After being diagnosed with rare incurable disease, a woman is now fundraising to have liposuction. 

Danielle Thornton (33), from Coventry tried many diets. She walked 20,000 steps daily and used the gym every day in an attempt to slim down.

When she was 14, her legs began to balloon. She quickly became bullied for her unique appearance, despite being active, athletic and fit.

Danielle said she had been seeing her doctor almost every day for the last twenty years. However, later, Danielle was diagnosed with lipoedema. This is an incurable form of fat-cell accumulation. 

Danielle Thornton, 33, from Coventry,was labelled 'obese' by doctors is fundraising for liposuction after being diagnosed with a rare incurable illness caused by an abnormal build up of fat cells

Danielle Thornton (33) from Coventry has been referred as “obese” by doctors. After she was diagnosed with rare and incurable disease that results in an abnormal accumulation of fat cells, Thornton is raising money for liposuction.

Danielle has recently set up a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise £6,000 so that she can travel to Poland for specialist treatment to remove the fat

Danielle has recently set up a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise £6,000 so that she can travel to Poland for specialist treatment to remove the fat 

Despite her healthy and active lifestyle,Danielle's thighs and calves have increased by 4cm in just a few months and are continuing to grow

 Despite her healthy and active lifestyle,Danielle’s thighs and calves have increased by 4cm in just a few months and are continuing to grow

Danni has a size 14 waist, but must still wear size 18 jeans to reach her legs. It can be quite anguish at times.

“I feel like I’m dragging my legs and feet across the ground because it feels too heavy to me.

“I’ve suffered constant suffering since I was a teenager, and it keeps getting worse.”

“I attended an all-girls secondary school, and I was immediately aware of the difference between myself and other girls.

Danielle has a size 14 waist but has to wear size 18 trousers in order to get them over her legs,

Danielle said: 'I hate the way I look but it's not just about that, the pain is unbearable. It's horrific at times'

Danni has a 14-inch waist, but must wear 18-inch trousers to cover her legs. Sometimes it’s quite horrific.

Danielle now suffers excruciating pain every day and is unable to get out of bed and simply walk across the room without being in agony as her condition has progressed

Danielle suffers from excruciating pain each day. She is unable walk in the same room and can’t get up.

Danni has recently set up a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise £6,000 so that she can travel to Poland for specialist treatment

Danielle is fundraising for a treatment which involves removing 10 litres of Lipoedema fat from her legs in a single operation

Danni has recently set up a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise £6,000 so that she can travel to Poland for specialist treatment – which involves removing 10 litres of Lipoedema fat from her legs in a single operation

She lives a healthy, active lifestyle and her calves are growing. Her thighs and calves increased 4cm in eight months. 

‘I was very athletic, and I loved dance and drama. So when I got an hourglass waist, my legs became huge. It looked as if I’d been sewn together wrongly.

How does lipoedema change your body: Danni’s measurements taken just eight months apart

March:

Weight: 17st 6lbs 

Arm: Left 35cm, right 37cm

Hips: 126cm

Thigh: Left leg 77cm; right leg 75cm

Calf: Left 47cm, right 49cm

November:

Weight: 18st, 2lbs

Arm: Left 41cm, right 39cm

Hips: 135cm

Thigh: Left, 81cm; right, 79cm

Calf: Left 54cm, right 53cm

 

“I have never worn boots, they don’t fit my calves. I wear baggy pants because it’s all that fits.

Dani is not only unhappy with her appearance but she also suffers from excruciating pain and cannot move around the house without suffering. 

Sh said that treatment won’t heal it, but will help make it easier to manage and it doesn’t sound dramatic. It would truly change my life. 

Danni has recently set up a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise £6,000 so that she can travel to Poland for specialist treatment – which involves removing 10 litres of Lipoedema fat from her legs in a single operation.

She is suffering from pain in her stomach, legs, abdomen, and arms.

“Despite my being active and following a healthy diet, it was still causing me to feel bigger in my legs,” she said.

“I was constantly referred to the doctor by my family. They told me that I needed to lose weight, that I should take water pills, and that I needed more exercise. But I felt something was wrong.

“I wouldn’t have recognized the symptoms if I hadn’t heard about Lipoedema from other women on Facebook and Instagram.

“I don’t normally ask for help, and although I’m trying to save money as best I can, the cost involved is prohibitive.”

“I simply want to lessen the pain and make my life more enjoyable so that others can be aware.”    

Lipoedema is an incurable condition that can cause pain and buildup.

Lipoedema refers to an abnormal accumulation of fat on your legs, and occasionally arms. Lipoedema is more common among women, and can affect both sides equally. 

The affected limbs may feel tender, irritable, or painful.

Lipoedema, also known as knock knees (a condition that causes the knees to tilt inward, while the ankles are still spaced apart) can lead to flat feet, joint problems and difficulty in walking.

This can make it difficult to deal with, and may cause you anxiety or depression.

Liposuction Treatments

  • The condition is currently untreatable. However, the following can help to alleviate the symptoms.
  • Eat healthy, exercise more and maintain a healthy body weight
  • Wearing compression stockings, or bandages will reduce your pain and discomfort. It will also make it more comfortable to walk.
  • Looking after your skin – for example, by regularly using moisturising cream (emollients) to stop your skin drying out
  • You may need counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), if it is difficult for you to manage your symptoms.
  • A procedure to get rid of the fat (liposuction) if your symptoms are particularly severe – you may need more than one operation and it may not be available on the NHS

 Source: NHS