Clearing the Fog— How the Lymphatic System Supports Lipedema & Healing with Tina Shin, OTD
Release Date: 08/27/2025
How Trauma Rewrites Pain Part 3—When Trauma Turns on the Immune System
Dear body, I’m listening
“Trauma doesn't just live in your memories, your fascia, or your nervous system. It can also reshape your immune system, especially when no one helped you feel safe. That doesn't mean it's your fault, and that doesn't mean your body isn't on your side. It means that your body has been on your side this whole time, trying to protect you the only way it knew how.” —Donna Piper Some days your body throws signals you cannot ignore, but no one seems to hear them. The swelling, the exhaustion, the crashes that make no sense on paper start to feel like a secret only you and your body...
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Thermal Imaging for Health: Early Answers, Less Guesswork with Dr. Robert Kane
Dear body, I’m listening
"It's a balance between getting information and trusting experts. It's really important that as a patient, you have to be your own advocate." —Robert Kane When it comes to our body, uncertainty can be the hardest symptom to treat. Worry sets in when answers are fuzzy, and bouncing between specialists leaves us more confused than before. The real question is: how can we know what’s happening inside before a health crisis begins? After doubting conventional answers and searching for tools that deliver real clarity, Dr. Robert Kane turned a career in health into a...
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Chronic Pain & Trauma: Gently Breaking The Invisible Link with Science
Dear body, I’m listening
"The body's intelligent. We just have to show up. I equate it to a dance where the body leads and I follow." —Peter Stuart You can run from nagging pain, but it keeps showing up in new ways—wrecking sleep, fouling up moods, and shutting down energy. The worst part? Real answers are rare, and the world keeps telling you to just “push through” or “try harder.” Maybe it’s not about willpower at all—it’s about listening to the actual story your body’s been trying to tell for years. Peter Stuart spent decades fighting through his own injuries, dismissed symptoms,...
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How Real Connection Supports Healing (Even When You’re Exhausted) with Heather Nelson
Dear body, I’m listening
“Push your life to be the life that you want and not accept that it's just the way it is. Every choice that you make should be toward loving the life that you have.” —Heather Nelson Connection isn’t just a feel-good extra. It’s a lifeline when the world feels heavy and invisible battles make us want to shut down. Isolation, overwhelm, and invisible struggles don’t need to be our whole story; even small acts of reaching out can reshape everything. The truth is, connecting with the right people and sharing our messy middle is stronger than any secret solution. Heather...
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The Science of Rest— What the Lipkin Study Taught Us About ME/CFS
Dear body, I’m listening
“Pace first, safety builds capacity.” —Donna Piper There’s a kind of tired that sleep can’t fix, a crash that feels invisible to everyone but you. You push, you pace, you try to “do all the right things,” yet your body still calls a timeout. Maybe it’s not weakness or lack of willpower. Maybe your body’s simply working harder than anyone realizes. In this episode, Donna unpacks a revolutionary study on chronic fatigue, the real science behind “the crash,” and why pacing, rest, and nervous system care are the new power moves for healing. Expect myth-busting,...
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Beyond the Diagnosis: Reclaiming Life and Purpose With Lipedema with Hiba Hamati
Dear body, I’m listening
"Trust your instinct… Our bodies sound an alarm bell that something isn’t right, and we ignore it for years. Don’t ignore it. Don't accept the bare minimum answer. Just because your labs are normal does not mean that your body is functioning optimally." —Hiba Hamati Going to doctor after doctor, trying every tip, and still wondering why your pain and swelling never make sense. You know there’s something happening that nobody else seems to see, and not getting answers just wears you down. This chat right here puts a name to all that frustration. Hiba Hamati...
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If Only I Were Skinny…
Dear body, I’m listening
"Your body is not the enemy—the world's impossible standards are. And every time you name that truth out loud, you don't just free yourself, you also free someone else.” —Donna Piper Some lies are so loud they start to sound like truth—like the idea that confidence waits on the other side of weight loss. And the hardest part? The shame of not being skinny can at times feel heavier than our own weight, turning every step forward into a fight against an invisible anchor. Donna spent years believing her size erased her gifts. It wasn’t until she uncovered her...
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How Trauma Rewrites Pain, Part 2: When Fight or Flight Gets Stuck
Dear body, I’m listening
"If trauma rewrote the wiring one way, that means safety relationship and somatic practices can rewrite it the other way— it is the long game; there is no quick fix.” —Donna Piper Sometimes you do everything right, but your body keeps sending SOS signals no one else can see. Doubt creeps in—is this real, or is something deeper going on? You’re not alone; your body’s story matters, and what you feel makes perfect sense. For years, Donna felt invisible, questioned, and let down by quick fixes and dismissive answers. Her experience battling chronic pain, trauma, and...
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Dollars and Cents: The Real Financial Stress of Being Sick
Dear body, I’m listening
"I'm not my bills. I'm not my debt. I am worthy of care." —Donna Piper Being sick isn’t just exhausting—it’s expensive in ways nobody warns you about. The stress of medical bills, insurance denials, and endless receipts can weigh just as heavily as the symptoms themselves. If you’re tired of feeling like your wallet is as worn out as your body, you’re not alone. In this episode, Donna opens up about the real price tag of chronic illness, sharing her journey through misdiagnoses, out-of-pocket treatments, and the emotional toll of fighting for care. She breaks down the...
