Diastasis Recti/umbilicial hernia

[merbaby]

Help I have been told I need an operation to correct my diastasis Recti ( separated stomach muscles) or my umbilicial hernia operation ( which failed last year) probably won't work when it is done again.

I saw a consultant who has said in his experience diastasis recti repairs don't work and he therefore doesn't do them.

Does anyone know a consultant ( preferably near Reading/London/Nottingham) who does these stomach repairs?
Or has anyone had their stomach repaired successfully?

Please please help.

I have had a massive incisional hernia repaired with a mesh insert. If you have had a failed hernia repair it's unlikely to work a second time and if your stomach muscles are fully separated, nothing but time and gentle physiotherapy will help you I'm afraid.

Can you get a referral to physio? Also ask for a second opinion, is a mesh appropriate for you. I have no feeling in my stomach now where the mesh is but it's nothing to the hernia which was the size of a melon and so painful.

Hi thanks for all your responses. I have had a mesh repair which is what has failed. I have also had physiotherapy, both of my physios ( one NHS one private) have told me that I can go no further through physio and that I need a surgical repair of the recti..hence my question has anyone had it successfully.......and does anyone know who does it please please...

Hi thanks for all your responses. I have had a mesh repair which is what has failed. I have also had physiotherapy, both of my physios ( one NHS one private) have told me that I can go no further through physio and that I need a surgical repair of the recti..hence my question has anyone had it successfully.......and does anyone know who does it please please...

Hi Merbaby, unfortunately I can only offer sympathy as I need to have my umbilical hernia and diasis recti repaired but haven't finished trying for another baby.

I spent several days/ hours in hospital this year for an unrelated medical issue and they also scared me with reports that stomach surgery infection rates are high as problems are only detected after the bandages are removed.

I was gutted as I have always been a size 14 and not too bothered but now the umbilical prominence is such that only certain outfits hide it.

Let me know how you get on as I will be in your position in a couple of years and already am frustrated.

They can absolutely sew up the rectus muscle as well as repair a hernia (sewing up the rectus muscle where necessary is also common practice during a full tummy tuck from what I understand). I'm not a doctor but I am a specialist personal trainer who deals with diastasis every day... I personally know of a woman who has had this operation on the NHS. Corrective exercise can close up a diastasis in the vast majority of cases, but when there is hernia present, there is a hole in the abdominal wall & exercise will not repair it.
I'm not advocating surgery for diastasis alone, repairing this through exercise is what I do! (The MuTu System)... but hernia requires medical intervention if it is going to get fixed.
There is a support group on Facebook called the Diastasis Recti Support Group - it's mainly American (so insurance rather than NHS issues) but they talk a lot on there about surgery & there are lots of real life experiences & photos. I hope this helps.