FW: panc surgeries

[Guest guest]

Hi Pat,

I have had a total pancreatectomy without the islet cell transplant.

I had a tube down my nose into my stomach for a couple of days to drain off

stomach contents (sorry for being so descriptive!!), 3 drainage tubes in my

abdomen (the number of drains will vary with the type of procedure) which were

removed after a few days. I also had a catheter to drain my urine. I also had

acentral line (a drip into the neck) - but didn't have a PICC line.

Whether you to go to ICU and how long for will depend on the procedure, and

your progress.

I spent 48 hours in ICU.

If you need any more info please contact me.

Sue (UK)

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

Don't be concerned about " tubes " they are very necessary for your recovery

and the success of the operation. When I had my modified Whipple, I had eight

tubes, six for drainage, one for possible feeding, one for possible blood

transfusion, and actually nine if you count the catherater. They are removed as

they

are no longer needed. My ICU was 2 1/2 days and then a room for about

ten days. But, that was long ago and I'm sure procedures are better now. Good

luck with your doctor conference. Are you considering having the surgery done in

L'ville? Great hospitals there, I've never been a patient there but have

visited others in a couple of them. That hospital complex is well known

nationwide.

Best Wishes, Poncho - GA

[Guest guest]

I have a question. I am scheduled to see a surgeon on May 5, 2005 to discuss

surgery. I want to know the difference between a Puestow, Berger, and Whipple

procedure. I am doing a little research before I see the surgeon. I also read

that after surgery you have all kinds of tubes coming out of you....feeding

tube, drainage tubes, picc lines. Do you stay in ICU for a few days and I was

also told I would be in the hospital 8-10days. Any information would be

appreciated.

Patty Duley

Corydon, IN

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Poncho,

Thanks for the info. I will probably have my surgery at Norton Hospital in

Louisville, KY. I work for Norton Cancer Care and so By being employed by

Norton Healthcare I have to go to one of their hospitals. I don't know which

hospital Dr. Vitale goes to. I know he teaches at UofL school of Medicine and

sees pt's only on Thursdays and does surgery on his other time. The doctors in

Louisville Oncology know Dr. Vitale very well and told me to make sure I told

him that I work for Dr. Woodcock, Dr. s, Dr. Seeger. All the medical

oncology doctors have been a big help to me with my treatment and the path that

I am directed in. I'm not sure what procedure I will have although my GI said

it was be the head of the pancreas and that I will probably be left with on 40%.

I am ansixously awaiting the results of my MRI/MRCP that I had done yesterday.

I was told that the nurse that gives the results is out until Monday that I

would only here from the doctor today if the test was

abnormal.

My son is suppose to graduate from high school May 28, 2005 so I have to wait

until after his graduation to have the surgery. What is the recovery period.

How many weeks will I be off work.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

I can't help with an estimate of recovery. My surgery was again done long ago

and I think was more extensive that what you will have. Another thing is

surgerys are different, patients are different, other conditions are involved,

etc. I know that you would like to be definitive and have a good grip on what

you

will be facing, but I don't think that's possible. I suggest you consider a

page from another book, and take things " one day at a time " . You can't predict

a lot from this point and you will surly be frustrated in trying to make

predictions and decisions before all is known. I know this is difficult but

sometimes you just can't make a decision until it's really time to make that

decision. I can only advise to look for guidence from that " Higher Power " to

help you

along this journey too.

I'm glad you are going to L'ville that is a plus in my opinion.

Best wishes, Poncho - GA

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty.

First of all, I'd like to say how sorry I am to hear that you will

have to have surgery on your pnacreas. As a verteran of many such

surgeries i hope I can give you a little insight into my experiences

with them. However, please keep in mind that we all react very

differently from the variety of surgical solutions availale to us, so

please don't take what I say for anything but what it is; my own

experiences.

I had a Puestow Procedure performed back in 1993 and found it to be

quite successful for about 3 years. I the Puestow, they split the

pancreas and reattach it to the Jujunome (Sp) to facilitate drainage

of the pancreas. I also had a Whipple done when it became obvious

that my Puestow did not take. During the Whipple, they remove

anywhere up to 90% of the pancreas and most of my stomach (sometimes

they also have to remove the Spleen, but I was fortunate to be able

to keep mine even though 90% of my pancreas was resected). I was

told that my recovery time would be anywhere from a week to 10 days,

just like they told you. However, i was admitted on December 15,

1996 and wasn't discharged from the hospital until January 15, 1997.

Once home, I had to have home health care nurses come out every day

to check my PIC line (feeding through TPN) and yes, you will have

drains coming out of you abdomen (stomach). Since my Whipple I have

been forced to have to go on SSDI for I am now unable to work at all

due to the amount of pain and general discomfort I am constantly in

along with the nausea and vomiting that goes alonfg with it. Also, I

lost about 35 lbs after my surgery and now I have trouble maintaining

my weight. I was 175lbs prior to my Whipple and now I am 150lbs

after a low of 130lbs a couple of years ago.

