Posting to Kurt and Heidi--

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I posted on here previously regarding my husband. He had an acute

pancreatitis attack in April, 04. It seems that Kurt's story is the

same as my husband's in many ways. Most of my husband's pancreas

was destroyed, except the head. He is diabetic but manages it

through one pill a day and diet and exercise. He was fine until Feb

of this year, he started experiencing pain and fullness. His next

MRCP showed a pseudocyst that they presume had been there since his

attack, but had not shown up due to the necrosis present. They told

us the cyst was not communicating and would probably resolve on its

own.

Three months later in June, the cyst was at 8x6x5 cm large. We were

told the walls had thickened and not to worry about it--they wanted

to see if it would resolve on its own.

Fast forward to last week, another MRCP. The cyst is now 12x11x10

cm. His doctor has recommended surgery immediately to drain the

cyst. They are going to stent it to his stomach. The things they

find surprising are that the problem is that the head of his

pancreas is still functioning as in a normal pancreas. They feel

that this is why the cyst is growing so rapidly. My husband is

healthy and slightly overweight--a good sign that he is doing well.

They also still cannot see where the cyst is communicating. It is

obvious it is because of the growth.

The pain receptor cells on his pancreas have been destroyed so they

feel once they drain the cyst, he will be relatively pain free,

although he will always have to maintain the diet (no fat, etc.)

that he has since the attack last year. The stent will be permanent

as they say it will always be communicating and they are removing

his spleen as well, to slow down the blood supply to the pancreas in

the hopes it won't function on the level it is, thus slow any future

progession of the cyst.

We may not have all this information correct. Some of it we don't

fully understand. I really don't understand the connection between

the spleen and pancreas and why it needs to go as well.

The doctors say that due to his health, the condition of the head of

his pancreas (which is all that is left) that he should do well

after the surgery.

If you have any information regarding the surgery and what to expect

afterwards, I would appreciate it. We still haven't talked to the

surgeon, the doctor said he would call him directly so then can get

my husband in for surgery as soon as possible. We don't even know

how long his stay will be, or recovery. I know it isn't laproscopic

so it won't be a breeze.

My husband is relieved to be getting this resolved, I am a bit ill

at ease after having the experience of his attack last year and the

loss of my father earlier this year, the thought of time in a

hospital even though I am not the one having to undergo this, just

upsets me.

I thank you in advance, I lurk on this board and all of the

information and experiences here are very educational and provide

some relief when we feel a bit nervous regarding this disease. Take

care,