You’ve probably never heard of such a condition as Lipomatosis maculodystrophy in your life. It is extremely rare and therefore poorly studied by medicine. Unfortunately, one of the sufferers is a woman from Thailand who is tormented with her disease and can’t do anything about it.
Who is she?
The unfortunate woman’s name is Duangjay Samaksamam. She is considered one of the local landmarks, and the woman herself is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
This rare disease makes her arms weigh up to 20 kilograms, and any attempt to move them causes her incredible pain and suffering. The disease is congenital and has been present since early childhood.
Duangjia had difficulties with her schooling and education, moreover she developed complexes about her looks that affected her psycho-emotional well-being and stayed indoors for nearly twenty years for fear of going out in public.
The seclusion ended only when her parents grew old. She had to do some household chores (going to the store, communicating with social services, going to the hospital, etc.). The family also ran their own business, which needed supervision. All of this fell on her shoulders. Duangjay made an effort on her own and took matters into her own hands.
Doctors had not dealt with this condition
Alas, there was nothing medicine could do for her. Many doctors have not even seen or heard of this disease. European and American specialists cannot tell you anything about this disease, let alone their Asian colleagues.
Some research has been done, some incisions have been made and blood and matter tests have been taken, but it has come to nothing. Doctors are afraid of damaging nerves and causing irreparable harm to the patient’s health.
Notably, a delegation from Japan specially flew to Thailand, expressing a desire to study the girl. But despite the high level of Japanese medicine, they also assured that no surgery should be performed under any circumstances. The risk of losing her hands is extremely high.
Samaksamam continues to run the family business and hopes that some medicine will be invented in the near future to alleviate her suffering.