No filter. I have been tossing this around in my brain for ages... And I've decided to do it, despite worries about my follow list taking a hit. I'm not looking for sympathy, but understanding. For comparison, I have incuded shots of both legs. This is what makes me sick, with over 50+ bouts of cellulitis since 1997, 27 hospital visits in the past 16 years, 7 cases of septicemia, 5 near deaths. NO CURE. IT AINT THE WEIGHT! This is secondary lymphedema caused by the excision of a lymph node for purposes of biopsy. Benign. No Non-Hodgkins. But I have been left with a complication that has slowed me way down physically, compromised my immune system, left me open to a host of other problems, and caused major psychological effects, for which I'm gratefully medicated. Also, it left me with a massive left leg that has a tissue hypertrophy growing like a tumor on the back of my thigh. My leg weighs on order of 66kg by its self. No mor marching band for me! I can tell you, though, if Jehovah had not made it so that I could live in Australia, I would not be alive today, because it would have killed me financially in the States. Full time artists just cannot afford the insurance, especially with a pre-condition like mine. So, I try to maintain with just a three day work week to supplement my disability payment. It gets harder every day, y'all. Hard to work because the mind is affected as well. The last hospital visit was a doozie. But I am coping. I would not have gotten this far without my Wendy. She takes good care of me. Love her to bits. Does anyone of my artist friends do their art despite a disability? I'd be anxious to find out. #lymphedema #bigleg #nocure #weightlossatownpace #seekingunderstanding #notpity #phewheregoes!