Re: Chuck - Total Pancreatectomy and Surgical Diabetes

[Guest guest]

Chuck, I have no problem with you emailing me

directly. Hope this finds you feeling better.

Starla

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

> 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

>

>

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