diasti recti repair NHS

[babynelly2010]

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

So many typos. I should sleep!

Hi Ladies sorry for the delay in reply.
I cant remember who said what so basically from what I can remember -
Yes c section the 2nd time, so belive its worse because I have Diastatsi which I had after 1st birth but I also now have the 'pooch' which is the consequence of section. So I think DR is seperate from the section 'pooch' which is apparently typical. So it's just really unfortunate of those 2 issues. I imagine this happens a lot with section......but probably i image if a section is the result of a big baby then naturally your stomach muscles will have stretched more increasing risk of DR. Also, probably more common with 2nd babies as less elasticity. And if you had DR 1st time round as I did, well, then uts kind of a no shit sherlock moment isn't it.....sigh.

Running - yeah I'd stop running if i were you. I used to run a lot before my first, not ran since cos of my (2cm) DR after first (5cm now). I've started pilates and I may start MUTU. Haha as if I have time for any of this with work and 2 children.

Never used a splint wishing I had and worrying its too late but may start wearing mine now.

The wind/gas thing and physically feeling that lump that is driving me mad. Someone mentioned to cook veg really really well - I can't even eat veg because of it ! Although I do eat salad a lot. The thing is I'm at high risk of bowel cancer and also I worked in nutrition for 8 years - its just so important to get some sort of fruit and veg/salad. I am going to give the fodmap diet a go to see if that helps though. Xx

Bloated ladies, just wanted to update that in the past week I’ve been taking a probiotic supplement and it’s helped a bit with the bloating. I’m really surprised because I thought that stuff was just nonsense. I just got something from Holland and Barrett for digestive / gut health.

It’s not perfect and obviously I still have my massive DR ‘pregnant’ belly, but some of the puffed up look has gone down a bit to the point where I can now feel my four finger gap. Maybe check with your doctor first though.

So glad I found this thread. I’ve just spent 18 months having every test to figure out the cause of my bloated stomach. In the end they fobbed me off with dietary changes, despite the fact that it doesn’t matter what I eat or drink, the smallest amount of anything blows me up like a balloon. It’s so painful and really upsetting. Now I’ve done a DR check and I can fit my entire hand in the gap. The NHS is wasting so much money sending all these women for tests when they just need to start training their staff on what DR is. My GP didn’t have a clue. I’m amazed and so angry. I’ve been exercising like mad to try flatten my stomach and yet all I’ve been doing is likely making it worse. 😢

Thank-you so much for this thread and photos - I am currently 12 years suffering with D.R and just went in hospital again with severe pains in my lower tummy - CT scans show a severe D.R (my pyshio got 5 and a bit fingers in without trying too hard as it hurt so much!) The Surgeon's reply was yes the CT scan showed the severe deviation but it is so big the hernia had no chance of being strangulated so they wouldn't worry about or fix it!!??....

I have an appointment with a new GP on Tuesday afternoon and have everything crossed finally I will find the person to help me....

I find it disgraceful that instead of medical professionals telling and validating you that your D.R is definitely an issue and causing a whole load of painful and embarrassing complications however, the NHS does not offer this surgery - they instead send you away feeling more crap and making out there is no issue or passing it off as a "functional" issue like IBS and most recently I was told I had severe "Functional" abdominal pains but there is nothing they can do!!!????.... It simply is not good enough!!...xx

My GP won't even give me a F2F apt to examine me, this is what the disabled are used too, being ignored when i called and asked for an apt, everyone first is given a time and date for the GP or nurse Practitioner to call you which they then determine either a F2F apt or treatment over the phone, The doctor listened to me and as soon as i told him i had seen a change of shape as i commence sitting up before i roll to the side due to other back hip problems he said it was a diastasis recti, explained briefly what it was then said we leave well alone , the NHS will not treat it. Not offered any test or exam to confirm his diagnosis.. It is noticeable in swimwear with a raised section to my left of stomach. But nothing no referral test nothing.. As it may well be adding to the Osteoarthritis of the spine hips etc along with advanced disc degenerative disease, & sciatica.. After 15yrs of having medical problems ive learnt.. most GP'S are not interested in patient's like myself...As ive more info now on what i should be being offered ill try pushing for what most here have gone through

I have suffered with DR for about 5 years now. I have seen a couple of doctors one both said they will not operate on this on NHS. I questioned the second one saying how they do operate on this in America - he just scoffed saying they will operate on anything in America. I have been referred to the physio for my back pain and mentioned my DR. I asked if there were any exercises I could do to improve it. He said no - nothing will fix it apart from surgery and to go back to the doctor! Round in circles I go!😭😭

how did you get on @sellotape12 ? I’m in the same borough.

Ladies that have done the surgery - did it fix the bloating? How bad is the scar? I am considering going private - got my appointment late august. My gap is now 2cm but I still look pregnant at times and have to do lots of back exercises to keep my back strong enough to pick up my son. I am 2.5yrs PP and it’s impacting my quality of life. Nhs won’t even talk to me 😅

Could I ask if anyone has had it done in the nhs please? And if they were happy with the results?

Hi I just wanted to update. There’s no way I could afford the surgery. And anyway the main private surgeon who does DR repair has a 1.5 year waiting list.
my DR has now closes up after a lot of effort 🙂🙂🙂 I still have a small sticky-out pot belly from my diaphragm being too tight but I have learned so much about myself, DR and carrying a baby in a small abdomen

• Get an excellent physio who has spent their career specialising in women’s health postpartum. I used My French Physio in Pimlico.
• Look into hypopressive breathing technique or training. Even when DR closes up you can be left with unhappy tight organs including your diaphragm and a too-tight pelvic floor (yes this is a thing, especially if you had a C-section)
• If you had a c-section you MUST massage the tissue of your scar quite vigorously. It’s not for the aesthetic quality of the skin, it’s because underneath it all you have lumpy, uneven tissue and that’s not a good foundation, so makes it harder for all those ab exercises to take effect. You put two fingers on your C-section scar and knead it as if you were kneading bread dough.
• Never do sit ups.
• Eat Nourish Love on YouTube is a great resource. I think she’s called Lindsey Vonn(?) Her core workouts are designed to heal DR and are very slow and steady.

I’m interested to know which surgeon you are referring to? Thanks