Generally, there is a great deal of confusing about this condition both here and in America. There is an American support thread called 'PEER TRAINER' -Diastasis Recti where you read about other women's experiences.
What we all have in common is that we are all having very different experiences and treatment of essentially very similar problems.
There appears to be ignorance surrounding the condition within the medical proefession. The NHS have not clearly informed me at all about 'Diastasis Recti, 'diverification' and the difference between abdominal reconstruction and an abdominoplasty.
Plus I have an umbelical hernia which complicates the issue and affects what type of surgery is open to me.
No doctor has ever given me a list of treatments both within the NHS and the private sector so that I can choose the best type of surgery for the most effective, long term result.
If you don;t ask, they will not help you. They just rush you through the system and you could be left with your mummy tummy and / or facing another operation.
I should have had my hernia repaired last year really but I did postpone it because I had a baby and was still breastfeeding.
No doctor said I could should look at having two operations- one the hernia and then a tummy tuck at later date if it was possible.
I myself am still very confused and have postponed my surgery for a few months. I want to be seen again and further assessed, perhaps a scan of my hernia and possible keyhole surgery.
Bascially, my understanding of umbelical hernias is a s follows:
a) If you have a large hernia ,then they will use a mesh. That mesh will be attached to the abdominal muscle on both sides, so effectively the mesh is in between the muscles. Thus the muscles are still slightly apart, so you'll still have the tummy bulge.
b)For athletes and people with an active lifestyle- the mesh should be placed underneath the muscles and then the muscles tightened up so that the gap is effectively closed and you tummy flattened more.
But - if you have Diastassi Recti or diverification? ( still not sure what that is yet!), the muscles may be too far apart for the mesh t underneath or above the muscle so in between is you only option. This is true apparently , if the muscles have effectively shredded out to very little. There is even a 1% chance that the hernia will be inoperable and you have to have another, more complex procedure to correct the problem.
Most doctors on the NHS seem do the mesh in between as it is easier but you are left with bulge.
I am going to write to my surgeon today to get all of these issues clarified and then make a properly informed decision as to which surgery will be the best for me.
With my hernia AND DR the only option for me might be the original operation I was on the waiting list for- the open hernia repair and a little nip and tuck here and there!Because of the hernia and the way it will be repaied, I may not be able to have a tummy tuck as there may not be enough muscle to sew completely together if it's a severe separation but I have no idea for sure at the moment. If a tummy tuck will never be an option for me , then I'll have the NHS surgery and be done with it and live with the bulge.
However, if I can have keyhole surgery and then the rectus muscle tightened after a year two plus all excess skin removed then I'll consider that.
I haven;t had a scan since last year, so I'm going to ask for further consultation. I have not been examined by my surgeon for a year either, so I want to be seen by him and I'll take his advice. I don't think the NHS removes the C-Section apron hang either (the pannus) so I want this clarified.
My DH and I also want to explore having say the hernia repaired on the NHS but all the excess skin removed by paying privately so my operation is partly a tummy tuck in that repect. I don't know if this is possible but I want to explore it anyway.
I do understand that they can't tell quite how big the hernia is and how they will operate until they open you up to have a look. So I expect some women with smaller hernias and muscles separation get a better result for abdominal NHS reconstruction than others.
I will post back with what the surgeon says.
I want to look at all options first before going ahead with my original NHS operation.
I know that hugetum had very large hernia and was successfully operated on and I'm so very pleased for her. But it does look as thou they have stitched her muscles fully back together which make all the difference to posture, look and comfort. I know getting rid of the hernia will be a huge relief.
I just need to find out if I can tackle it as a separate health issue through keyhole/open surgery and then in a year or two get the cosmetic issue of the DR,pannus and loose skin dealt with through a tummy tuck.
I hope this makes sense! I think I would rather pay for a proper tummy tuck if that is the best route.
To be honest, I am still confused as to what the original operation was. I did think it was the same as hugetums but I found out at the last minute that this was not the case.
I was down for a hernia repair, but that the plastic surgeon has a little bit of scope to cut off some excess skin but that's it as the NHS do not do abdominoplasty's. The DR is considered cosmetic.
As hugetum said, if the NHS are not going to tighten my abdominal muscles, then my best option is the hernia repair only and a private tummy tuck later where they WILL stitch the muscles together and get rid of ALL the loose skin. So I'll get a better result.
But if they look at me and say no, the hernia is too large and the separation too wide for the muscles to be closed completely, then I'll put myself back on the waiting list for another 3 months and have the original operation I was scheduled for and just live with a smaller bulge.
So no, you don't have to have two operations, but it SEEMS that if you want those muscles tightened as well as the hernia repair, the NHS is not going to help most people achieve it.
Of course it does depend on your medical history, level of DR and herniation ( if you have it) so I can only speak for myself on this thread.