Lypohypotrophy .. My problem

Since I've become diabetic 11 years ago I have had major problems with my injections sites. At first when I injected I could just feel small lumps under my skin that were sometimes painful but I could masage then out. I told my DSN and it was her that suggested masaging them and then changed the length of my needles that I was using.

11 years later and I'm in the position of speaking to a plastic surgeon about liposuction or in the extreme case a tummy tuck. Going through my teenages with a big "pouch" on my stomach and lumps on both and arms and both legs was to be honest, hell. My stomach looks hideous and getting changed for PE in a room full of girls was my worst nightmart. I use to try and make sure that I had my PE shirt under my uniform so noone would see. Swimming lessons (even though they were in Junior school) are also a painful memory for me. We were at the age where we all more interested in how our bodies look and being in a skin tight swim suit defiantely didnt help matters.

My mum knew how much it was upsetting me. Im not a skinny girl, I am overweight but I like to think that I am in proportion. But standing in front of a mirror and standing to the side my stomach just looks like its stuck on. I have to "dress" it; choose tops that are of a looser fit or tops that come in under my chest and float down around the stomach area. I can never find a nice dress that im pleased with, as my stomach just seems to ruin everything I try on.

My mum realised how much is what getting to me and how I was holding back in certain things so she made arrangements for us to go and see a private plastic surgeon. We had tried numerous time to get referred through the NHS but my DSN refused point blank.  My DSN had also never told me about Insulin Lypohypotrophy either. Half hour into the private appointment the surgeon had told me all about LHT and had said he has only seen a few people with it as bad as I do; its rare.

Back to diabetic clinic we went and sat my DSN down and brought it to her attention. I wasnt happy that she knew about LHT and hadnt bothered to tell me about it, or even suggest that I could have had it. And still she wouldnt refer me to see anyone higher in the hospital. Highly frustrating and upsetting to say to least.

So as it stands at the moment, with me using the pump, nothing has changed! I havent injected in my arms for around a year now and I still have lumps. This isnt enough evidence for the NHS however and they still dont want to know. Apparently if I leave it another 6 months and my stomach is still there then I may have a case. my parents have said they will pay for me to have it done privately, but it would be nice for me to fight for it on the NHS. I never had a stomach before I was diasgnosed T1, so it is purely injection/insulin based.

This is a personal thing for me to talk about and if anyone out there is in the same boat or knows someone in the same poistion, please please please get in touch.