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How Trauma Rewrites Pain, Part 1: My Body Kept Score
Dear body, I’m listening
“Moving is medicine. There's something with moving that you don't need to know why or how, or how it relates to your emotions or trauma. And just like how trauma rewrites pain, it is also the opposite when you feel safe, embodied, and in a compassionate relationship with yourself, you can rewrite your story for safety.” —Donna Piper Sometimes pain isn’t just in your head—it’s woven deep into your body, shaping how you move, feel, and even how you see yourself. When life keeps telling you to “push through” but your body keeps shutting down, it’s easy to wonder if...
info_outline"If you are going through a struggle with lymphedema, lipedema, or anything related to your lymphatic system, don't be afraid to do your own research and be your own advocate." —Tina Shin
What if the most important system in your body is also the least understood—even by your own doctor? This episode of Dear Body, I’m Listening dives into the hidden world of the lymphatic system and why it matters for anyone living with lipedema, lymphedema, or chronic illness.
Tina Shin is a certified lymphedema therapist and occupational therapist with years of hands-on experience helping patients navigate the confusing world of lymphatic health. From leading clinical teams at major medical centers to running her own practice, Tina has seen firsthand how misunderstood the lymphatic system is, and she’s passionate about empowering people to understand their bodies, advocate for their needs, and find the right support—whether it’s for chronic illness, post-surgical recovery, or everyday wellness.
Tune in to learn how to spot lymphatic dysfunction, find the right therapist, understand lymphedema vs. lipedema, and get clear guidance on the lymphatic system, MLD, post-surgical care, emotional healing, and self-advocacy.
Connect with Donna:
Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedonnapiper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper
Episode Highlights:
02:38 The Lymphatic Wake Up Call
06:07 Why Doctors Don’t Talk About Lymph
13:41 Lymphedema vs Lipedema
19:42 MLD Explained— What’s Real and What’s Hype
28:35 Is Your Lymphatic System Healthy?
39:50 Post Surgery Recovery— Best Practices
50:22 How Does Lymph Move?
57:44 When Lymph Gets Stuck— Fibrosis and Realistic Expectations
01:02:57 Biggest Lesson: Be Your Own Advocate
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Tired of the medical runaround? Get the facts on swelling, healing, and finding the right help this week with LANA-certified lymphedema therapist, Tina Shin. #DearBodyImListening #MCAS #Lymphedema #Lipedema #ChronicIllness #LymphaticHealth #MLD #SelfAdvocacy #Healing
Quotes:
01:00 "Swelling, brain fog, nervous system crashes, and the kind of symptoms that don't always show up on lab results—these are the things we need to talk about with honesty and compassion." —Donna Piper
32:00 "If you feel like you have something with your lymph or swelling, seek out a therapist. At least you could get some good information on what to do." —Donna Piper
45:12 "There's a transitional time with lots of emotions [post-surgery]. There's a period of reacquainting with your new body." —Donna Piper
01:01:49 "Your MLD, your OT, your PT, whoever does this, is really your partner in all this, and it really is a big support." —Donna Piper
04:00 "The lymphatic system is an incredibly important system, but it is greatly underappreciated. If our lymphatic system were to fail, we would die within about 24 to 48 hours." —Tina Shin
08:02 "The lymphatic system is so intertwined with other systems that it's difficult to parse out whether an issue is lymphatic, liver, kidney, or cardiac. That's why we don't have any lymph-specializing doctors." —Tina Shin
09:03 "With more awareness, advocacy, and more people getting educated, it's definitely getting better." —Tina Shin
16:33 "People with lipedema can eventually develop lymphedema because of the stress on the lymphatic system, evolving into lipo-lymphedema. But someone with lymphedema isn't going to get lipedema unless they were born with it." —Tina Shin
25:42 "Whoever you're working with should have a license to touch… Beyond that, look for a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) or someone with MLD certification." —Tina Shin
30:22 "Most people have pretty well-functioning lymphatic systems, but they can get abused." —Tina Shin
40:55 "MLD and proper compression are huge for post-surgical care. Working with a qualified therapist gives you another set of eyes, reassurance, and support through the emotional ups and downs of recovery." —Tina Shin
45:32 “Letting people know that these emotions are common and they're not alone can be reassuring." —Tina Shin
01:03:54 "If you are going through a struggle with lymphedema, lipedema, or anything related to your lymphatic system, don't be afraid to do your own research and be your own advocate." —Tina Shin
01:04:16 "Don't be afraid to buck what some of them might be saying, because there's still a lot of education and growth needed in this area." —Tina Shin
01:05:02 "Educate yourself and then educate others. Just keep moving this forward." —Tina Shin
Connect with Tina:
Tina Shin is a LANA-certified lymphedema therapist with a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy. She completed her residency at the Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles, where she eventually served as the lead lymphedema therapist for several years. In 2021, she also opened her private practice, OC Lymphatics, where she provides mobile lymphatic services throughout Orange County. She specializes in lymphedema, lipedema, oncology, peri-surgical care, and helping patients who suffer from chronic conditions.
Website: http://www.oclymphatics.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oclymphatics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oclymphatics/