Debbie’s last chance at life saving surgery
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**If donating, please make sure the TIP is set to 0 as you will be charged more than what you may want to donate. I’ve some clarifications at the very bottom to clear up some frequently asked questions also if you’d like to have a look at that. Thank you!**
As Debbie’s daughter, Caoimhe Delaney, I’ve asked my aunts Pauline & Kim Mcloughlin and dad/Debbie’s husband, Barry Delaney, for help to set up this fund raiser & we as a family would like to ask for your help to help Debbie Delaney [maiden Mcloughlin], get the treatment she needs to live a life any young woman at the age of 43 deserves to live.
My mam is a stubborn proud young woman and would rather suffer silently and not ask for help but we all need a helping hand sometimes in our lives and we never know when that time maybe. We all like to hide behind a wall pretending we’re okay and don’t need help being proud people as to not let anyone see us needing a hand but now it’s gone past pride. Debbie needs a gastric bypass to help with her disease called LIPOEDEMA / LYMPHEDEMA - the surgery will help lose excess metabolic fat and fluids; then once healed she’ll have a better insight on Lipoedema fats and Lymphedema giving her more avenues to help manage this disease, without this Gastric Bypass there is no other road Debbie can take.
People may think Gastric Bypass / known collectively as bariatric surgery is only for people to lose weight but there are times it is needed to save a life and we are praying it will save hers as Lymphedema can shorten her lifespan and cause a host of illnesses. We all take our health and mobility for granted but when your world is turned upside at a young age it truly feels like your world and your time on this earth is coming to an end. To see one so young, so unwell and not been able to get the help that is needed is Heart-breaking. To see that spark fading away from someone who would go out of her way to help anyone is heart-breaking.
From my aunts talking to my mam daily & us living with her, seeing how badly this is effecting her life and how her legs/health are declining so rapidly; we as a family have decided enough is enough & we need help from others to try and get the help she desperately needs.
We couldn’t ask my mam (Debbie) for pictures of her legs as we know how disgusted she is of how they look and is very embarrassed if anyone sees them, as it is she does her best to cover her lower body from everyone and she knows nothing about this so it would have been impossible to get pictures and post them on this without her permission; I have grabbed some pictures of the net, as you can see below, to try and show people how her legs look like, they will not be 100% true as Debbie's legs are worse but just imagine carrying 15 stone extra weight on your legs alone. Try and picture it. Legs that should be soft and supple are now swollen and as hard as rocks; sore to touch and will no longer bend with the tightness from the built up fluid.
I sat with my mam in our kitchen one night and asked her if she could write down in a diary how Lymphedema has effected her life so we as a family would have a better understanding of Lymphedema and how it really effects her from pain/mobility to mental health on a more personal level.
It has taken me months to collect all of this and I now keeps a daily diary of my mam’s declining health as she is getting more forgetful due to this disease.
We don’t ask for pity for Debbie as she would hate for that, we just need that little bit of help from you all if you can find it in your hearts to help & see a young woman & mother get another chance at a healthier happier life.
My mam is such a proud woman who prides herself in continuing on with life and will be very embarrassed about this fundraiser BUT enough is enough seeing your own mam, your wife and your baby sister suffering is heartbreaking.
Debbie puts on a brave face and says she’s okay and perfectly fine when really she is sitting at home crippled but again as proud people you do not want to ask for help or show how weak you are feeling so we need your help to help her and we as a family will try to raise funds other ways to help Debbie to save the last of her mobility in turn with this Gofundme.
Complications & a bit of insight into this disease
Lymphedema complications may include: Skin infections (cellulitis) - The trapped fluid provides fertile ground for germs, and the smallest injury to the arm or leg can be an entry point for infection. Affected skin appears swollen and red and is typically painful and warm to the touch.
Sepsis - Untreated cellulitis can spread into the bloodstream and trigger sepsis — a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues. Sepsis requires emergency medical treatment.
Leakage through the skin - With severe swelling, the lymph fluid can drain through small breaks in the skin or cause blistering.
Skin changes - In some people with very severe lymphedema, the skin of the affected limb can thicken and harden so it resembles the skin of an elephant.
