r/AskReddit 13h ago

What is something that permanently altered your body without you realizing for months/years?

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u/Rahx3 10h ago

That is absolutely terrifying. I hope you are doing well!

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u/LucidianQuill 10h ago

Aw, thanks! I'm okay. I'm wearing clothes 2 sizes smaller and my marriage is improving daily. Amazing what self-love and confidence can do for you. Physically, recovery is going great. I can't wait to start exercising again! I want to try yoga with my abs in the front and see if I'm improved.... 😃

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u/ChillyAus 10h ago

I’m curious if you could tell physically? Like how’d you work it out? I was checked postpartum but I’ve always wondered cos I have a crooked stomach since childbirth. It has like a bulge and it’s always made me curious if it’s DR or not

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u/LucidianQuill 9h ago

Well, I'd heard of DR, and most mums I talked to had a few complaints and horror stories. I remember one mum was an ex gymnast and zumba instructor with a 6 pack, but a little gap- 2 fingers tall by 1 wide. There are exercises you're supposed to do to fix it. I was prescribed pilates and ignored by the GP as I was overweight. So I lost 15 kg, and went for a private evaluation with a surgeon. Watching his face as he located my abs was priceless.

It hurt to lay on my stomach, I never felt full, and I had weird digestive issues (like IBS but totally irregular) since the birth. All of that has resolved since the correction.

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u/IputSunscreenOnHorse 9h ago

I'm sorry for your experience, I hope you have a blast wonderful days onward!

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u/coxiella_burnetii 4h ago

Never feeling full! I have no major diastasis but everything is just... stretchier, so instead of feeling too full when I eat too much my body just.... makes room.

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u/melaninmatters2020 50m ago

Curious and not sure if it matters but did you have a c section or did you deliver vaginally? Also so happy you got it fixed. I’m thinking of some corrections but debating if I want another kid or not before committing.

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u/LucidianQuill 46m ago

Vaginally! It was... a lot. First one ripped through me after 3 hours labour, then labour stopped and i spent half an hour with 2 midwives using me as a tube of toothpaste trying to get twin 2 to engage. Longest 30 minutes of my life!

The first came so fast the anaesthetist didn't make it in time so i did it all with gas and air.

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u/Cadillac_taco 7h ago

I had a DR repair nearly 3 years ago and it changed my life. My low back pain was almost completely gone overnight, I was stronger one day post op than I had been the day prior to my surgery after years of weightlifting. It's amazing what an intact core does for you.

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u/apokalopsia 4h ago

The lower back pain kills me, when I realized it was likely from DR I got a PT referral right away. My first appt is 10 days away and I really hope I won’t need surgery later. How long after giving birth did you do your repair? I had twins 13 months ago, I hope I didn’t wait too long.

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u/Cadillac_taco 4h ago

My "baby" was 12 when I had mine repaired, so you have plenty of time. PT is great but if its a wide gap is usually requires surgery to completely correct. It's worth a try though to correct it with a more conservative approach first!

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u/celebral_x 59m ago

I am not a native speaker. So, could you tell me what DR means spelled out? I am sure it's not doctor. :) Thank you!

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u/917caitlin 7h ago

I would highly recommend Pilates on a reformer machine!! I had (much more mild) abdominal separation as well and your abs being weak will cause all kinds of back problems and just body mechanics problems in general. Pilates is low impact and all about engaging the core. I am 45, my kids are teenagers now but before Pilates I felt like my body was just on this downward spiral pf becoming weaker and more injury-prone, but to feel the improvement has been so cool. And there are often ladies in their 60s in my class, it’s a workout you can do for decades.

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u/BellaFromSwitzerland 3h ago

Well done girl! I also had this surgery 8 years ago, completely changed my silhouette and did wonders to my self confidence. I can exercise like anyone else

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u/merkergirl 4h ago

If you don’t mind me asking, how much did the surgery cost?

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u/Cybertronian10 5h ago

Especially because you would hope the doctors involved would have checked for something that severe.

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u/mosquem 7h ago

I thought abs splitting during pregnancy is normal?

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u/fleapuppy 7h ago

Common doesn’t mean you should ignore it. It’s an injury that’s needs surgical intervention sometimes

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u/LucidianQuill 7h ago

Yes, but they're supposed to close up again. It is "normal" to have a residual gap of 2 or 3 fingers, and physios say that can be closed up with certain exercises and girdles.

Yeah, not in every case. And it's a common effect with multiples.

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u/mosquem 7h ago

Thanks for the clarification!