A Transformative Experience.

I have a lot to say and will try to keep it (somewhat) short. To start. I am the proud mother of two very active boys ages 5 & 7. My first child weighed 9lbs 12oz. I am 5’8” and, when not pregnant, weighed/weigh 140. I was always a bit overweight in my 20s and lost a lot of weight when I turned 30 and maintained it. I gained a lot when I was pregnant and worked hard to get back to pre baby weight. But, after my second child and all the way down to 132, I realized my stomach was weird. I was doing 200 sit ups a night and still it teepeed and hung out. I thought about how much bigger I looked during my second pregnancy even though I gained the same weight…This is when I figured out I had diastasis recti.

I did a ton of research. I spoke to every friend, went on every site. It was apparent to me that, unless I had surgery, this was a battle I would never win…but I had never had surgery. I was close to someone who lost a loved one to a bad cosmetic surgery, I DIDN’T EVEN GET BOTOX!! Why would I risk my life just because I looked pregnant at night? But I was so bummed. I am a professional who works with very high profile people and had to look good, be out, be photographed, etc. It got to me every day and night that I got ready. But I always came back to; I adore my kids how could I risk surgery for vanity? The DR got worse and worse. I had a trainer but couldn’t do most of the stomach exercises. I looked pregnant by lunchtime now. I ate a big meal and it looked awful. My back hurt. My confidence was down and I was ashamed I was so vain.

Cut to June of 2020 deep in the pandemic, managing a staff of 200 from my house, firing people, being stressed, home schooling…and I got a UTI. And another, and another. Between June 2020 and September 2021 I had 8. I had the most diligent, amazing doctor who was worried that my umbilical hernia (from the DR) had trapped my bowels-which can easily happen-and caused the UTIs. I went to the hernia doctor and she discussed my DR and told me about Dr. Rady Rahban. (We figured out the cause of the UTIs which was left over pregnancy woes and and the DR/lack of a core weakening the wall and allowing e. Coli in. Oh, and I have scoliosis which is not supported when you have no core which made it all worse). That is how I found my way onto Real Self and in a google wormhole about Dr. Rahban.

I cannot say enough. I am lucky to live in LA and have access to amazing surgeons but I have also seen some real scary ones. My hernia doctor, my urologist, my GP, my ostheopath, ALL told me he was the best. Me being me, that kind of made me skeptical. So I went in ready to not like him and sure I wasn’t actually going to do it. It starts with his staff. Every single woman there is caring, kind, efficient. They answered every question. Got me on a cancellation list and in way faster than I thought. They let me freak out even on the call when I scheduled the consultation. They listened and then walked me through the surgery, the recovery, all of it. I have seen offices where the staff are in awe of the surgeon but this surgeon is also completely in awe of his staff. And THAT is the environment you want. The appointment was thorough and thoughtful. I knew he was a wizard the second I stripped down and stood there. I was really trying to push him to tell me I medically HAD to do this. The other drs in my life told me THEY wanted me to because of my quality of life, the hernia issues, etc. But Dr. Rahban wanted me to embrace that it was ok to do even if I didn’t medically have to; that there was no shame in being a 44 year old, fit woman who didn’t want to look pregnant. I got in my car and cried and asked Sally to put me on the surgery waitlist. My husband was so happy as he had been advocating this for a year. We are an active family who hike, surf, etc. and he saw us having that life for many years and knew, without a core, it wouldn’t be as easy. He hated me being so upset every time I got dressed. But, most important, he really thought the medical issues were tied to the DR and so did I.

Sally got me scheduled for Jan 3. It was the height of Omicron and my family sacrificed socializing with anyone from December 19th on. We podded up with another family and everyone was AMAZING. They supported me in eating healthy, and prepping, in staying Covid free. I felt SO LOVED and supported. We have a guesthouse and my bestie came from NYC and stayed with us for the week before and the week after. She and I bought everything we needed (including an adjustable bed on Amazon) and set it all up to be my recovery space. With two cuddly, rambunctious boys and a dog who is 60lbs and sleeps on the bed…we wanted to have some space where I could be separate but I really didn’t want to be at a recovery facility and miss the kids or risk Omicron.

The surgery day was scary. My husband couldn’t come in because of Covid but the second Dr. Rahban’s nurse came in I felt assured and calm. They give you meds to calm you and they totally worked! Dr. Rahban arrived chatty and fun and totally on it. He drew on me. Walked me through the procedure again and let me know I would be so happy with the results.

I woke up in ZERO pain. I started to feel a bit nauseous and she gave me a Zofran and it worked. (I have a high pain tolerance but get nauseous VERY easily). My bestie and hubby picked me up and I rode home in the front seat. I was chatty, alert, SO HAPPY it was over, and in zero pain. A few hours after getting situated in our set up I was trying to follow protocol and took the narcotic to stay ahead of the pain as I had been warned the anesthesia would wear off. This was a bad idea lol. I was immediately nauseous. I puked and had a cough after my c-section and knew how painful it is after a surgery like that. I had a cough before this surgery and was scared to death of the first cough to come after anesthesia and the idea of puking was even worse. We had bought these amazing puke bags that make it not smell and I had it at the ready. Thank god I had a liquid diet 36 hours before surgery (GP’s advice due to how hard the first BM can be and it was great advice). I also HATED how the narcotic was making me feel I got sick and it was not awful. But that was the end of the narcotics for me! From then on it was some Tylenol cough and cold at night (half a dose for only 3 days) and nothing during the day. I had NO PAIN. We had hired nurses for the first 24 hours (both failed their rapid tests when they got to my house!!) so it was just us. My best friend was amazing. She did the drains, kept the records, called the office when we had questions, got me food…it was so sweet and made it so easy. The kids came to visit intermittently (they were back in school so that helped) and were gentle and on their best behavior. It was the best of both worlds to be near them but with distance. The dog made it on the bed (gingerly as if she knew) on day two…there was no keeping her out. When I got so nauseous on the narcotic I called the office after hours and Dr Rabahn called me immediately. He checked on me the next day. They were ALWAYS available. The follow up appointments were thorough and thoughtful. The second the week one binder came off and the drains came out…I was in shock. I could not believe my flat stomach!! And it felt strong! Even tho it was numb it was so amazing for my insides to be back inside!

The only thing I want to point out that I did not fully grasp…it is a real 6 weeks of sleeping on your back (cheap, adjustable bed from amazon and cheap mattress SAVED me). It is hard to be so still and do NO exercise or walks for 6 weeks. However, I had so much less swelling than other posts and people whom I know who did this surgery. FOLLOW DR. RAHBAN’S PROTOCOL!! It works! But it is tedious…so just be prepared.

I cannot say enough how lucky I feel. How lucky to have a husband and kids who were so sweet and patient and encouraging. A friend who gave up all that time to be with us. Friends who visited and hung out and checked on me. Doctors who told me I should do this now while I am young and healthy. And…the MVP…Dr. Rahban and his team. They are amazing and I am so happy to have my body back. I feel strong and svelte and confident. I cannot recommend this surgery enough.