Cancer - A rare form of soft tissue cancer can result from the most-severe cases of untreated lymphedema.
Debbie’s Medication at the moment consists of Methotrexate/ Roactomera injection /Coversyl plus Lexapro, Amitriptyline, Mirapexin, Nexium, Telefast, Solpadol/Solpadine.
Below is my mam’s story
“I was always in pain with my limbs from a young age. I used to get so tired just from walking & it’d be so painful at night. My mam brought me to countless doctors, I had physio for my fallen arches & got orthotics as all the doctors thought all my pain etc was from my feet but it was also always put down to my weight.
Most health problems are put down to weight, when there is an underlying health issues waiting to rear it’s head.
As young as I can remember, I was always smaller on top and quite larger on the bottom. I questioned this a lot more as I got older but was always told “you’re just obese”. I’d try everything and anything to lose weight; things like slimming world, weight watchers, slim fast and even slimming tablets. I’d lose no more than 7-10lbs but nothing ever came off my lower half. I was still told I wasn’t trying hard enough but I was always active, I loved socializing and working and cleaning; even though I was in extreme pain from my knees down . It did get me down time to time but I would carry on.
In 2004, I became pregnant with my first child, I gained 11 stone during it but was constantly sick with her so doctors couldn’t understand how I’d gained so much weight. Fast forward to my waters breaking, I was in labour for 18 hours and doctors said I was losing a lot more water than normal and they couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.
Fast forward again to January 2007
I was having my second child and once I had him I ended up severely sick afterward; it was the start of all my health issues.
It set off life long problems like all my limbs would go to sleep for long periods of time.
I couldn’t lift my new-born with fear of dropping him and that broke my heart .
My family were always there to help as my husband had to work to provide for us.
I was told depression was causing all of this but I knew it wasn’t, it was something more.
Once again it was put down to my weight as most health problems are.
For 6 months I kept going to my GP at that time until I was sent to Mullingar assessment unit for a test that lasted 8 hours; after bloods, scans, reflexes and lumbar puncture - I was told I have: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteo arthritis, fibromyalgia and hyper mobility.
No one wants to hear bad news but my response to it all was thank god because at that time, I thought I was dying and my only prayer to Saint Anthony was, that I’ll deal with anything once I’m left to live my life with my two kids and husband.
The doctor prescribed me a medicine called Methotrexate which is a chemotherapy agent.
Weeks then months went by, 80% of my hair fell out, I got severe mouth ulcers and constantly feeling extremely sick and had no energy , I tried not to let it get me down as I was so thankful to be alive. I kept going and went on with my life the best I could.
FAST FORWARD 2016
I went to bed Sunday night & at 5:50AM Monday I woke up with an excruciating pain in my left groin. I woke my husband and told him I need a doctor; he knew there was something seriously wrong as I don’t complain about pain whatsoever.
He rang the out of hours doctor and the doctor on call at the time, knew me well from having all the medical issues and knew I didn’t complain about pain so he told my husband “Barry, get Debbie, to come up to me because I’m nearly finished for the night” but I was in so much pain and couldn’t get up; the doctor got extremely concerned at this point and said -“Somethings seriously wrong, I’m sending a doctor ASAP”
Another doctor on call arrived and examined me, he then said my body was just in a severe spasm and gave me two injections and left.
I was still in so much pain during the rest of the morning but I’d thought it would pass if it was just a spasm, so the Doctor said.
MONDAY AFTERNOON
I started to develop a massive rugby ball shape behind my left knee and it was extremely hot inside and out so my husband rang our new & current GP and he came straight out once he heard me saying I physically can’t move.
When he arrived, he looked at my leg and said it’s cellulitis; drawing a circle around it, he told my husband if the redness goes outside of the circle at all we need to call an ambulance. I laughed thinking it wasn’t that severe and he said “seriously, Debbie, you will need hospital if it gets worse”.
Little did I know what was ahead of me. 16 weeks of HELL - sickness, memory loss, I felt like I was on the outside looking in.
294 antibiotics - YES 294 ANTIBOTICS and 4 trips to the hospital by ambulance with nothing working. I did not know how much more my mind and body could take of this, this feeling that I was dying - was and still is at times over whelming.
