Paula Rainey Update READ!

Hi All, I got a call from Paula today and she left a message on my answering machine saying she was heading to OSU and they were going to do a scope on her at 1:15 today. Paula has been having trouble with eating and last tuesday when she seen Dr. Mikami he gave her ulcer meds and said she either has an ulcer or stricture. At first he said he was going to do a scope then, but desided to just give her the meds to see how they worked first. They worked for about 3 hours then after that time she couldn't eat or drink without feeling sick. Yesterday when I talked to Paula she had a call into Dr. Mikami's office and was awaiting a return phone call. She said she was feeling better yesterday but on fri & sat she was doing really bad....couldn't keep anything down, she called the ER at OSU and they said she could come in on Sat and they would admit her and put her in IV's till she seen Dr. Mikami on Monday or she could just stay home and get ahold of his office Monday, so she just stayed home. She called and left a message last evening but I was a soccer practice with my sons. I tried to call her back but didn't get an answer. On her message today she said she wasn't able to keep anything down at all so off to OSU she was heading. She gave me her moms cell phone but i can't get through. She said the scope would take 2 1/2 hours to do. I ask that everyone please say a prayer for Paula and her family, that they find out what is wrong and are able to fix it with no more complications!! Thanks sooo much to all of you! Tabitha

Tabitha, Thank you for the update. I just wi**** could be more positive. I will keep Paula in my prayers. Tell her that I am thinking about her. Let me know if you find out anything else. Take Care and God Bless. Hugs, Julie

Julie, Paula just called me.......3:30pm and she is heading home, she did have a stricture, which I found out is when they bring your intestine up to your new pouch sometimes it becomes blocked and that is what happened to her. The signs are you can't eat or drink because there is no room to get even liquid down. They did fix it with no problems, she wasn't even in surgery, just a little sudated. She is allowed liquids tonight and can start on her pureed diet tomorrow!! She sounded very good and in good spirits and glad they fixed everything and of course shes sooo glad she went in! Now we know what to look out for if this happens to us!! Thanks again for the prayers!! Tabitha

Tabitha, Thank you so very much for your updates on Paula. I tried to call her yesterday and only got her answering machine. I am so happy that her surgeon fixed her up! Thanks again for all of the updates..what an Angel you are ! Mary

Glad to here Paula is doing well! She is such a sweet gal and is apart of our support group. I am keeping her in my prayers. Thanks for keeping all of us posted here. Karie

Thanks Tabitha! Yep those are the tell tale signs of a stricture. Sometimes where they join the jejunum to the new pouch there is an excess of scar tissue that forms, either causing a band of tissue on the inside or sometimes even a thin film of skin. Good reinforcement for all you newbies and pre ops! I will tell you tho, if you are unable to keep even liquids down, please don't wait, go into the ER. It's better to at least keep you hydrated until you can have it reopened. After surgery, you are already getting limited amounts of fluid in and it takes very little time to really cause you to get dehydrated. It's basically an outpatient procedure. They give you a little versaid and demerol, you get sleepy and don't remember a thing. Earl had one, and lordy he was a riot on that "happy juice"! I am glad she is doing ok. Thanks for the update! Val