Patty, please do use my experiences for anything than for what it is

intended, to give you a pictre of the other side. Most surgeons like

to exspouse all of their success stories but rarely do you hear from

people like myself who did not get relief from my Whipple and only

modest success with the Puestow. Also, depending on the nature of

your pancreatitis (what is the root cause of it) will be a big factor

in your individual success. I suffer from Pancreas Divisum and the

Puestow is the recommended surgery for this particular problem.

Since my Puestow did not last but for a short time, the only surgical

option offered to me at the time was the Whipple.

I hope this is of some help to you along with some of the other

stories you will be getting from others in the group; some of them

successfully completed I might add.

Take care of yourself and continue seeking advice from as many people

as you can before deciding on any surgical remedy for sometimes you

do not get the desired results.

Andre'

>

>

>

> I have a question. I am scheduled to see a surgeon on May 5, 2005

to discuss surgery. I want to know the difference between a Puestow,

Berger, and Whipple procedure. I am doing a little research before I

see the surgeon. I also read that after surgery you have all kinds

of tubes coming out of you....feeding tube, drainage tubes, picc

lines. Do you stay in ICU for a few days and I was also told I would

be in the hospital 8-10days. Any information would be appreciated.

> Patty Duley

> Corydon, IN

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Andre for your response.

My CP was caused by Alcohol. When I was in my late 20's I drank alot. I had a

not so pleasant job as a Stripper to make ends meet. I was a single mother with

two very young kids. Anyway I drank to get my self in the mood to do this job

and it took more and more. I know that isn't an excuse but I eventually was

drinking a fifth of Vodka 4 days a week. My parents kept my kids and threated

to take them away because I would come home drunk. After I got married I quit

the job and now I work at a regular job and I am 37 years old. I didn't drink

but socially but when I did I couldn't stop hence the name ALCOHOLIC. I went

through IOP (Intensive outpatient treatment) for 4 days a week for 3hrs a night.

I was really in denial. I have finally accepted that I am an alcoholic and

because of my stupidity I have Chronic Pancreatits. It has really progressed

since being diagnosed. Especially since I had the sphinctorotomy. It seems I

am in the hospital every few months and each visit is 4days or more. So I have

no one to blame for my disease but me and I am dealing with it. The worse part

is the impending surgery I am looking at. I am so scared and the more I read

about it the scareder I get. I am stressing myself out. I wish things could be

different but this is the life I've been delt. I appreciate everyones advice.

Patty Duley

_____

[Guest guest]

Patty,

First of all, stop being so hard on yourself. There is not a one of

us in the Group that doesn't have something in their past that they

are not proud of. No one is perfect and we all are prone to doing

dumb things when we are young and feel invulnerable.

next, please do not get yourself all worked up over what might or

might not happen during and after your surgery. As you probably

already know from reading the posts from others, we all have reacted

differently from the various surgeris we have undertaken to seek

relief from this insidious illness. because I or someone else had a

rough time of it after surgery doesn't necessarily mean that you will

too. Have faith in your doctors for they usualy know what will work

and what won't work for the various causes of our Chronic

Pancreatitis. Besides, obviously you are so miserable now from your

illness that you have to consider a surgical remedy to your

problems. One thing is fairly certain, if you are like me nothing

they can do to you in surgery will be worse than what you are

undergoing at the moment. Besides, it may end up being successful in

your case so hang in there and keep us posted on your progress before

and after your surgery. If you'd like you can always email me direct

at ajcastenell@... if you need to write to me ad vent soem more

of your concerns. While I may not be able to allay your concerns, at

least I may be able to just be that ear for you to have, and that all

of us need from time to time. My prayers will be with you.

Andre'

P.S. Quit being so judgmental and hard on yourself. From the sounds

of it, you did absolutely nothing that you should be ashamed of in

order to take care of yourself and your baby. Now that you have

a " regular 9 to5 " why not drop the references to your past. What's

done is done and there isn't any " do-overs " in life...

> Thanks Andre for your response.

> My CP was caused by Alcohol. When I was in my late 20's I drank

alot. I had a not so pleasant job as a Stripper to make ends meet.

I was a single mother with two very young kids. Anyway I drank to

get my self in the mood to do this job and it took more and more. I

know that isn't an excuse but I eventually was drinking a fifth of

Vodka 4 days a week. My parents kept my kids and threated to take

them away because I would come home drunk. After I got married I

quit the job and now I work at a regular job and I am 37 years old.

I didn't drink but socially but when I did I couldn't stop hence the

name ALCOHOLIC. I went through IOP (Intensive outpatient treatment)

for 4 days a week for 3hrs a night. I was really in denial. I have

finally accepted that I am an alcoholic and because of my stupidity I

have Chronic Pancreatits. It has really progressed since being

diagnosed. Especially since I had the sphinctorotomy. It seems I am

in the hospital every few months and each visit is 4days or more. So

I have no one to blame for my disease but me and I am dealing with

it. The worse part is the impending surgery I am looking at. I am

so scared and the more I read about it the scareder I get. I am

stressing myself out. I wish things could be different but this is

the life I've been delt. I appreciate everyones advice.

> Patty Duley

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