Re : Hiya all

October 2, 2003

Hello Bert,

I have read all your posts going back to your surgery and I was

wondering how you were doing. I am delighted that you are doing so

well. I am scheduled to have a TP soon so I have been especially

interested in how the recovery went from this major operation. My

surgeon told me that it would be a full six months before I could

think of going back to work so I think you must have been doing

exceptionally well to even try to go back to work earlier! I live in

the UK by the way.

I wish you very well, Bert, in your health now and I'd like to thank

you for your posts which have been so informative to someone like

me; I have been considering this operation for several months now. I

haven't had acute attacks but my pain attacks have been getting more

and more frequent and severe and no longer respond to the relatively

mild painkillers I was on (codeine and paracetemol). I would now

have to move to higher and higher painkillers. Mine is hereditary

pancreatitis going back to childhood (I'm 57 now) and I have been

told that there is a risk of serious complications from the CP in

cases like mine. That's why I have decided to go for the TP....I

think! Not an easy decision, is it? You certainly seem to be in less

pain now than before and there is no longer the worry of an acute

attack. They have got to be two big bonuses.

With very best wishes,

Felicity Brown

October 2, 2003

Felecity,

It is a very serious, complicated, and difficult decision, to

consider having such a crucial organ as the pancreas removed. Even

with the frequent hospitalizations and acute attacks that I endured

it isn't an easy choice to make. The risks are there: the surgery is

long, hard and risky, recovery is long term, and the chances of

become a brittle diabetic are there. For me my biggest concern was

diabetes since it can cause such damage to the body in so many ways.

You just have to weigh the pros and the cons and not let the

surgeons push you. Surgeons like to cut and will always talk in best

case scenarios. Mine told me I would be back to work in 12 weeks. I

was, but I shouldn't have been.

For me it has worked out nicely, despite being insulin dependant.

The pain really is gone, surgical pain not included (which is

different, far less intense, and fades a little every day). Being

able to eat normal food is awesome and really lifted my spirits. And

the lack of worry about having my pancreas explode on me as freed me

to do anything I want. The only tether I have now is diabetes which

need not be a tether. I just have to get better at planning to make

sure I have the supplies I need when I need them. And that is just a

habit to develop. I have gone out on some weekend trips recently and

am gaining confidence in doing so. I had given up going away from

the city when I still had my defective pancreas.

If you have any questions about the surgery ask. I am sure everyone

is different, and no doubt there will some differences from how my

doctor did it as to how your doctor will but I can share what

happened with me.

Be well,

Bert

October 2, 2003