The Voice of Truth: Wendy Moore and Lipedema Awareness

Wendy Moore on Connective Truth, Diagnosis Barriers, and Reaching Young Women With LipedemaHost Cindy and interview Wendy Moore, founder of the nonprofit Connective Truth, who has had lipedema since childhood but didn’t recognize it until her early 40s after seeing stories on social media. Wendy describes the identity shift and relief of finding community, the grief of “losing” 30 years to misdiagnosis and gaslighting, and her resolve to prevent young women from experiencing the same delays.

She explains her background building low-overhead, direct-impact projects and how that led to focusing on access to reliable information amid misinformation and AI-driven marketing.

The conversation covers ICD-10 lipedema codes arriving in October 2026, ongoing insurance and provider barriers, the need for pediatric and school-based screening, and the mental health impacts of identity formation and learned helplessness.

Wendy shares her diagnosis path (clinical opinion at Lymphedema Alliance of NY, virtual diagnosis with Dr. Aria/Roxbury Institute, and a separate visit with Dr. Herbst), her 2024 Roxbury surgeries and recovery, and invites listeners to connectivetruth.org and @connectivetruth.00:00 Welcome to the Show01:42 Meet Wendy Moore02:34 Finding the Diagnosis03:37 Identity Shift and Community06:34 Gaslighting and Body Struggles09:31 Building Nonprofits with Impact12:38 Connective Truth Mission13:25 Social Media and Access15:40 ICD-10 Codes and Insurance21:01 Early Detection for Girls22:46 Schools and Underserved Access27:40 Citizen Science and Research Gaps29:49 Body Image and Wellness Myths33:05 Mental Health and Emotional Toll33:48 Identity and Helplessness36:01 Reaching Young Women39:06 Awareness Versus Access39:49 Self Diagnosis Journey41:57 Virtual Consult Questions44:50 Finding Local Care Paths46:11 Zoning and Licensing Barriers50:22 MLD Training Misconceptions51:50 Surgery Timeline and Recovery53:03 Insurance Coverage Reality56:30 Beyond Surgery Long Term Care01:00:40 Mental Health and Closing

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

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

⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dellalunawellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lipedema Advocate 856-297-7437

Cindy contact information

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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

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