New clinical research in Dercum’s disease has caught my attention because it offers a glimpse of what a very different treatment landscape might one day look like.
I read it is currently in phase 3 global clinical trials for body-contouring and FDA approved for that purpose in the trial. The safety profile appears to be very good in comparison to surgery for Lipedema. Many of us are seniors and self-pay surgeries are out of reach. Medicare does not cover surgeries for us. So please follow this closely Carina because this may help so many of us that are losing our mobility. I regained 50 lbs when I hit menopause. Nothing has worked for me. Thank you for being our advocate!
I have a sibling with Lipedema AND Dercum’s lipomas on her scalp. Our father had them also. For this reason I think Lipedema and Dercums are one in the same.
Very interesting. I do think this is very positive for those who do not want to go the surgery route, but who are ok with drugs as an option.
Here in The States however, and any place where there is public healthcare, it gives me pause for those of us who do not want drug intervention- will this be a potential push to drugs being a required first step in "treatment" before surgery is considered. It is sad when insurance regulates treatments, rending this as not an option, but potentially a requirement.
I am hoping lipedema (and other issues) will have OPTIONS rather than requirements for insurable treatments. Drug route, Surgery route, Conservative route with options to change course if the PATIENT wants to, not if insurance requires it!
For many, this would be the treatment they are looking for- a drug that fixes it all! For some of us, we will stick with drug-free options...as long as options exists.
This is very true. My hope is that one day we will find the root cause, and then develop a treatment that actually targets it. Surgery and drugs like this are still treating the symptoms rather than the underlying cause.
yes and yes! I am sure it will go the same as with anything- there will be an allopathic vs holistic view and we the patient will still have to figure out what works best for ourselves :)
I read it is currently in phase 3 global clinical trials for body-contouring and FDA approved for that purpose in the trial. The safety profile appears to be very good in comparison to surgery for Lipedema. Many of us are seniors and self-pay surgeries are out of reach. Medicare does not cover surgeries for us. So please follow this closely Carina because this may help so many of us that are losing our mobility. I regained 50 lbs when I hit menopause. Nothing has worked for me. Thank you for being our advocate!
I have a sibling with Lipedema AND Dercum’s lipomas on her scalp. Our father had them also. For this reason I think Lipedema and Dercums are one in the same.
I will follow this closely, Connie! 💛
Very interesting. I do think this is very positive for those who do not want to go the surgery route, but who are ok with drugs as an option.
Here in The States however, and any place where there is public healthcare, it gives me pause for those of us who do not want drug intervention- will this be a potential push to drugs being a required first step in "treatment" before surgery is considered. It is sad when insurance regulates treatments, rending this as not an option, but potentially a requirement.
I am hoping lipedema (and other issues) will have OPTIONS rather than requirements for insurable treatments. Drug route, Surgery route, Conservative route with options to change course if the PATIENT wants to, not if insurance requires it!
For many, this would be the treatment they are looking for- a drug that fixes it all! For some of us, we will stick with drug-free options...as long as options exists.
This is very true. My hope is that one day we will find the root cause, and then develop a treatment that actually targets it. Surgery and drugs like this are still treating the symptoms rather than the underlying cause.
yes and yes! I am sure it will go the same as with anything- there will be an allopathic vs holistic view and we the patient will still have to figure out what works best for ourselves :)