The first three weeks is what I can remember the most of.
My temperature wouldn’t go below 41-42, excruciating pain in my body; mainly my legs & being bedridden finding it impossible to walk or move without help. Past that everything was a blur. My fourth & last trip to the hospital by ambulance, I was so sick and getting worse; for the second time through all my sicknesses, I can honestly say I thought I was dying.
The ambulance came and once I was put into the back, all I can remember one of the ambulance men saying “Her pulse is fading”.
When I was finally in the hospital, I was told more antibiotics as the cellulitis was gone so severe and there was nothing more they could do for me or give me till it got better & calmed down on it’s own time.
Fast forward a few days with taking the antibiotics and no improvement, I went back to my current GP as the lump was huge behind my leg and had only gotten bigger since the first night it came up.
The redness was still there and it was becoming extremely difficult to walk; my legs felt like they were on fire & getting increasingly heavier to lift day by day.
The Doctor checked me over and said “Debbie, I’m 99% sure you have Lymphedema;
He never heard of it in Non Cancer patients but he continued saying “it would explain your larger lower half & the excessive weight gain”.
He referred me to St. James’ hospital in Dublin to Professor Coughlan to confirm his suspicions.
I went from 100% mobility to 20% in a matter of a few weeks & since getting so sick that night, I wasn’t able to:
* Go up or down the stairs normal, I had to do one step at a time and there are times when I cannot get up the stairs because it is so painful so I sleep as best I can in a chair .
* Lost almost all of my balance and can’t carry things as I walk now or I’ll fall
* Getting into the shower I need help and I can’t stand anymore in fear of slipping with not having proper balance , even getting off the toilet is a job and so humiliating.
* Getting into bed, my legs have to be lifted as they’re so heavy and even getting out of bed I need help.
* I have to sleep with a single mattress rolled underneath my legs at night for elevation as pillows would lose their bounce with the weight from my legs.
* I cannot dress my lower body or put on socks & shoes; I need help .
All of this is still an issue to this day, 6 years on.
2 weeks later my appointment arrives & I went to St. James’ hospital to see Professor Coughlan and when in the room waiting for her, I had to lie on the bed with my lower half not clothed so she could examine me.
She walked in and was shocked how bad I was & how I was ignored for so long.
I explained to her I was always larger on the bottom half but since getting sick in February, my legs have gone harder, disfigured & bigger.
She said “Your definitely carry weight but your lower body disfigurement is definitely NOT just fat & is called Lymph-Lipoedema which is a genetic disorder, but now with no medical help & no diagnosis earlier, we’ll see if lymph node massage, lower body compressions & liposuction will do you any good”.
Professor Coughlan said that we had to try everything else before going down the route of any surgery. Unfortunately, everything Professor Coughlan suggested we did try but as I had been left for so long without treatment it felt like a losing battle as nothing was helping.
I had compressions fitted twice weekly in St. James Hospital, Dublin for 10 weeks; they were soft plaster casts. They wouldn’t do them for me at the health centre in town [ATHLONE] because I did not have Cancer and they did not recognize me as to having this disease and they still don’t.
After 10 weeks with no improvement, Professor Coughlan, sent me for a scan on both legs to see what we’re working with and to see if there’s any other treatment available to me as the casts didn’t do anything.
Results of the scan were: my lymph nodes have completely died and any fluid or fats I consume will be turned into a tar substance, storing in my legs given I have no filtration anymore in my lower half.
I had another appointment with Professor Coughlan and she said “I’ll send you forward for a full body compression suit to be made to see if it’ll make any difference”.
I went to get measured & it was made to fit from under my breasts to my toes.
It compressed all the fluid excess I had in my body and forcing it onto my heart and lungs; smothering me in the process and I was in agony wearing it, but I had to try everything that was offered to me to try and have a better quality of life.
The body suit was no longer an option as it was causing so many other health problems.
Once all this was tried and done with, I was left again and haven’t gotten any help since as I was already so far gone. I FEEL SO LET DOWN.
Now as I was left for even longer without any sort of treatment; the next step is to have a Gastric Bypass / known collectively as bariatric surgery to help .
