6 MONTH UPDATE! Diastasis Recti Repair & Tummy Tuck

[@Fairmaidenteacup]

Yes, would love an update too. I’m a mom of 6, all c-sections, and I’m contemplating the surgery. I have at least a six finger gap:(

[@jewel643]

Do it! I am 5.5 weeks post op and so happy!!!! It’s totally worth it. My husband said my stomach now matches the rest of my body. Lol

[@asltina]

@@jewel643 did you have any complications?

[@phyllisingram1167]

Thank you for the info. I have a diastactic recti and when I sit up I look 9 months pregnant. I am 65 years old on Medicare and Humana. I want this done so bad.

[@susanlamoureux9621]

How long have you had your diastatis I'm 60 do you have other symptoms like nausea

[@phyllisingram1167]

I have nausea, severe constipation, and severe back pain.

[@asltina]

Hi, do you think you could give a current update on your surgery? I checked your website but I didn't see anything there about your journey.

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

I really need to do this!

[@asltina]

@@AmyRaisingArrows Yes! Please please do!

[@micah1754]

@@AmyRaisingArrowsdid you end up doing this ? Would love to hear

[@wakeupstylellc]

Can you make an update video? Considering a tummy tuck and I feel that I might need the muscle repair as well. I only had one child, c-section. I’m kind of nervous about the pain, because my c-section was a nightmare.

[@locotocharlie]

can you share the Dr that did your surgery and the facility? Thanks

[@blandinegay9568]

I am having a similar surgery in november. my diastasis is not a bat as yours was but it goes all the way down (apparently if it goes past your navel it is not something sport can heal) an I have not managed to get it tighter than 5cm appart (here in switzerland it is considered pathological if larger than 4cm). The creepiest is to actually see my intesines move because the fashia is just gone in one area wich means they are in direct contact with the skin... But the main point I want to thank you about, is that you just talk about it!!!! I work in informatics, so my colleagues are nearly all male... not really the crowd I can share these things with. And finding testimonies is really hard! Thank you for sharing, it is so helpful thank you

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

You are so welcome!

[@sammybella6639]

@raising arrows - Amy Roberts. I am 11 months post-op and still have a pretty noticeable pulling sensation in my belly button when I stand up straight. Do you have this still? I was hoping I would be 100-percent healed by now but I don't know if this sensation will ever go away.

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

It took a couple of years actually for that feeling to go away, unfortunately. It's a long process, but you'll get there!

[@amybrown9589]

I have had 3!c sections and then robotic hysterectomy since have had my gallbladder out and that dr nicked an artery had to open me up vertically to fix a year later my hernia was so big I looked 9 months prego went to a different dr for robotic hernia repair had to open me up vertically again cause my intestines were attached to scar tissue from what you have now! And was told all my stomach muscle were not together and the dr tried his best to fix but not sure it would work well since then I look like I am prego so I assume it did not work. So I have called and left a message to see the surgeon again and last time he said I would have to see a specialist if it did not work!!

[@84sandre]

Hi! Thanks for sharing these super helpful videos. Do you have permanent nerve sensation loss above your scar? Thanks

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

No, not permanent. It felt weird for a very long time, but now, almost 3 years out, it all feels normal.

[@courtneyjames8223]

I don't know how I'm going to deal with this surgery . I never had children before but Im overweight..I wonder if the doctor will see my abdominals so tightly.. standing up straight is what I'm worried about because I work a labor intense job..that I use my legs and back all day..I have to bend pull patients around..help patients stand up..it's so easy for someone that sit all day but me I'm terrified I may need 3 months off work

[@marythomas1127]

@AmyRaisingArrows I know your husband is a soldier as is mine and so you were having to work within the TriCare insurance system...I am curious, did you have TriCare Prime and did you work within the military hospital providers, or did you have TriCare select, or go out of network? Just wondering the ins and outs of that part because we currently have Prime because it pays at 100 percent for all our routine care for us and our many kiddos, but I am wondering if for purposes of having the surgery done I might be better off switching to Select so we can go to an off-base provider.

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

So, I thought it was going to work out but Tricare is super wishy-washy about the surgery and sometimes covers and sometimes does not. I ended up not getting it covered. So, I would definitely try to do some research first. Don't go by hearsay. And whoever your surgeon ends up being, make sure they code the surgery properly so it doesn't show as cosmetic.

[@crystol2050]

I am almost 6 month post OP also and I have what feels like swelling or muscle repair still healing, but I'm not sure. I believe I also have a very weak core for the same reasons you stated in your video, but my surgeon never mentioned it would be an issue down the road. I'm concerned about the rigid feeling or hardness right below my belly button in the middle where muscle repair was done. I wondered if my MR was coming undone but they said it's very unlikely that would happen. I still am numb in that area and am just wondering if maybe I'm a very slow healer in that area. Would love to hear back from you to get your thoughts because I feel like we might be the same in this issue.

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

It took a very long time for everything to feel "normal" and I still have some numbness all these years later. I too was terrified I was going to mess it all up, but I didn't. I did do the Tummy Team exercises to help me strengthen my core and I am still careful with how I get up and down from bed or a chair. But all in all, it has healed beautifully!

[@micah1754]

@@AmyRaisingArrowsdo you feel like you have full strength back now and could do heavy weightlifting ? I’m a man and looking at getting this surgery . Extremely nervous about it

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

@@micah1754 Yes, I do have my full strength back and then some!

