Re: need encouragement. . .TP/ICT

[Guest guest]

Hello . I had a TP/ICT on Sept. 24, 2005. I am so glad that I

did it. I have no regrets whatsoever. I now wish I would have done

it sooner. My experience has been a very good one so far. I had mine

done a Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN by Dr. Sutherland.

Before my TP/ICT I didn't have a life. My life consisted of trying

to make it through the day at work when I could and then home to bed

and rest. I was in so much pain all the time. I couldn't take it

anymore. I had several ERCP's, MRCP's, EUS, stents, celiac plexus

blocks, etc. They would help me only temporarily if at all. I have

spent months in the hospital over the last 2 years before my

surgery.

The surgery is a big big decision. I had many doubts at first. There

are so many what-ifs. I know how you feel. I must have changed my

mind a hundred times at least. When I felt bad I wanted my pancreas

out. When I felt better I thought maybe things would change for the

good. Well they didn't and I slowly got worse and worse. My life

before my surgery consisted of pain meds and rest. Since my surgery

I have been doing great. No more pain at all and I don't take any

pain meds. (I used to take OxyContin, Dilaudid, OxyCodone, Percocet,

Morphine, etc.) I will say the surgery is very tough. When I came to

I was wishing I was dead. After they got my pain under control I was

better. Each day got better and better for me. I was in the hsopital

for 16 days total. The surgery lasted 10 hours. They took out my

pancreas, spleen, and appendix. I had my gallbladder taken out the

year before or they would have taken that also. My pancreas was

shot. I received 105,000 islet cells from the transplant. I am now

diabetic. I take Lantus and Humalog shots 4-5 times a day. I never

thought I would be diabetic. It never even entered my mind. I

thought that by going in early (2 1/2 years since diagnosis) that I

would have lots of islet cells left. I should have had my surgery

done sooner I guess. For me it was a good trade-off to be be

diabetic rather than to go through all the pain again. I got my life

back!

I hope this helps you. If you have any questions please feel free to

contact me anytime. It's nice to talk to someone who has been though

it. You can contact me privately if you would like. Take care and

hang in there!

Darren Olson

dmtolson@...

[Guest guest]

,

I like Darren had the TP/ICT in Minnesota by Dr.Sutherland. I have

absolutely no regrets. This is the best I have ever been since I was

a child. It is a tough surgery at first, but two years later on March

10 I would say it is the best choice I made.

Crystal Galloway

ID PAI Rep