Re: Questions about pancreatectomy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/2003 2:47:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

jandcsmomma@... writes:

> My doctor has

> always said that it was only a last resort, when the pancreas was

> totally destroyed. He implied I wouldn't gain anything from this

> procedure. I am not so sure.

>

Hi Keri, your doctor is wrong. You would not wait until the pancreas is

destroyed because if the pancreas is destroyed then you wouldn't have islet

cells

to transplant in your liver. Being non diabetic is the right time to have the

surgery. As many islets as the doctors can retrieve the better to insure you

not becoming diabetic.

I had the TP/ICT December 8, 2000, before I had become diabetic. Therefore

after I had my surgery I was not diabetic. I am a mild diabetic now due to my

eating habits. I am 61 years old and my islets are sluggish. They work

really well but they wait for a while to kick in but once they kick in and do

their

job my bs goes down to a good range fast. After the TP/ICT I have no pain

what so ever. So you can see that your doctor is way off. If you wait to have

the pancreatectomy until your pancreas is completely destroyed then you won't

have those precious islets to transplant. If I can help you with anymore

questions just let me know. Shirley

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/2003 7:49:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, l10nx@...

writes:

>

> Since your stomach was not operated on, did you have a G-tube? The G-tube

> has the nice added benefit that you can uncap it and connect to a bag if

> you get sick to your stomach, and this will prevent throwing up.

>

> I wonder if the difference in approaches points towards regional style

> differences? I have heard surgeons at different medical centers will

> encorporate or leave out various procedures such that there will be

> differences in most any surgery depending upon where you get it done at.

>

>

Hi Bert, yes I had the G-tube but not for very long. I don't believe that

the difference in the cutting of the stomach is due to regional style. We were

told that I didn't have my stomach cut because it was not adhered to the

pancreas. Dr. Sutherland said that sometimes the pancreas is adhered to the

stomach like the peel of an onion. He was very happy that he didn't have to cut

my

stomach. He said the surgery went really well.

I am so glad that your surgery is behind you and you are doing so well. From

what you tell me The University of Cincinnati Hospital and Dr. Ahmad are

doing a great job.

Did you meet or did Dr. Rilo work with your case? Did he harvest the islets?

Did Dr. Ahmad do the surgery? I used to correspond with Dr. Rilo thru

e-mail. He lives very close to me. Who do you go to the hospital for check

ups?

Who is you internist or family doctor?

Keep on improving Bert and soon you will be eating full meals and taking your

life back again. I am soooooooooooooo happy for you. Isn't it wonderful not

having attacks and all that goes with them? Sometimes I remember back to

when my life was completely taken over by my pancreas attacks, blood infections,

TPN, illness after illness and I am amazed that I lived thru it. Now I

rejoice that all of that is behind me and I thank God every day for the gift he

has

given me. Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Bert,

I think it is a big plus that you can go back to your surgeon for

check ups. Having my surgery in MN gives me a feeling that I am left alone for

the answers I need sometimes. If I call MN for a question they tell me to see

my doctor here in Cincinnati. My doctors here don't know the answers to the

questions I have about my islets etc. When I am prescribed a new drug for

some illness like the flu etc. I always want to know for sure that the drugs

will

not harm my islets. Dr. Sutherland is so busy saving lives I know that he

can't take care of every patient he has had in the past. On occasion he does

answer my questions but I try to not bother him. But I do wish I could call his

office and schedule an appointment when I need questions answered.

I don't understand why you still have tubes attacked to your body. How long

were you in the hospital? Why did they allow you to go home when you still

have tubes? I was completely free of tubes when I left MN. What are the tubes

for? Like you said I guess each hospital and doctor has there own procedure.

Bert the bloating will pass. No pun intended. When you eat do you feel a

lot of movement in your stomach? A lot of rumbling? That will get better. How

much are you able to eat at a meal? Nosy aren't I? LOLOL I sure hope you

feel better very soon Bert.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Shirely,

You aren't nosey and talking to you about this helps me externalize my

thoughts. This is great for me.

I had the surgery on May 15 and was released from the hospital May 24. I

still have the G and the J tubes. The doc said they will be removed in an

office visits in 4 weeks from now. He said to remove them to soon prevents

the deeper healing from taking place. He said removed to soon I'd always

have the holes from the tubes.

The bloating like everything gets a little better everyday. I eat 3 small

meals and 1 small snack daily. I am eating food that adheres to the

diabetic diet and my portions are a little on the small side but not too

far from normal. Today things worked well. I felt like my stomach is waking

up and moving food better.

Also my blood sugar is trending downward! Today I had 110, 105, 98, and

101!!! I am starting to get hopeful that my islet cells are starting to

" assert " themselves. Maybe I will get off insulin after all!

Its great to be able to see the surgeon. This was a big decision I made,

and he felt strongly about it and did his best to encourage me to do it.

Therefore, I expect him to support me in my aftercare. I expressed concerns

about being abandonded after surgery and how that would not be acceptable

and he said he sees all of his Total Pancs personally. I will say that I

often feel like he doesn't give me his full attention but I assert myself

and repeat myself and make sure we get on the same page. That can be

frustrating but surgeons just tend to be that way. They have high self

confidence, they are very aware of the latest greatest medical facts and

theories. But they do need to listen to the patient fully.

Since you limit your calls to Dr. Sutherland, what doctor do you rely on to

help you? Does this doctor have a copy of your medical records from the

surgery? Do they feel comfortable in treating someone without a pancreas? I

know when I move away from Cincinnati, getting a good primary care will be

a challenge. Having gone through the idiopathic pancreatitis gauntlet for 3

years I have learned to educate myself, learned to fight for proper care,

so I think I will be fine.

health!

Bert