The gastric bypass is the safest weight loss surgery for me to have with this disease as it will help lose excess metabolic fat and fluids; giving a better insight on Lipoedema fats and Lymphedema; after healing, the weight loss will help with minimizing the other fats, both normal and Cellulite; making the Lymphedema ones more prominent as Cellulitis is currently targeting all parts of my body where Lipo-Lymphedema is taking effect.
People may think Gastric Bypass is only for people to lose weight but there are times it is needed to save a life and I'm praying it will save mine.
My life has completely changed since I got sick in 2016 and I’ve struggled with so much since, to give a small insight;
I need two banisters to walk up & down the stairs and then there are days when I cannot manage the stairs. Simple things like walking/sitting/bending can be such a struggle, the weight between my two legs alone have crushed my two knee caps from underneath me but I can’t get knee replacements as I’ll crush them the minute I stand again.
I would love to be able to interact with my 2 children's lives without having to worry about been out of breath, falling over, going out for a meal without worrying about sitting and getting off the chair again.
The life I wanted for myself stopped in in 2007, I would have loved to have been a normal Mam been able to pick my baby up without fear of dropping my child or falling over as I felt so weak. My family pushes me everyday to keep me going, from going out for the day or helping out with our dogs etc but I am in agony and drained from doing what should be normal daily tasks for a woman of 43.
Simple things like clothes shopping is so draining for me like trying to find shoes of any description is hell as my feet are so swollen I have to wear men's sizes and for items of clothing that is another tale of woes, trying to get trousers to fit my legs is hell, carrying 15 stone on my legs alone is a daily challenge from Lipo-Lymphedema and it effects my life in so many ways.
I have never been a queen of fashion BUT for once I would like to feel comfy in my own skin and clothes, be able to bend my legs and lift my own legs that feel like someone else's into bed and most of all have a healthier quality of life. I cannot carry on being the bubbly person everyone thinks I am as I am now really struggling, I am dying inside with worry that my life will come to an end sooner than it is meant to. I pray I will see the day my daughter and son walk down the isle and I will be in a healthier happier place than I am at this moment in time.”
If you have got to this part , we would like to THANK YOU all for reading and if nothing else comes out this AWARENESS to the fact that the next person you see with swollen arms legs etc, you will know it’s not always what we eat or lack of exercise that can cause this over weight / swollen appearance as Lymphedema can effect anyone of us.
CLARIFICATIONS: The fundraiser is set up for Debbie Delaney to get her life saving surgery but you will see it says [ Caoimhe Delaney is organising this fundraiser in aid of Barry Delaney ]. It will say that because Barry had to set up a bank account for raised funds to be transferred into as Debbie didn’t know about this fund raiser when it was being set up. If you have a question that isn’t answered here please message our Facebook page @debbiesgofundme but please read this first as you’ll get more details here. Read below TRAVELLING ABROAD about this Gastric Bypass if you’re wondering why she can’t go abroad. Thank you.
FLYING AND GOING ABROAD
This is not an option for my mam with flying & traveling by air, the decreased pressure that is experienced within the cabin can give rise to increased swelling /fluid build up. Debbie would have to [ ONCE AGAIN ] wear full body compression suit - as you read above, when my mam tried a full Body Compression suit that Professor Coughlan sent her to be correctly fitted for, it compressed all the excess fluid in her body and forcing it onto her heart and lungs deeming it too dangerous for her health to carry on wearing it. Going abroad for surgery is risky for anyone as secondary infections happen and is hard enough for anyone but if you are so unwell and your immune system is so weak, traveling to another country would be madness. Debbie has spoken about going abroad to her Doctors because when you are desperate for help and want to be -well /fit /able to walk etc, you will try ANYTHING but Doctors have advised against it as the risks are too high for Debbie. She can’t go to England either as the condition her body & legs are in she won’t be able to withstand the travelling back & forth; it’ll also be more of an expense than to have it done here with accommodation etc. So unfortunately, TRAVLEING ABROAD IS NOT AN OPTION.
Please if you cannot donate that € / £ / $ at least share this for Debbie on your wall and set it to public, sharing and tagging mean as much as donating. Thank you for reading.