[@micah1754]

@@AmyRaisingArrows so pleased to hear that!! I've been offered a slot next month and am trying to decide if I take it

[@njcamocutie7085]

Love to see ya now..I was wondering if you would share your doctor?

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

Sorry - she's no longer practicing.

[@radiantrenee406]

I am 7days post op... Im sitting back smiling because my 6 month mark in dead smack middle of summer... bikinis will be my daily attire🤭... ( I live in a beach community and I'm self employed so no dress code)

[@KetoChaos]

Have things ever improved? I am having a similar situation with tenderness above the BB. I DID have the vertical tummy tuck. I also had 8 babies and was obese for 20 years. I wondered if you ever got that sewn up. I try to do ab workouts but it is so painful right above the BB.

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

So far, no. My surgeon left her practice for a time, and I just haven't looked for anyone else. With having that kind of pain, I would definitely have it looked at!

[@KetoChaos]

@@AmyRaisingArrows Are you still having pain? I wonder if mine is just muscle laxity or if I should push to have it looked at.

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

@@KetoChaos no, no pain at this point.

[@veronicalode9827]

Looks amazing!

[@racheldoyle43]

I’m so happy to have come across ur videos I thought I was going mad nobody understands I’ve had 5 kids the last two were c sections I’ve have a belly that looks 6-7 months pregnant it get me down so my after my last child I ended up getting two large blood clots on my lungs my is also really bad and it started to hurt my back coming from my tummy is the anything I could buy to pull it in I’m in Ireland and can’t have surgery as I’m to frightened something to just pull it in thanks also when I lay flat and sit back up it’s like a long big dome in my tummy 💐

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

((HUGS))

[@rachelhoyle5728]

Hi Rachel! We have similar names, lol. I’m about to go through this surgery next month. I would gently encourage you to work up your courage to go through with the surgery if you can. You won’t regret it in the long run. I am very similar to Amy, had 6 total pregnancies and one was a twin pregnancy, had two c-sections, 10+ finger gap, etc. I’m tired of not being able to get up and down normally, not being able to lift like I used to, and I know certain employers won’t hire me with my issues. If I fix them, my job and playing with my kids would be so much easier. I still need to lose weight, but I have lost 50 pounds (just under 23 kilos) in 10 months. I plan on taking the next 12 months to lose another 40-50 pounds.

[@sistertujuana4834]

Wow, I’m so glad you’re happy with your surgery results. Like others in the comments, I would like to see another update just to see if you’re feeling stronger, or the healing has produced any more ease or complications. I’m also wondering if you paid anything at all out of pocket (after I read that your insurance did pay for the surgery)..?

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

I did end up having to pay some out of pocket, but not much. Definitely going to try to get a new video up!

[@amaladaisy100]

As I saw the reply in all comments I need to ask, is it difficult to over come the pain of surgery n is there any weight gain only because of surgery. Pl do reply

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

As long as I stayed up on my meds, the pain was manageable. And yes, I was quite swollen for a good long while, but no real weight gain.

[@justicewarrior6600]

Hi Amy, I've got the same problem...just curious, was this an expensive procedure?

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

It can be. However, my surgeon was super reasonable. She was recommended by my OBGYN because she is who they use for breast reconstruction.

[@janedoe124]

I think this is what I have going on. I have had this alien baby....funny you called it that because I always have too...lol I have had this since the birth of my first child 23 years ago. I had another baby 10 years later. No one has ever been able to tell me what this is. After my first child was born the OB said that it was probably a hernia. It would poke out when I sat up from lying down about the size of a baseball. Now it is about the size of a cantaloupe I'd say. My belly looks like yours did in your before photos, though I am bigger than you are. I can't feel the gap you mentioned. My abdomen above my belly button where it protrudes is hard when the thing pops out. Hard like a baby feels when you are pregnant. Was yours hard as well? What state is your surgeon located in? I'm in Georgia. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I have been this way so long and I hate it. I just want to be as normal as I can be again. Also, I have a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast scheduled. Will D R show up on that?

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

My belly was hard (basically all of your innards are pushing outward!). I don't know if it would show up on a CT scan, sorry.

[@faiza5507]

I respect you for ur honest talks It so helpful n eye-opener n encouraging to similar women who feel hopeless due to diastesis How can i get in touch wt u one to one Love from India

[@nadaabd-elmaksoud6748]

I had a diastasis recti after my first son 4 years ago it was only 3 fingers .. and i tried to fix it with workouts but i didnt be constant , so i was very disappointed and i get pregnant again .. now my daughter is 1 years old and my diastasis recti is 4 fingers apart .. and i am very disappointed Is any hope to heal it without Sergey coz i want to have more babies :( Any help ??

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

I REALLY like the exercises from The Tummy Team. You can check out The Tummy Team here - online.thetummyteam.com/?ref=206 (my affiliate link)

[@phyllisingram1167]

Did your insurance pay for this?

[@AmyRaisingArrows]

My insurance did pay for it, but it was a fight to prove it wasn't purely cosmetic.

[@nessiegeorge8054]

Amy, I have a severe DR also some hernia. Super painful around belly button, before your surgery did you have lower back pain, any pain in the recti muscles or heaviness ?

[@rettpanda6203]

❤