A woman who was born with a rare lymphatic condition that means her extremities can swell up with fluid says she suffered in silence for years trying to hide her condition – and has faced humiliating experiences with potential love interests, including a date who put a pillow on her arm to hide it in bed.
Nicole Faccio, 33, who was born in Puerto Rico, but now lives in Shoreditch, East London, came out of the womb with a swollen left arm, the first sign that she had a rare condition known as lymphedema, an abnormal build-up of lymph fluid, which runs under the tissues of the skin.
The product manager, who’s shared her story on the Normal Adjustments podcast, says she’s now managing to live a ‘pseudo normal life’ despite needing at least a month off every year to clear a collapsed lung and being affected by swelling in her her left arm, both legs, abdomen and genitals as well as some of her internal organs.
Most sufferers try to reduce edema – swelling – caused by the degenerative condition using compression garments, and Nicole wears seven pieces a day.
The condition is largely self-managed and those with it must try and maintain a healthy weight and avoid foods high in salt to control the swelling.
Nicole Faccio, 33, who was born in Puerto Rico but now lives in London, was born with a swollen left hand, and was diagnosed in childhood with lymphedema, which also affects both of her legs, her abdomen and genitals as well as some of her internal organs
The 33-year-old says while she doesn’t want a ‘pity party’, it’s important that she shares how difficult the condition can be to live with, something which she has done on her Normal Adjustments podcast
Nicole pictured as a little girl growing up in Puerto Rico, with her ‘superhero’ parents and her younger brother, Ian, who doesn’t have the condition
She tells FEMAIL she doesn’t want a ‘pity party’ and that it’s taken almost 28 years for her to find a way to live a near normal life – but…
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