As Debbie’s daughter, Caoimhe Delaney, I’ve asked my aunts Pauline & Kim Mcloughlin and dad/Debbie’s husband, Barry Delaney, for help to set up this fund raiser & we as a family would like to ask for your help to help Debbie Delaney [maiden Mcloughlin], get the treatment she needs to live a life any young woman at the age of 43 deserves to live.
My mam is a stubborn proud young woman and would rather suffer silently and not ask for help but we all need a helping hand sometimes in our lives and we never know when that time maybe. We all like to hide behind a wall pretending we’re okay and don’t need help being proud people as to not let anyone see us needing a hand but now it’s gone past pride. Debbie needs a gastric bypass to help with her disease called LIPOEDEMA / LYMPHEDEMA - the surgery will help lose excess metabolic fat and fluids; then once healed she’ll have a better insight on Lipoedema fats and Lymphedema giving her more avenues to help manage this disease, without this Gastric Bypass there is no other road Debbie can take.
People may think Gastric Bypass / known collectively as bariatric surgery is only for people to lose weight but there are times it is needed to save a life and we are praying it will save hers as Lymphedema can shorten her lifespan and cause a host of illnesses. We all take our health and mobility for granted but when your world is turned upside at a young age it truly feels like your world and your time on this earth is coming to an end. To see one so young, so unwell and not been able to get the help that is needed is Heart-breaking. To see that spark fading away from someone who would go out of her way to help anyone is heart-breaking.
From my aunts talking to my mam daily & us living with her, seeing how badly this is effecting her life and how her legs/health are declining so rapidly; we as a family have decided enough is enough & we need help from others to try and get the help she desperately needs.
We couldn’t ask my mam (Debbie) for pictures of her legs as we know how disgusted she is of how they look and is very embarrassed if anyone sees them, as it is she does her best to cover her lower body from everyone and she knows nothing about this so it would have been impossible to get pictures and post them on this without her permission; I have grabbed some pictures of the net, as you can see below, to try and show people how her legs look like, they will not be 100% true as Debbie's legs are worse but just imagine carrying 15 stone extra weight on your legs alone. Try and picture it. Legs that should be soft and supple are now swollen and as hard as rocks; sore to touch and will no longer bend with the tightness from the built up fluid.
I sat with my mam in our kitchen one night and asked her if she could write down in a diary how Lymphedema has effected her life so we as a family would have a better understanding of Lymphedema and how it really effects her from pain/mobility to mental health on a more personal level.
It has taken me months to collect all of this and I now keeps a daily diary of my mam’s declining health as she is getting more forgetful due to this disease.
We don’t ask for pity for Debbie as she would hate for that, we just need that little bit of help from you all if you can find it in your hearts to help & see a young woman & mother get another chance at a healthier happier life.
My mam is such a proud woman who prides herself in continuing on with life and will be very embarrassed about this fundraiser BUT enough is enough seeing your own mam, your wife and your baby sister suffering is heartbreaking.
Debbie puts on a brave face and says she’s okay and perfectly fine when really she is sitting at home crippled but again as proud people you do not want to ask for help or show how weak you are feeling so we need your help to help her and we as a family will try to raise funds other ways to help Debbie to save the last of her mobility in turn with this Gofundme.
Complications & a bit of insight into this disease
Lymphedema complications may include: Skin infections (cellulitis) - The trapped fluid provides fertile ground for germs, and the smallest injury to the arm or leg can be an entry point for infection. Affected skin appears swollen and red and is typically painful and warm to the touch.
Sepsis - Untreated cellulitis can spread into the bloodstream and trigger sepsis — a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues. Sepsis requires emergency medical treatment.
Leakage through the skin - With severe swelling, the lymph fluid can drain through small breaks in the skin or cause blistering.
Skin changes - In some people with very severe lymphedema, the skin of the affected limb can thicken and harden so it resembles the skin of an elephant.
Cancer - A rare form of soft tissue cancer can result from the most-severe cases of untreated lymphedema.
Debbie’s Medication at the moment consists of Methotrexate/ Roactomera injection /Coversyl plus Lexapro, Amitriptyline, Mirapexin, Nexium, Telefast, Solpadol/Solpadine.
