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Original poster

diasti recti repair NHS

62 replies

babynelly2010 · 04/03/2014 13:21

Hello,

I got discharged to my gp from physio today saying that my diasti recti is not closing and I opted for surgery.
I asked the lady if the procedure was tummy tuck and she said yes and loose skin can be taken out too! I thought it was very hard to get a tuck with NHS but she seemed very optimistic... ANyone had this done with NHS

OP posts:
bunjies · 04/03/2014 13:25

You are very lucky. I have been told that there is no way I would be considered for surgery. How wide is your diastasis?

Original poster
babynelly2010 · 04/03/2014 14:30

Mine is 3.5-4 fingers. How wide is yours?

OP posts:
Original poster
babynelly2010 · 04/03/2014 14:42

To be honest at 8 week post birth my go even said that if it does not close in a year they will refer me she was not even going to do Physio with me, it was the hospital where I had the baby that sent a letter right after birth because I had bad pains. I think if yours looks bad enough I would go back to gp or a different one because u can have problems in future with hernias and do on. 2 fingers is normal they say.

OP posts:
Original poster
babynelly2010 · 04/03/2014 14:43

Sorry for typos. On the phone :)

OP posts:
Original poster
babynelly2010 · 04/03/2014 14:47

Sorry for typos. On the phone :)
I guess I didn't realize they will do tummy tuck I thought the just do key hole op for muscles only.

OP posts:
bunjies · 04/03/2014 16:13

Mine is 6.5cms. It was both the GP & the hospital consultant who told me. It is causing me problems with my lower back but as I don't have a hernia they won't do anything. I have asked to be referred to a physiotherapist who specialises in this to see if it can be rectified through exercise.

Original poster
babynelly2010 · 04/03/2014 18:21

i think physiotherapy is just a step in the process if that does not work they will probably refer you to surgery I am sure but didn't think it would be tummy tuck and I thought the loose skin will not be fixed, my physio lady seem to think otherwise... may be my nhs trust has more funding than usual but i doubt it....

OP posts:
IndigoBarbie · 04/03/2014 21:47

Hiya, I had a really big massive diastasis recti (oops sorry typos) and I followed the julie tupler method - google for her youtube video, it's something that really helped to close my gap. My gap was around 9 fingers wide, and my lower back and all muscles were wrecked also due to section.
Please please google Julie Tupler and do not be discouraged. My physio had me laying on my back trying to do half sit ups - butJulie warns against this as it weakens the tummy. Her exercises are done in a seated position, and really seriously helped me when after a year of physio nothing else was.....strengthened my back and brought my muscles back in again.
My gap is down to one finger, but Julie's method says she can get you to close it. I think after a while I stopped doing as many reps a day and I got lazy. Don't get lazy.......

IndigoBarbie · 04/03/2014 21:48

Also, don't do any straight sit up movement, even getting out of bed. Always roll onto your side:

www.diastasisrehab.com/

Zasheard · 21/10/2019 23:16

Hi I'm currently waiting for my first appointment at the plastic surgery dept I'm Sheffield, my funding has been approved by the NHS funding panel after an appeal since it was rejected before, is anyone else waiting for this surgery or have gone through it already? I have a 4cm gap diastasis recti and have terrible back pain.

Shelly2909 · 06/07/2020 08:59

Zasheard Did you get the surgery, did you attend physio therapy first?

TheMrsPickles · 16/07/2020 08:47

Please would you update on your surgery? Was it successful? I’d love to hear if you had success? X

MummaL32 · 17/06/2021 19:13

Did the surgery take place how did it go?

MummaL32 · 23/06/2021 06:41

Did anyone on here get any help with treatment? I don't want a tummy tuck but my DRecti has caused
Me major pelvic floor issues large prolapses as there is no support
I also have so much gas and bloating that it's so painful I cry after eating dinner my lower back and hip hurts daily Aswell to the point by end of the day I can struggle to walk I am early 30s I've just been referred to gyni so I'm
Praying they will help me

GCS1992 · 12/07/2021 23:26

Hello.

