A Silent Battle of Lymphedema: Looking In the Struggle of Wendy Williams

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Discover the strength it takes to share a personal health struggle with the world, as we did in our latest episode featuring the powerful revelation of Wendy Williams and her battle with lymphedema. Wendy's candidness not only brings this condition into the limelight but also serves as a beacon of information for those silently suffering. Through our in-depth conversation, we unravel the intricacies of lymphedema, emphasizing why early intervention is pivotal and how certified physical and occupational therapists play a crucial role in managing this progressive ailment.

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Episode Transcript

Bettina M Brown (00:07):
Hello and thank you for giving me your time
today.
I wanted to focus on what isquote unquote trending right now
and I use that word with withkind of disgust, but also, in
truth, that is what is a lot onthe news right now and that is
the medical conditions thatWendy Williams is facing right

(00:30):
now, and it's tremendous.
And I want to, first andforemost, focus on what I think
is bravery to share what ishappening in your own life and
to do it on a public stage, whenyou have such an audience, and
share what, what is actuallygoing on with you.
On the other hand, there is onepositive thing that comes about

(00:50):
with this when celebrities orpeople who are very, very well
known and respected around theglobe share what's going on with
them is that it bringsattention to things like
lymphedema that are kind of inthe backdrop, because lymphedema
doesn't kill you, and iflymphedema is not something that
you need medication for, thenit will obviously not get the

(01:12):
attention of pharmaceuticalcompanies.
If you have been diagnosed withlymphedema yourself or you're
curious about it because you'rewondering if that person, if
that parent, if that cousin, ifthat friend, does not maybe have
lymphedema, what should you do?
What are some next steps?
And the first thing is, ifyou're diagnosed with it, to do

(01:35):
some research.
There are people who arecertified to treat it.
Some of the articles that I'veread regarding Wendy Williams do
highlight that physicaltherapists can treat lymphedema,
and I want to highlight anotherpoint to that so can
occupational therapists.
So once you are a PT or OT, youcan do additional schooling and

(02:01):
get certified or boardcertified through the Lymphology
Association of North America toreally learn a lot about the
lymphatic system and how totreat it.
Lymphedema is a progressivecondition, but having
interventions earlier helpreduce the speed of that

(02:22):
progression, so that way you donot get to that final phase,
which is elephantitis, where youhave really fibrotic skin where
your hands or whatever bodypart or feet you're talking
about, is several times the sizethat it would be normally, and
so, with that, do some research,ask your primary care doctor or

(02:47):
go to the LymphologyAssociation of North America.
Check out their website.
There is a section of finding aCLT near me, and that may be a
PT or it may be an OT.
It could even be a massagetherapist, because they will
work with people as well and canget certified.
Typically, though, insuranceonly pays for physical and

(03:09):
occupational therapy.
So if finances have some sortof bearing on your ability to
see certain people, start withthat route.
The other thing I would say isfocus on your quality of life.
Lymphedema is a condition thatis progressive, but it tends to
be progressive and annoying inthat things that you could do

(03:32):
easily seem like they take morework because now you carry some
fullness, some heaviness, yourclothes don't feel quite the
same, and it does affect ourconfidence.
It does affect our self-esteemwhen we don't look and feel the
way we want to or the way wewere at one point.
So knowing that a diagnosis oflymphedema does not mean you're

(03:56):
going to lose sensation, it doesnot mean that you're going to
lose the ability to hold a cupof drinking water, or it's not
going to be an absolute reasonwhy you're not able to walk, but
it could affect those twoexamples and make it more
difficult, more tiresome, to dosome things throughout your day.
There are options out there andI would love for you to look

(04:19):
into your physical andoccupational therapists.
The third point I want to talkabout is there are some articles
that reference lymphedemamicrovascular surgery, and right
now, in most states, at leastfor sure, for what I know, in
2024,.
This is still viewed asexperimental by insurance

(04:41):
companies, and so they do notcover it.
I know other nations around theworld are moving in this
direction much more and if youhave the ability to pay cash for
this, this would be a greatoption for you, but it is not
necessary.
The only way to quote unquotecure your lymphedema.
It is not something that iscurable at this moment in time.

(05:04):
So, with the highlight of whatlymphedema is, what it can look
like, what it can change for you, I would like to add a little
bit more knowledge.
Out there, along with so manywonderful therapists who have
their YouTubes and podcasts andwhat have not Really looking to
provide the people we work withthe tools they need to ask the

(05:27):
questions from the people infront of them.
Below is a link to my ownpodcast, to my own website and
my own course about lymphedemaand recovery back to your
function after breast cancer.
So if that's what you'reinterested in or you feel like,
hey, I know someone that wouldbenefit from that, go ahead and

(05:48):
share that.
It does so much to put podcastslike this one it's not the only
one into the hands and the earsof those that it makes the
biggest impact for.
Thank you so much for givingyour time and until next time,
let's keep building one anotherup.