and depression. These wrong diagnoses stigmatize women, and the medical industry doesn’t take their symptoms seriously. Instead, we are seen as fat and lazy, redirected to diet and exercise to lose weight. Therefore, women don’t get the proper treatment.

Instead, most women are shamed for being fat, and they are considered a medical risk because of their condition. They are told they need to diet and exercise. Because of this, Lipedema women are ridiculed, shamed, and treated as less than human.

This is a serious issue because 10-15% of women have this condition and suffer from it without proper medical treatment, guidance, or support.

That’s why I’m here.

I was diagnosed on September 21st, 2021, although I’ve had this disease since puberty. Menopause is when my Lipedema really kicked in, and now I’m at a point where it impacts my mobility and my quality of life.

I’m also a nurse case manager with extensive knowledge of medical insurance (I worked in the insurance industry for many, many years). I’m excellent at my job because I persist until I get answers and solutions to a problem.

I’m here to give you solutions to the problems caused by inadequate medical care for Lipedema women. The best way I can do this is to share how I’m answering my own questions and solving the issues that arise with my Lipedema diagnosis.

There’s so much information out there about this disease, but I’ve had to dig to find it. This newsletter gives helpful information and resources. My goal is to create awareness and provide women with a community. I want us to stop being ashamed of our bodies and start demanding the medical treatment we deserve. 

My bigger goal is to make Lipedema as well-known and get the proper treatment and support as other women’s diseases, such as breast cancer.

I have been a registered nurse for over 30 years and a certified case manager since 2001. I’ve worked on the insurance side of the medical system and am fully aware of how insurance works against us. My biggest goal is to make Lipedema surgery a standard of care that insurance cannot deny coverage.

If you have Lipedema, there’s a good chance you’ll need liposuction surgery at some point. I want to make sure that women do not need to get to the stage of immobility, as I have, and can have surgery done before they suffer the pain, fatigue, and other issues caused by Lipedema.

I can show you how to advocate for yourself, get treatment for your disease, and have a community of others who are working on the same.

This is not a community of wounded souls but a community of women who are warriors who stand up for themselves and their beliefs. This is where you will find answers to your questions. If I don’t know the answer, I will ensure we find it and share it with others.

If you see yourself in the picture above or know someone who does, please read the original post I’ve published in The Virago at Medium.com. It gives a comprehensive overview of a Lipedema diagnosis.

My Lipedema Story

If you think you may also have Lipedema or know someone who does, please sign up for my newsletter. You’ll be amazed at all the help that’s out there for us without crowdfunding or going into debt for your medical care. 

If you would like to follow me and learn more about Lipedema and how to manage and treat this illness to have a more active life and a community to create change, please subscribe to my newsletter below:

Join me. I know how difficult it is to navigate the medical and insurance system. I am your advocate. Together, we can change the way the medical industry handles our disease. Together, we can change how insurance financially covers our condition.

Together, we can change the way medicine treats Lipedema.

Michelle Jaqua is a dedicated and compassionate certified nurse case manager with over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry. Specializing in assisting women with lipedema, Michelle expertly navigates the often complex insurance process for liposuction surgery. Her personal journey with lipedema, diagnosed in 2021 and culminating in her own surgery in 2022, gives her a unique and empathetic perspective. Michelle's professional expertise and personal experience make her a powerful advocate for those seeking treatment and support. She is committed to ensuring that her clients receive the care and coverage they deserve, guiding them every step of the way with knowledge, understanding, and unwavering support.