I thought I would share a bit of my journey. I carried large with both of my pregnancies, my first was only 7lb 15oz and my second 10lb 5oz. I am really petite so you can imagine how I looked! I knew something wasn’t right with my stomach so I went to the GP, I got passed about with different physios and told it would just get better. I finally found a doctor who agreed to put me forward to see a surgeon. My trust is County Durham & Darlington. The surgeon I seen agreed that I have severe diastasis recti, he would be happy to perform the tummy tuck but my GP would have to apply for funding. Unfortunately, despite the issues it causes me (back pain, constipation, struggling with balance) it was rejected. I decided to go down the private route. I have since had 2 private consultants with a plastic surgeon who then advised that my abdominal muscles are that separated and damaged, that it is my bowel that cause the bulge! It isn’t quite a hernia but it’s still scary. Yet the NHS still refused to do this operation. Crazy considering some people get boob jobs done! I have decided to get down this route, because of recovery time and a busy year, I have decided to get this done the beginning of 2022! It’s been a such a journey the past few years but hopefully I will get some confidence back and will be able to stop wearing baggy clothes.

IdblowJonSnow · 13/07/2021 00:07

I have this, diastis recti, and really bad bloating, dodgy bowels, weak bladder, enormous hernia that feels like a tennis ball on a bad day! Perhaps I should make enquiries...

Ivycatseyes · 02/10/2021 22:03

Hi ladies I am 6wks PP and have a huge diastasis recti that I know won't go down..I had a 2 finger gap after my first baby and this time its huge. My whole body is 1/2 size bigger than ote pregnancy but my actual stomach is 3 sizes bigger, so no clothes fit me and even buying knew ones is tricky tricky its literally my stomach that's so much bigger than everything else i dont know what to do. I absolutely hated recovering from c section (first daughter was vaginal) so dread the thought of recovery from surgery but don't see how else it will resolved and don't feel I can live like this x

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 02/10/2021 22:06

Yes I had cosmetic syrgery on the NHS, not this but similar, usually plastic surgery and burns centres will do it such as Queen Victoria Hospital. You will have better luck applying somewhere like that where you live. My local hospital wouldn't do it but the specialist centre would.

Schatto · 04/11/2021 23:35

Hi @gcs1992 I'm from your area and got no help from my gp, they didn't even refer me to physio. Could you let me know which surgery you will be using as I plan to fix my DR with surgery as exercise is doing nothing for me. Thanks xx

GCS1992 · 05/11/2021 06:57

Hey! It took me a few GP’s before they would send a referral off. I had to end physio first and they right a report and the physio said that it wouldn’t fix my problem. I did physio at Darlington Hospital and the surgery was Pease Way Medical Centre. I would constantly push for it, it took me nearly 2 years to get seen, even though it wasn’t the result I wanted.

Angelswifw · 02/02/2022 21:32

Hello- I am 1 year pp, did the physio answer nothing has changed. I would prefer doing exercises to close the gap but I keep reading it’s not possible. My tummy looks constantly bloated… how big does the gap need to be for GP to take you seriously?
How do I go about asking for surgery? And does it actually fix things? I would hate to do it snd nothing changes.

sellotape12 · 19/06/2022 18:58

Hey I’m also in the same boat as you all! My amazing physio said clinical
studies show that after 6 months of concerted effort with transverse abs work,
if it’s not changing it likely never will.
so six months is your milestone. I’d love it if anyone was able to get the surgery on the NHS and whether it was the basic keyhole type, or the full tummy tuck? I want to prepare myself for a surgical route that is most likely to get signed off. My trust is Lewisham and Greenwich. Any tips - please share, and I promise I’ll do the same.
(6 months postpartum, still look 6 months preggers)

Zasheard · 19/06/2022 21:03

Hi yes
I had mine done by the nhs, also had skin removed,I had a 5-6cm gap x

Ivycatseyes · 19/06/2022 21:08

How long ago did you have it done on the NHS.
I have a 5 cm gap (10 month pp) and also an umbilical hernia above belly button. I managed to get referred for the hernia but the surgeon was so insulting. He told me to hold my husbands hands and breath out as he lifts me up (as in a sit up) 10 times every morning and it will be solved in 6 months. I know this is total total rubbish and I was gobsmacked and insulted. He also said he won't do the hernia cos what's the point if my muscles aren't together. I really dont feel like ill get anywhere with my trust - how did you manage it?! Also, was the surgery successful? My stomach is so big and round I look so pregnant I feel like I've never seen anyone look so pregnant after and it's more obvious as I'm a size 10 sometimes 12 everywhere else. X

Zasheard · 20/06/2022 00:11

I had mine done September 2020,after 12 months of physio and my gap not closing at all my physio wrote to my gp asking for her to refer me to a plastic surgeon, I had to also get the gp to apply for funding first, it was rejected at first but I appealed and wrote a letter to the funding panel and it was accepted, my surgery was call “fleur de lis” I had a single incision from hip to hip, muscles stitched back together and then double wall mesh, one that dissolves over time. And excess skin removed also,I had to have my tummy button removed but I’m having a new one grafted in 2 weeks time x