Below is my mam’s story
“I was always in pain with my limbs from a young age. I used to get so tired just from walking & it’d be so painful at night. My mam brought me to countless doctors, I had physio for my fallen arches & got orthotics as all the doctors thought all my pain etc was from my feet but it was also always put down to my weight.
Most health problems are put down to weight, when there is an underlying health issues waiting to rear it’s head.
As young as I can remember, I was always smaller on top and quite larger on the bottom. I questioned this a lot more as I got older but was always told “you’re just obese”. I’d try everything and anything to lose weight; things like slimming world, weight watchers, slim fast and even slimming tablets. I’d lose no more than 7-10lbs but nothing ever came off my lower half. I was still told I wasn’t trying hard enough but I was always active, I loved socializing and working and cleaning; even though I was in extreme pain from my knees down . It did get me down time to time but I would carry on.
In 2004, I became pregnant with my first child, I gained 11 stone during it but was constantly sick with her so doctors couldn’t understand how I’d gained so much weight. Fast forward to my waters breaking, I was in labour for 18 hours and doctors said I was losing a lot more water than normal and they couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.
Fast forward again to January 2007
I was having my second child and once I had him I ended up severely sick afterward; it was the start of all my health issues.
It set off life long problems like all my limbs would go to sleep for long periods of time.
I couldn’t lift my new-born with fear of dropping him and that broke my heart .
My family were always there to help as my husband had to work to provide for us.
I was told depression was causing all of this but I knew it wasn’t, it was something more.
Once again it was put down to my weight as most health problems are.
For 6 months I kept going to my GP at that time until I was sent to Mullingar assessment unit for a test that lasted 8 hours; after bloods, scans, reflexes and lumbar puncture - I was told I have: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteo arthritis, fibromyalgia and hyper mobility.
No one wants to hear bad news but my response to it all was thank god because at that time, I thought I was dying and my only prayer to Saint Anthony was, that I’ll deal with anything once I’m left to live my life with my two kids and husband.
The doctor prescribed me a medicine called Methotrexate which is a chemotherapy agent.
Weeks then months went by, 80% of my hair fell out, I got severe mouth ulcers and constantly feeling extremely sick and had no energy , I tried not to let it get me down as I was so thankful to be alive. I kept going and went on with my life the best I could.
FAST FORWARD 2016
I went to bed Sunday night & at 5:50AM Monday I woke up with an excruciating pain in my left groin. I woke my husband and told him I need a doctor; he knew there was something seriously wrong as I don’t complain about pain whatsoever.
He rang the out of hours doctor and the doctor on call at the time, knew me well from having all the medical issues and knew I didn’t complain about pain so he told my husband “Barry, get Debbie, to come up to me because I’m nearly finished for the night” but I was in so much pain and couldn’t get up; the doctor got extremely concerned at this point and said -“Somethings seriously wrong, I’m sending a doctor ASAP”
Another doctor on call arrived and examined me, he then said my body was just in a severe spasm and gave me two injections and left.
I was still in so much pain during the rest of the morning but I’d thought it would pass if it was just a spasm, so the Doctor said.
MONDAY AFTERNOON
I started to develop a massive rugby ball shape behind my left knee and it was extremely hot inside and out so my husband rang our new & current GP and he came straight out once he heard me saying I physically can’t move.
When he arrived, he looked at my leg and said it’s cellulitis; drawing a circle around it, he told my husband if the redness goes outside of the circle at all we need to call an ambulance. I laughed thinking it wasn’t that severe and he said “seriously, Debbie, you will need hospital if it gets worse”.
Little did I know what was ahead of me. 16 weeks of HELL - sickness, memory loss, I felt like I was on the outside looking in.
294 antibiotics - YES 294 ANTIBOTICS and 4 trips to the hospital by ambulance with nothing working. I did not know how much more my mind and body could take of this, this feeling that I was dying - was and still is at times over whelming.
The first three weeks is what I can remember the most of.
My temperature wouldn’t go below 41-42, excruciating pain in my body; mainly my legs & being bedridden finding it impossible to walk or move without help. Past that everything was a blur. My fourth & last trip to the hospital by ambulance, I was so sick and getting worse; for the second time through all my sicknesses, I can honestly say I thought I was dying.
