If I Had Known This at 15... Lipedema

Dear Body, I’m listening

"If at 15, I had known what I know now, I think I would have a huge change in perspective about how I looked at my body in my whole life." —Donna Piper

What if your 'normal weight gain' was actually a medical condition everyone missed? At 15, Donna thought she just needed to try harder. Thirty years later, she learned the shocking truth.

Donna reveals how lipedema symptoms masqueraded as simple body insecurities—from ballet teachers shaming her thighs to doctors dismissing her pain. With raw honesty, she unpacks the genetic reality of lipedema, the crushing weight of misdiagnosis, and why even her "perfect" healthy lifestyle couldn't stop the progression.

Tune in to discover the 3 red flags of lipedema every woman should know—and how to advocate for your body when no one else does.

Connect with Donna:

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper

Episode Highlights:

01:30 Body Image Struggles

05:17 Lymphedema vs Lipedema vs Obesity

11:43 The Impact of Misdiagnosis

14:53 Dealing with the Grief of Misdiagnosis

21:27 The Feel Good Flow for Lymphatic Support System

23:05 Practical Tips for Lymphatic Support

Resources:

🔗Links

Lipedema: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17175-lipedema

Big Six: https://youtu.be/lT_wW5pNHa4?si=ojNI2dnWsl1mfjP7

X:

“Ballerinas don’t have thighs like that.” At 15, Donna Piper believed her ballet teacher. At 45, she learned the truth: lipedema. Her story will change how you see ‘stubborn weight. Tune in!

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #LipedemaAwareness #ChronicIllness #BodyShaming #WeightGain #BigThighs #GeneticDiseases

Quotes:

01:38 "If at 15, I had known what I know now, I think I would have a huge change in perspective about how I looked at my body in my whole life." —Donna Piper

02:05 "Even though I moved every day, I still had thick thighs. And I also ate really clean food... but my legs were always thicker." —Donna Piper

03:26 "One of my ballet teachers came up to me, and she touched my thighs, and she said, ‘ballerinas don't have thighs like that.’ And I know that she was trying to be motivating... but that was not the case at all, and that just reinforced my self-consciousness about my thighs." —Donna Piper

04:18 "If I had known that lipedema was a thing, this is just genetics... It's not laziness, it's not a lack of trying. It's not a certain food. It's just, this might happen to you for whatever reason." —Donna Piper

04:56 "This misunderstanding of my body and thinking that it was more in my control has messed with me for decades, and it still messes with me to this day." —Donna Piper

13:54 "Maybe just knowing this (lipedema) now, you could stop blaming yourself. You could stop thinking that you're not doing enough." —Donna Piper

15:29 "By learning some of this information earlier, I would not have been down all these rabbit holes that I have been. I probably would have been able to find something that actually was going to help me, and it would have definitely saved me years of confusion and shame." —Donna Piper

16:01 "How do you deal with the grief of being misdiagnosed for so long? That was really, really tough, and I'm still in the process of all of the five stages of grief." —Donna Piper

16:33 "It's expensive to have these diagnoses because the specialists that you find want to be paid out of pocket... and the kicker is there's no clear cut diagnosis or a pathway like, do these things and you'll improve." —Donna Piper

17:53 "My kind of wisdom... is to stick with it, take it easy and give yourself the time that you need to actually deal with the anger and the upset feelings and all of the doctors saying it was not a big deal." —Donna Piper

20:44 "The paradox of living with these kinds of illnesses is that I don't always look sick, but I feel horrible, and I'm in a lot of pain, and I can't really function." —Donna Piper

21:07 "You're not alone. It's a real thing to be giving 100% and only running on 30% of fuel." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host:

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.