Re: An Update on Missy

[Guest guest]

Hi Guys!

Jo, thanks for forwarding the email, still on baby watch, but wanted to

answer Vikki's questions:

1. Why are WLS patients more prone to bowel obstructions? Because of

the scar tissue that is growing at our operational sites. That's what Dr. K

explained. The bowel obstruction that almost killed me though, was from

having my gallbladder removed 17 years ago!!! It was a lap procedure, and

didn't expect any problems, but here we go. Scar tissue is a constantly

growing thing I guess.

2. What is redundant colon? Dr K explained his theory to me. Just

like the skin of our abdomen, the colon expands to accommodate the amount of

food we eat. After a certain age, the elasticity of our skin deteriorates

and therefore, the bowel's elasticity does too. So, after losing all the

weight, I had the intestines of a 328 pound woman inside the body of a 140

pound woman. There was no room, therefore, the colon started to fold over

on to itself, making the digestion of food " blocked " again. You should have

seen him. He evidently came out of the OR with that look he gets, like a

kid who just got a bag of candy for free or something, it was funny. He

came out to and said, using his hands " it was this long! " with a huge

smile on his face. My colon had stretched an extra three feet with all the

food I was ingesting and there was simply no elasticity in it left to go

back to it's original shape.

Hope that helps Vikki. Thank you for the prayers. I can use all I can get

right now! :-)

Melisa Rechenmacher

In Memory of

Corporal Wm. Rechenmacher

Killed in Action, Baghdad, Iraq,

January 7, 1983 - January 18, 2007

You are gone my sweet Nephew, but not forgotten

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/31/2008 9:12:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

plwboy1@... writes:

PS_ has anyone heard from Ann? Not Anne from Santee but the other Ann- my

fellow writer.

Positively Ann? Last time I talked to her she was still in school and things

were about the same. I need to email her.

Mel

**************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL

Home.

(http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15 & ncid=aolhom00030\

000000001)

[Guest guest]

Dear God thank you for letting her get through this. I have heard stories of

these things happening and it scares me when people dont recover from it. Shows

that even after years of this surgery, things can happen. That can happen anyway

but bowel obstructions are scary. Now why are DS patients more prone to bowel

obstructions? What is a redundant colon?

Thank you so much for letting us know how she is. I just sent a prayer up and

I hope she will keep in contact with us.

Vicki

PS_ has anyone heard from Ann? Not Anne from Santee but the other Ann- my

fellow writer.

Jo wrote:

I recently contacted Missy because we hadn't heard from her for a

time and I knew she had a recent DS anniversary. She said to " share "

her update so that is indeed what I'm doing. Her email follows.

Hi Jo!

Yes I just " celebrated " my WLS Anniversary, 6 years! I've had a

rough two years though. There was the bowel obstruction in Aug of 06

that came within three days of killing me (Dr K said), then in Mar of

07 I had to have three feet of redundant colon removed, then a week

after that, AV Hospital opened me up because of infection/leak, and

on my birthday in November Dr K opened me up again because of another

bowel obstruction caused, this time, by " copius amounts of scar

tissue. " Dee and Ara said it would take me a while to bounce back

from the 06 surgery because I was so malnourished and sick. So, add

the other surgeries on and it seemed to take forever!

However, I'm finally starting to feel much better, with energy, and

I'm slowly building my muscles back up. I had attempted to go back

to school (culinary) but after three months, it kicked my butt, then

I had surgery again. So, I was put on medical leave and haven't been

back since. I am currently awaiting the birth of my first

granddaughter! My oldest, Brittany got married in November, (I used

what little energy I had to cater some of the reception and make her

cake)and she and her husband , are expecting April 10th. We've

had a couple false alarms, but with your first, that happens a lot.

I've been asked to be babysitter while my daughter goes to school and

works, and my son-in-law does the same. I have no problem with that

now, as the energy is back. (DH) started a new job, working

for Virgin America, and he's been worried about me because he'll be

gone sometimes and he's gotten very protective of me. I had to prove

I was OK, and I think he believes me now. LOL

I'm in the process of starting up a PTO at my other daughter's school

(high school) and am active as a volunteer. My 17 year old just got

her license and car and my 16 year old is getting her permit.

Other than that, it's just living life as normally as I can! I love

those new protein waters and bars, as it gives me a taste of YUMMY

yet gives me protein too!

Please feel free to share my update…

Melisa Rechenmacher

In Memory of

Corporal Wm. Rechenmacher

Killed in Action, Baghdad, Iraq,

January 7, 1983 - January 18, 2007

You are gone my sweet Nephew, but not forgotten

**** and Vicki Plough ****