44 Years Old, 3 Kids, Recurring Hernias and Severe Diastasis

it is hard to believe that all of this started less than a year ago. I am so comfortable in my new, healthy, whole body that I almost don't remember what it felt like to have to hold my tummy to run because of the hernias and the gap from the abdominal wall separation. It seems as though all of that was just a bad dream.

I do sometimes still look at myself in the mirror and think that what i see is astonishing, surprising, but I'm getting used to that,too. I have had to rethink my fashion choices while keeping my style intact because my shape is different. I have always enjoyed thinking about clothes though,so that's not a problem.

I am back to yoga in full force enjoying my daily practice with a much better core! I no longer have back pain at all. That might be the best part of this. I have had no difficulty at all really.

Now for the negatives: I still don't have much feeling in the area between my navel and my scar. It seems to be returning, but extremely slowly. Maybe next year. And on the subject of my scar; it is very prominent. It's thin, but dark, and I'm pretty sure that it will never fade completely. I knew of that being probable going into this, though, and I am completely able to cover it even in a bikini, and of course my husband doesn't care. I wasn't able to successfully use the scar treatments because of an allergy to the adhesive so Dr. Kim suggested plain old cocoa butter. It helps, so I'll keep using it, but it will probably take years.

Generally, it was completely worth it! I'll post photos at the year mark.

I hope everyone is healing well and enjoying their results as much as i am!
Happy holidays!

I'm not quite sure how far out I am. I had my 3 month follow up on March 13, so I'm guessing I'm about 3.5 months post - op? Generally, I feel great. At 12 weeks I started yoga daily, but I overdid it and strained a muscle. I've recently felt much better, so I think that I'll get back at it tomorrow. I am not nearly as flexible as I used to be through my stomach, but hopefully it will get better. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the whole process and very glad that I went through with it!

It's been a while since I updated. I am 8 weeks post-op and I'm still undergoing some changes, as expected. I have been back at work since mid-January. I am comfortable with working the whole day and my stamina is great. I have been walking a lot for exercise. Due to my hernia repair I am not allowed to engage my core until 12 weeks, but walking and a bit of jogging are doing me right.

I think that 6 weeks was the turning point for me. I still swell a bit in the evenings, but I generally feel much more comfortable. I have gotten out of the velcro binder for the past two days and am wearing spanx type garments to work. It seems fine. I do swell a bit by day's end and I'm back in the binder as soon as I get home and shower, but I think I'm doing that more for my psychological comfort more than my physical discomfort.

My belly button was concerning for a bit, and I continue to be concerned. It does not look like a belly button to me, but the PA assures me that it's normal. It does not resemble my pre-surgery belly button at all, nor does it resemble the belly button that I had when I was younger before my 1st hernia repair. I spent a lot of time looking at belly button pictures, and I guess it's nice, it's just not what I'm used to.

I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to yoga, but I'm taking it slowly. I'm fairly certain that I'll be ready by week 12. All in all, I'm very pleased with the way that I feel.