Amelia - Autistic Michigander

I’ve noticed since I had my surgery…..

My back pain has reduced by at least 50%. I’ve considered that this is partly because I’m “taking it easy” after surgery. But I’ve spoken to others who’ve had this procedure done and went online……. it sounds like this is a common observation.

I was dealing with a “little” bladder leakage before surgery. It is 100% gone. No, I am NOT exaggerating. I have not had one occurrence in the past 4 weeks.

My hip and pelvic pain is reduced by MORE than 50%. Being that I have HSD, I still deal with hip subluxations. But I’m not really dealing with the hip pain that came just from standing or sitting in place too long.

My lower ribs are no longer causing me pain. I was dealing with pressure, migration, and my abdominal fat was herniating under and behind my ribs……. pushing them out and causing extreme discomfort when they popped back into place. This happened most often when I was driving.

I have had no issues with constipation or IBS since my surgery.

It’s interesting that I’m seeing all these benefits from a procedure that is more often than not painted as cosmetic.

I am lucky that insurance covered it 100%. I know this is a blessing. This is privilege. I am lucky.

I am looking forward to when I’m better healed and I can do physical therapy again.

Because I am curious to see how fixing 14 inches of damaged muscle(causing hernia) will impact my ability to do my PT exercises properly. If I can do them correctly, I assume I will see more progress.

Don’t let anyone tell you that diastasis recti isn’t a big deal, is purely cosmetic, or that weight loss and exercise will simply fix it.

I’ve been dealing with it since my first(big ass) baby.

I did all the things. I lost weight. I did the exercises. It still existed and still caused me a lot of issues that were ignored by medical professionals or they’d insist were caused by something else.

They wouldn’t even acknowledge the length of damage in my abdominal muscles.

I went to 3 general surgeons who’d insist that my hernia was less than 4 inches long and could be repaired with mesh.

I went to a plastic surgeon who was willing to fix it without mesh.

My surgery was 3.5 hours long. When they went in, the damage was far worse than 4 inches and according to my surgeon, there was NO WAY that was getting properly fixed with a mesh.

Had I went with a general surgeon and had a mesh, it was highly likely I’d have a reoccurrence.

I needed 14 inches of repair. This was below and above my belly button.

The recovery truly sucks but I’m glad that I finally got this done.

I wish that I was able to get it done sooner.

While it’s perfectly okay to get an abdominoplasty for cosmetic reasons, I’m really disgusted that the medical benefits are glossed over so much.

Recovery update 🤗

I had another follow up appointment with the surgeon this morning. They took my last drain out and approved me to go back to work on the 18th 🙌🏻

I’ll have restrictions of course. But that will only be for 8 weeks.

This week was mostly boring and uneventful.

However, we had a turtle visitor in our yard the other day and I ran into a large bird family in the Sam’s Club parking lot this morning.

And we got some hail here in Michigan this morning 🤔

I’m excited to get back to work and see my coworkers on Monday ❤️

When it’s almost midnight and you’re craving an everything bagel with cream cheese , dill pickles, and crumbled bacon