Rochelle Deanna McLean, the estranged wife of Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean, has revealed she was hospitalised this week after suffering from severe abdominal pain. The 44-year-old hairstylist shared details of her medical emergency on social media, explaining she underwent urgent surgery for a serious condition she had never previously encountered.
Emergency Hospital Admission and Diagnosis
Rochelle posted a selfie from her hospital bed on Friday, giving a thumbs-up to her followers while wearing a blue hospital gown. She described experiencing an "extremely bloated belly" and pain on the right side of her abdomen, which prompted her to visit the emergency room on Tuesday morning. Initially, she speculated the issue might be related to her appendix, but medical investigations revealed a more complex diagnosis.
Surgical Intervention for Twisted Colon
CT scan results showed Rochelle was suffering from a cecal volvulus, a condition involving a twisted and pinched colon. "I basically went straight into surgery after that to have the compromised part of my colon removed and the healthy sections sewn back together again," she explained to her concerned followers. The media personality admitted she had "never even heard" about this serious medical condition before her own experience.
Background of the McLean Relationship
Rochelle married AJ McLean in 2011, and the couple share two children: Elliott and Lyric. The Backstreet Boys singer, now 48, and his wife announced their separation in 2023, though they noted at the time they had no immediate plans to divorce. Late last year, AJ indicated that while they were not completely reconciled, the pair were moving "in the right direction" in their relationship.
Despite their marital separation, Rochelle's health crisis has drawn attention to her personal wellbeing. Her positive attitude during recovery, as demonstrated in her hospital selfie, has been noted by supporters. The condition she experienced, cecal volvulus, occurs when part of the colon twists around its mesentery, potentially cutting off blood supply and requiring prompt surgical intervention to prevent serious complications.
