Breaking Down Barriers: Conversations on Lipedema with Dr. Francois"

Lipedema, Vascular Health, and Women’s Advocacy with Dr. Czestochowa FrancoisHost Cindy welcomes Dr. Czestochowa Francois, an emergency and vascular medicine physician, to discuss her path into lymphatic and venous medicine and her personal connection to lipedema through a family member.

The conversation highlights how lipedema is often underdiagnosed or misattributed to obesity, aging, menopause, or diagnoses like fibromyalgia, and stresses the importance of clinicians learning alongside patients rather than dismissing them.

They discuss comorbidities and evolving medical knowledge, the challenges of accessing care and creating documentation “paper trails” for treatment, and the expense of managing lipedema.

Cindy shares frustrations navigating BHRT and feeling unheard, while Dr. Francois emphasizes whole-body interconnected systems, the need for supportive provider relationships, and patient self-advocacy.

She closes with a message that symptoms are real, stress can worsen conditions, and community support and kindness to one’s body matter.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast01:39 Meet Dr Francois02:56 Personal Link to Lipedema03:54 Comorbidities and New Frontiers06:25 Gaslighting and Finding Care08:05 Triggers and Misdiagnosis11:32 Women’s Health Funding Gap14:01 BHRT and Screening Dilemmas20:38 Choosing the Right Provider25:56 Why Vascular Medicine30:56 Seeing More Lipedema Patients31:25 Training Through Experience32:09 Building a Care Village32:52 Access Gaps and CLT34:06 Community and Research Push36:06 Paper Trails for Coverage38:04 Clinical Diagnosis Basics38:28 Whole Body Systems43:40 Kindness After Pregnancy48:23 Women Supporting Women50:32 Listening for Hidden Symptoms53:45 Finding the Right Doctor55:49 Where to Find Care56:51 Physician Message to Women58:45 Episode Wrap and Next Steps

Follow us on Social media!!!

Kristy's Contact information:

IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dellalunawellness/⁠⁠⁠

FB Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1F3pseJKUd/?mibextid=wwXIfr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website Kristy Dellacroce, MS,OTR/L, MLD-C

⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dellalunawellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lipedema Advocate 856-297-7437

Cindy contact information

⁠FB:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/withcindyhowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Private FB Group:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/7021999704562921⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_withcindyhowell/⁠⁠⁠

Cindy Howell RN, CLT, MPHC

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.withcindyhowell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lipedema advocate: 860-550-1161

Top 5 Foods to Avoid for Managing Lipedema! Link:⁠⁠⁠ https://withcindyhowell.com/checklist/⁠⁠⁠

Free surgery course:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.bttr.to/6cATB⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/stronger_than_lipedema_podcast/

This episode is proudly sponsored by Lipoelastic
Compression

Don’t forget to check out Lipoelastic and use code STLpodcast for 10% off your next order.

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lipoelastic_usa/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lipoelastic/⁠⁠