The ambulance came and once I was put into the back, all I can remember one of the ambulance men saying “Her pulse is fading”.
When I was finally in the hospital, I was told more antibiotics as the cellulitis was gone so severe and there was nothing more they could do for me or give me till it got better & calmed down on it’s own time.
Fast forward a few days with taking the antibiotics and no improvement, I went back to my current GP as the lump was huge behind my leg and had only gotten bigger since the first night it came up.
The redness was still there and it was becoming extremely difficult to walk; my legs felt like they were on fire & getting increasingly heavier to lift day by day.
The Doctor checked me over and said “Debbie, I’m 99% sure you have Lymphedema;
He never heard of it in Non Cancer patients but he continued saying “it would explain your larger lower half & the excessive weight gain”.
He referred me to St. James’ hospital in Dublin to Professor Coughlan to confirm his suspicions.
I went from 100% mobility to 20% in a matter of a few weeks & since getting so sick that night, I wasn’t able to:
* Go up or down the stairs normal, I had to do one step at a time and there are times when I cannot get up the stairs because it is so painful so I sleep as best I can in a chair .
* Lost almost all of my balance and can’t carry things as I walk now or I’ll fall
* Getting into the shower I need help and I can’t stand anymore in fear of slipping with not having proper balance , even getting off the toilet is a job and so humiliating.
* Getting into bed, my legs have to be lifted as they’re so heavy and even getting out of bed I need help.
* I have to sleep with a single mattress rolled underneath my legs at night for elevation as pillows would lose their bounce with the weight from my legs.
* I cannot dress my lower body or put on socks & shoes; I need help .
All of this is still an issue to this day, 6 years on.
2 weeks later my appointment arrives & I went to St. James’ hospital to see Professor Coughlan and when in the room waiting for her, I had to lie on the bed with my lower half not clothed so she could examine me.
She walked in and was shocked how bad I was & how I was ignored for so long.
I explained to her I was always larger on the bottom half but since getting sick in February, my legs have gone harder, disfigured & bigger.
She said “Your definitely carry weight but your lower body disfigurement is definitely NOT just fat & is called Lymph-Lipoedema which is a genetic disorder, but now with no medical help & no diagnosis earlier, we’ll see if lymph node massage, lower body compressions & liposuction will do you any good”.
Professor Coughlan said that we had to try everything else before going down the route of any surgery. Unfortunately, everything Professor Coughlan suggested we did try but as I had been left for so long without treatment it felt like a losing battle as nothing was helping.
I had compressions fitted twice weekly in St. James Hospital, Dublin for 10 weeks; they were soft plaster casts. They wouldn’t do them for me at the health centre in town [ATHLONE] because I did not have Cancer and they did not recognize me as to having this disease and they still don’t.
After 10 weeks with no improvement, Professor Coughlan, sent me for a scan on both legs to see what we’re working with and to see if there’s any other treatment available to me as the casts didn’t do anything.
Results of the scan were: my lymph nodes have completely died and any fluid or fats I consume will be turned into a tar substance, storing in my legs given I have no filtration anymore in my lower half.
I had another appointment with Professor Coughlan and she said “I’ll send you forward for a full body compression suit to be made to see if it’ll make any difference”.
I went to get measured & it was made to fit from under my breasts to my toes.
It compressed all the fluid excess I had in my body and forcing it onto my heart and lungs; smothering me in the process and I was in agony wearing it, but I had to try everything that was offered to me to try and have a better quality of life.
The body suit was no longer an option as it was causing so many other health problems.
Once all this was tried and done with, I was left again and haven’t gotten any help since as I was already so far gone. I FEEL SO LET DOWN.
Now as I was left for even longer without any sort of treatment; the next step is to have a Gastric Bypass / known collectively as bariatric surgery to help .
The gastric bypass is the safest weight loss surgery for me to have with this disease as it will help lose excess metabolic fat and fluids; giving a better insight on Lipoedema fats and Lymphedema; after healing, the weight loss will help with minimizing the other fats, both normal and Cellulite; making the Lymphedema ones more prominent as Cellulitis is currently targeting all parts of my body where Lipo-Lymphedema is taking effect.
