Re: Chuck - Total Pancreatectomy and Surgical Diabetes

August 30, 2002

Chuck,

My fiance had 90% of his pancrease removed and is now

a Type 1 diabetic. He was not aware that he had

pancreatitis until he was admitted to the hosp. on Feb

17th of this year for severe pain. In late March the

necrotic sections of his pancrease were removed, and

the surgeon estimated that he had approx 10% of his

pancrease remaining, and was finally released from the

hosp. on July 2nd. He was not diabetic prior to this

illness/surgery, and has now been diagnosed as a type

1 diabetic. As to your questions, he does have

problems with vision and circulation. His hands and

feet are often cold, and he was a very hot natured

person prior to this illness. As to the healing

issue, it is still too early to tell. He has not had

a pump implanted. He takes a nightly injection of

Lantus (a long acting insulin) and an injection of

humalog (fast acting insulin) prior to each meal and

usually again at bedtime. If I can provide you with

any other information, please let met know.

Starla

--- Chuck Sullivan chuck@...> wrote:

> Do we have anyone on our maillist that has had a

> Total Pancreatectomy? I

> am not interested in the folks that have had the

> Islet Cell Transplant

> since that is a different issue. I am looking to

> find someone who has gone

> through the surgery and now has Type I Surgical

> Diabetes.

>

> I am interested to find out your current quality of

> life. Have you had a

> pump implanted? How often do you have to check your

> blood sugar? Do you

> have problems with vision, circulation or healing?

>

> I am considering having the rest of my Pancreas

> removed and am very afraid

> of what my life would become afterward.

>

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Chuck

>

> Chuck Sullivan

> chuck@...

>

> " When in command, Take charge. When faced with a

> decision, do what is

> right. Nothing else matters. " - Gen. Norman

> Schwarzkopf

>

__________________________________________________

August 30, 2002

Chuck,

My fiance had 90% of his pancrease removed and is now

a Type 1 diabetic. He was not aware that he had

pancreatitis until he was admitted to the hosp. on Feb

17th of this year for severe pain. In late March the

necrotic sections of his pancrease were removed, and

the surgeon estimated that he had approx 10% of his

pancrease remaining, and was finally released from the

hosp. on July 2nd. He was not diabetic prior to this

illness/surgery, and has now been diagnosed as a type

1 diabetic. As to your questions, he does have

problems with vision and circulation. His hands and

feet are often cold, and he was a very hot natured

person prior to this illness. As to the healing

issue, it is still too early to tell. He has not had

a pump implanted. He takes a nightly injection of

Lantus (a long acting insulin) and an injection of

humalog (fast acting insulin) prior to each meal and

usually again at bedtime. If I can provide you with

any other information, please let met know.

Starla

--- Chuck Sullivan chuck@...> wrote:

> Do we have anyone on our maillist that has had a

> Total Pancreatectomy? I

> am not interested in the folks that have had the

> Islet Cell Transplant

> since that is a different issue. I am looking to

> find someone who has gone

> through the surgery and now has Type I Surgical

> Diabetes.

>

> I am interested to find out your current quality of

> life. Have you had a

> pump implanted? How often do you have to check your

> blood sugar? Do you

> have problems with vision, circulation or healing?

>

> I am considering having the rest of my Pancreas

> removed and am very afraid

> of what my life would become afterward.

>

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Chuck

>

> Chuck Sullivan

> chuck@...

>

> " When in command, Take charge. When faced with a

> decision, do what is

> right. Nothing else matters. " - Gen. Norman

> Schwarzkopf

>

__________________________________________________

August 30, 2002

Chuck,

My fiance had 90% of his pancrease removed and is now

a Type 1 diabetic. He was not aware that he had

pancreatitis until he was admitted to the hosp. on Feb

17th of this year for severe pain. In late March the

necrotic sections of his pancrease were removed, and

the surgeon estimated that he had approx 10% of his

pancrease remaining, and was finally released from the

hosp. on July 2nd. He was not diabetic prior to this

illness/surgery, and has now been diagnosed as a type

1 diabetic. As to your questions, he does have

problems with vision and circulation. His hands and

feet are often cold, and he was a very hot natured

person prior to this illness. As to the healing

issue, it is still too early to tell. He has not had

a pump implanted. He takes a nightly injection of

Lantus (a long acting insulin) and an injection of

humalog (fast acting insulin) prior to each meal and

usually again at bedtime. If I can provide you with

any other information, please let met know.

Starla

--- Chuck Sullivan chuck@...> wrote:

> Do we have anyone on our maillist that has had a

> Total Pancreatectomy? I

> am not interested in the folks that have had the

> Islet Cell Transplant

> since that is a different issue. I am looking to

> find someone who has gone

> through the surgery and now has Type I Surgical

> Diabetes.

>

> I am interested to find out your current quality of

> life. Have you had a

> pump implanted? How often do you have to check your

> blood sugar? Do you

> have problems with vision, circulation or healing?

>

> I am considering having the rest of my Pancreas

> removed and am very afraid

> of what my life would become afterward.

>

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Chuck

>

> Chuck Sullivan

> chuck@...

>

> " When in command, Take charge. When faced with a

> decision, do what is

> right. Nothing else matters. " - Gen. Norman

> Schwarzkopf

>

__________________________________________________

August 30, 2002

Thank you so much for the reply, Starla. My wife and I have become very

discouraged lately by a series of several small Acute attacks that just

keep escalating the usual daily pain I have from my Chronic

Pancreatitis. Since I had already had an extreme Whipple (over 3/4 of my

pancreas removed) three years ago I was turned down for the Islet Cell

Transplant. My GI doc is very highly qualified and he has recommended

removing the rest of the organ. I am just too scared of being a brittle

diabetic to take the plunge. My pancreas is still producing insulin but I

have been showing some signs of hypoglycemia besides fighting the side

effects of all the pain meds I am on (I am having a terrible time trying to

stay awake and alert enough to write this note). It may be time to give in.

Do you mind if I email you directly if I have an specific questions? (I'll

understand if you say no. The net can be a pretty wicked place.)

Chuck

At 10:55 AM 8/30/2002 -0700, you wrote:

>Chuck,

>

>My fiance had 90% of his pancrease removed and is now

>a Type 1 diabetic. He was not aware that he had

>pancreatitis until he was admitted to the hosp. on Feb

>17th of this year for severe pain. In late March the

>necrotic sections of his pancrease were removed, and

>the surgeon estimated that he had approx 10% of his

>pancrease remaining, and was finally released from the

>hosp. on July 2nd. He was not diabetic prior to this

>illness/surgery, and has now been diagnosed as a type

>1 diabetic. As to your questions, he does have

>problems with vision and circulation. His hands and

>feet are often cold, and he was a very hot natured

>person prior to this illness. As to the healing

>issue, it is still too early to tell. He has not had

>a pump implanted. He takes a nightly injection of

>Lantus (a long acting insulin) and an injection of

>humalog (fast acting insulin) prior to each meal and

>usually again at bedtime. If I can provide you with

>any other information, please let met know.

>

>Starla

Chuck Sullivan

chuck@...

" When in command, Take charge. When faced with a decision, do what is

right. Nothing else matters. " - Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf

August 30, 2002