Just got diagnosed with Lymphedema in legs, getting married in a tea length dress next year, help!

Unfortunately I think your best bet is going to be to change dresses to something long that will cover your legs and not really show your shoes too much.

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Yeah, that is what I was afraid of, unless I just come to terms with my diagnosis and embrace my compression socks and medical shoes. This is still really new to me so hopefully within a year I will be able to come to terms with this more.

I agree with Veronica. I would find a full length dress. Your wedding day is long and eventful, and
don’t want to have to worry about uncomfortable swelling. If you get a long dress, you can wear whatever stockings give you the most relief, regardless of how they look. And you don’t have to worry about finding attractive shoes, because no one will see them. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is much easier to embrace an obstacle and find a way to work with it, rather than try to fight against it.

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The only issue is that I can't afford another dress plus I really like the dress I currently have and can't see myself in any other one. I guess what I was hoping to hear from people is encouragement that it will be okay and people will still think I am beautiful despite the stockings and shoes. Like, you guys act like my stockings and shoes are a bad thing that should be hidden.

View Quoted Comment I was just going off of what you were saying- that you could not find any attractive stockings or shoes that you would feel comfortable being shown. I think all brides should feel beautiful and comfortable on their special day. And since you were saying you could not find any stockings or shoes that would make you feel beautiful, I suggested simply eliminating the need to find those 🤷🏼‍♀️ I don’t think you need to worry about other people “still thinking you look beautiful” - the only thing you need to worry about is YOU thinking that. So if you feel comfortable & beautiful wearing the compression stockings and shoes that are available, then I would just do that and not worry about anyone else’s opinions.

In terms of options for compression stockings, you could also look at professional wear, uniform stores. I have friends who were cocktail servers who wear special compression tights daily. I think JC Penney once had tights. I would not use knee highs or thigh highs to circulate blood. Also, how about cowboy or knee high boots? I've seen many bedazzled boots for brides. Outside of attire, you can look into lymphatic massage by a trained professional.

The day is very long and hurts any bride or grooms legs and feet. Rest when you can and if you have a planner, ask them to preemptively direct guests away from you saying "the couple is requesting private time to enjoy their meal together, etc.". Best wishes.

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Thanks! I think beige compression garments are my best bet. My doctor advised me never to shop for compression stockings on Amazon due to the reputation of counterfeits. Tights might be a bit overkill since my lymphedema is only in my left foot, plus, it is not to circulate blood, but to help drain fluid. It's been a few days since I started wearing my stockings and as long as I put them on first thing in the morning, my ankle will not swell up and I can fit into normal shoes. I will probably still get wide width shoes I can lace up so there is more flexibility.

I'm still kind of new to this whole lymphedema thing

View Quoted Comment I would recommend finding a lymphedema-specific PT! I’m a PT and while I don’t work specifically with patients with lymphedema, they might have recommendations for day of and other compression stocking choices!!

View Quoted Comment You’re the one who literally said all the shoes that can accomodate swollen feet and ankles are “really ugly and clinical” looking. Personally, I’d save myself some time. Sell the dress and buy something long, perhaps second hand, rather than search for shoes and compression stockings unlikely to meet all of your requirements.

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I already decided that I won't sell my dress or get a longer one that I will just embrace my compression stockings. I was just overreacting since when I posted this, I literally got diagnosed yesterday and was freaking out, but now I pretty much accepted that they are a part of me that I shouldn't hide and my friends and family won't care.

Still, why do people act like showing my stockings and shoes are a bad thing? That is kind of ableist.

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No one here is saying or thinking that. YOU made the comment that the shoes you've found to accommodate the swelling are "really ugly and clinical." Plenty of people have no choice but to wear those kind of shoes every single day so if anyone was acting ableist here it was you. IF I disliked my footwear choices as much as you, for whatever reason, I would personally rather pick a dress that made the shoes a non-issue than wear shoes that made me unhappy. That was my only point. Nobody said you should be embarrassed by your condition or that you can't wear a short dress.

Look on Mercari, Poshmark, Still white For a full length wedding gown. You could get the compression stockings, but i honestly, would personally, not feel my best if an insecurity of mine were out for the photographs. There's tons of dresses out there and online! Under 100$ Some makers won't be all that great of quality but they do their job! Amazon, Missac, Hebeos, Ebay. So many websites you can look on, even facebook marketplace. With a full length dress covering your legs and feet you wont even have to worry about footwear! you can wear a comfy pair of flops, no one will see!

Best of luck.

Thanks guys, but again, I decided I will just wear some beige stockings and shoes, why are you guys so insistent of me having a longer dress when I already made up my mind?

Seriously, I literally made this thread because I was freaking out when I was first diagnosed, but after a couple weeks I feel comfortable in my socks

Seriously, why are you guys so insistent on a full length dress when I already made up my mind?

I already made up my decision so stop changing my mind

Seriously, what are you guys going to do if I decide to wear my tea length dress, come to my wedding personally and beat me up?