If you spent any time watching daytime TV over the last decade, you knew Wendy Williams' legs were part of her "look." The high heels. The short skirts. The "How You Doin'?" strut. But then things changed. Paparazzi photos started circulating that looked… painful. People on the internet, being the internet, were brutal. They called them "cankles." They speculated. They made memes.
Honestly, it was a mess.
But behind the gossip was a pretty scary medical reality that Wendy eventually had to face head-on. It wasn't just about "swollen ankles." It was lymphedema, a chronic condition that basically turned her life upside down. By the time she was showing her feet to the cameras on TMZ in 2022, she admitted she could only feel about 5% of them.
The Reveal: "It’s Lymphedema, and I’ve Got It"
Wendy didn’t just wake up one day with swollen feet. It was a slow burn. Back in 2019, she finally addressed the elephant in the room on her show. She’d been diagnosed with lymphedema. For those who aren't medical experts, think of your lymphatic system as the body’s drainage pipes. When those pipes get blocked or damaged, fluid backs up. In Wendy's case, it settled right in her lower extremities.
It makes your limbs feel heavy. Tight. Like you're walking through wet cement.
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She told her audience, "It’s not going to kill me, but I do have a machine." That machine—a pneumatic compression pump—became her new best friend for 45 minutes every single day. It’s basically a sleeve that squeezes the fluid back into circulation. It’s not a cure. There is no cure. It’s just management.
The Graves’ Disease Connection
You can’t talk about Wendy Williams ankles without talking about her thyroid. Wendy has been open about her battle with Graves’ disease for years. It’s an autoimmune disorder where your immune system attacks your thyroid, making it go into overdrive.
Now, while Graves’ doesn’t directly cause lymphedema, the two are like a toxic duo. Graves’ causes systemic inflammation and can lead to something called pretibial myxedema—which is skin thickening and swelling on the shins. Combine that with a malfunctioning lymphatic system, and you have a recipe for the severe swelling Wendy experienced.
Why the Swelling Got So Bad
Lymphedema usually progresses in stages. In the beginning, you might just notice your shoes feel a bit tight at the end of the day. But if it isn't managed perfectly—and Wendy was running a high-intensity daily talk show—it moves into Stage 2 or 3.
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- Fibrosis sets in: The tissue starts to harden. It’s not just "water weight" anymore; it’s actual structural change in the skin.
- Loss of sensation: This is the part that shocked fans. Wendy revealed that the numbness was so severe she struggled to stay steady on her feet.
- Infection risk: When fluid stays stagnant, it’s a playground for bacteria. People with lymphedema are at constant risk for cellulitis, a skin infection that can turn septic fast.
It’s easy to judge a celebrity for "letting themselves go" or wearing weird shoes, but Wendy was literally fighting to stay upright. She eventually swapped the Louboutins for sneakers and slippers because, frankly, her feet wouldn't fit in anything else.
The Reality of 2026: Where Things Stand Now
Fast forward to today. The conversation around Wendy has shifted from her ankles to her overall cognitive health, specifically her diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It’s heavy stuff. But the physical toll of the lymphedema never really went away.
In her 2024 documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams?, the footage was raw. It showed her feet in a way we hadn't seen before—severely swollen, almost unrecognizable. It was a reminder that while she was fighting a battle in her mind, her body was still dealing with this chronic drainage issue.
There’s been some drama recently, too. As of late 2025 and early 2026, Wendy has been fighting her guardianship. She’s claimed she isn't as "cognitively impaired" as the courts say. But regardless of the legal battles, the lymphedema remains a permanent part of her life. It’s a physical manifestation of the toll her career and health struggles took on her.
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What We Can Learn from Wendy’s Journey
If you or someone you know is dealing with persistent swelling in one or both legs, don't just "wait and see." Lymphedema is much easier to manage if you catch it at Stage 0 or 1.
- Look for the "Pitting": If you press your finger into the swelling and it leaves a dent that stays there for a few seconds, that’s a red flag.
- Compression is King: Don't wait for a doctor to prescribe the "big machine." High-quality compression socks can do wonders for early-stage fluid retention.
- Skin Care Matters: Because of the infection risk, you have to keep the skin on your legs and feet hydrated and check for tiny cuts daily.
- Movement: Even if it’s just ankle pumps while you’re sitting, you’ve got to keep the "pumps" of your calves moving to help that fluid travel.
Wendy Williams used her platform to shout "How You Doin'?" at the world, but her struggle with lymphedema showed us a much more vulnerable side. It turned a punchline about "cankles" into a serious conversation about a disease that millions of people suffer from in silence. It’s not just a "celeb health update"—it’s a reality check on how quickly your body can change and how much work it takes to keep it moving.
To manage similar symptoms, your best bet is to consult a lymphedema therapist (CLT). They specialize in manual lymph drainage, which is a specific type of massage that can move fluid in ways a regular massage can't. It's about taking control before the "5% sensation" becomes your new normal.