People may think Gastric Bypass is only for people to lose weight but there are times it is needed to save a life and I'm praying it will save mine.
My life has completely changed since I got sick in 2016 and I’ve struggled with so much since, to give a small insight;
I need two banisters to walk up & down the stairs and then there are days when I cannot manage the stairs. Simple things like walking/sitting/bending can be such a struggle, the weight between my two legs alone have crushed my two knee caps from underneath me but I can’t get knee replacements as I’ll crush them the minute I stand again.
I would love to be able to interact with my 2 children's lives without having to worry about been out of breath, falling over, going out for a meal without worrying about sitting and getting off the chair again.
The life I wanted for myself stopped in in 2007, I would have loved to have been a normal Mam been able to pick my baby up without fear of dropping my child or falling over as I felt so weak. My family pushes me everyday to keep me going, from going out for the day or helping out with our dogs etc but I am in agony and drained from doing what should be normal daily tasks for a woman of 43.
Simple things like clothes shopping is so draining for me like trying to find shoes of any description is hell as my feet are so swollen I have to wear men's sizes and for items of clothing that is another tale of woes, trying to get trousers to fit my legs is hell, carrying 15 stone on my legs alone is a daily challenge from Lipo-Lymphedema and it effects my life in so many ways.
I have never been a queen of fashion BUT for once I would like to feel comfy in my own skin and clothes, be able to bend my legs and lift my own legs that feel like someone else's into bed and most of all have a healthier quality of life. I cannot carry on being the bubbly person everyone thinks I am as I am now really struggling, I am dying inside with worry that my life will come to an end sooner than it is meant to. I pray I will see the day my daughter and son walk down the isle and I will be in a healthier happier place than I am at this moment in time.”
If you have got to this part , we would like to THANK YOU all for reading and if nothing else comes out this AWARENESS to the fact that the next person you see with swollen arms legs etc, you will know it’s not always what we eat or lack of exercise that can cause this over weight / swollen appearance as Lymphedema can effect anyone of us.
CLARIFICATIONS: The fundraiser is set up for Debbie Delaney to get her life saving surgery but you will see it says [ Caoimhe Delaney is organising this fundraiser in aid of Barry Delaney ]. It will say that because Barry had to set up a bank account for raised funds to be transferred into as Debbie didn’t know about this fund raiser when it was being set up. If you have a question that isn’t answered here please message our Facebook page @debbiesgofundme but please read this first as you’ll get more details here. Read below TRAVELLING ABROAD about this Gastric Bypass if you’re wondering why she can’t go abroad. Thank you.
FLYING AND GOING ABROAD
This is not an option for my mam with flying & traveling by air, the decreased pressure that is experienced within the cabin can give rise to increased swelling /fluid build up. Debbie would have to [ ONCE AGAIN ] wear full body compression suit - as you read above, when my mam tried a full Body Compression suit that Professor Coughlan sent her to be correctly fitted for, it compressed all the excess fluid in her body and forcing it onto her heart and lungs deeming it too dangerous for her health to carry on wearing it. Going abroad for surgery is risky for anyone as secondary infections happen and is hard enough for anyone but if you are so unwell and your immune system is so weak, traveling to another country would be madness. Debbie has spoken about going abroad to her Doctors because when you are desperate for help and want to be -well /fit /able to walk etc, you will try ANYTHING but Doctors have advised against it as the risks are too high for Debbie. She can’t go to England either as the condition her body & legs are in she won’t be able to withstand the travelling back & forth; it’ll also be more of an expense than to have it done here with accommodation etc. So unfortunately, TRAVLEING ABROAD IS NOT AN OPTION.
Please if you cannot donate that € / £ / $ at least share this for Debbie on your wall and set it to public, sharing and tagging mean as much as donating. Thank you for reading.
Fundraising team: With Pauline & Kim Mcloughlin (2)
Caoimhe Delaney
Organizer
Raised €2,861 from 77 donations
County Westmeath
Barry Delaney
Beneficiary
Angela Mcloughlin
Team member
Raised €580 from 3 donations
This team raised €4,339 from 66 other donations.
