So remember high school anatomy?

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » October 6, 2007 2:33 pm

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/05/ap ... pstoryview

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.

That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » October 6, 2007 4:07 pm

I'm not sure if I have my appendix or not. Before a minor surgery when I was a kid, the Dr. had my Mom sign a form allowing him to remove mine, if the surgery dictated he was "in the area". He thought it would prevent future complications.

Nobody ever thought to ask him, till we came across copies of the forms years later.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » October 6, 2007 4:20 pm

Mine ruptured when I was 13...too many good germs?

pair8head · Post by **pair8head** » October 6, 2007 4:56 pm

I bid mine farewell a number of years ago, the doctor said it was within an hour or so of blowing out.

Conolulu · Post by **Conolulu** » October 6, 2007 5:11 pm

chippewa wrote:I'm not sure if I have my appendix or not. Before a minor surgery when I was a kid, the Dr. had my Mom sign a form allowing him to remove mine, if the surgery dictated he was "in the area". He thought it would prevent future complications. Nobody ever thought to ask him, till we came across copies of the forms years later.

that was standard procedure back then , Chip.....

and how I lost mine....

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » October 6, 2007 7:22 pm

Conolulu wrote:
chippewa wrote:I'm not sure if I have my appendix or not. Before a minor surgery when I was a kid, the Dr. had my Mom sign a form allowing him to remove mine, if the surgery dictated he was "in the area". He thought it would prevent future complications. Nobody ever thought to ask him, till we came across copies of the forms years later.

that was standard procedure back then , Chip.....

and how I lost mine....

Standard procedure, huh? Otherwise known as "padding the bill"?

Conolulu · Post by **Conolulu** » October 6, 2007 8:42 pm

chippewa wrote:
Conolulu wrote:
chippewa wrote:I'm not sure if I have my appendix or not. Before a minor surgery when I was a kid, the Dr. had my Mom sign a form allowing him to remove mine, if the surgery dictated he was "in the area". He thought it would prevent future complications. Nobody ever thought to ask him, till we came across copies of the forms years later.

that was standard procedure back then , Chip.....

and how I lost mine....
Standard procedure, huh? Otherwise known as "padding the bill"?

They explained is as.....

Well....we don't want her to have to have another surgery should she develop appendicitis so soon after having the (insert whatever you had removed)....It would be dangerous to go under sedation and in to another surgery so close.......(and my personal favorite) "And she doesn't need it anyway"

I was 17.

And it was before I went to MUSC to Nursing School...

CUparrot · Post by **CUparrot** » October 6, 2007 10:14 pm

Hopefully I didn't need those good germs either.......mine was yanked in 2001. Pretty darn close to rupturing, too.

citcat · Post by **citcat** » October 6, 2007 11:44 pm

I love my appendix.

It is my little wormy-shaped friend.

Gypsy In The Palace · Post by **Gypsy In The Palace** » October 7, 2007 1:37 am

Had mine removed at the same time when I had emergency surgery to remove part of my colon two years ago. Glad I never have to worry about it.

Snowparrot · Post by **Snowparrot** » October 7, 2007 8:32 am

When I had mine out a few years ago, aged 49, all the medical people were astonished and unbelieving that such an OLD person had an appendix. Apparently, in Europe, where we were living, everyone gets them out as kids, at the least twinge of internal problems!
I'm glad I got to keep mine so long.