Re: Margaret Whipple? from Henry

[Guest guest]

Dear Margaret,

Hi! I don't think we've met before. Mark sent you all the technical

info. From a patient's perspective it is a very big operation. I've talked

to doctors who have said that it is more involved technically than open

heart bypass surgery. I'm not trying to scare you, but to be honest from one

patient's point of view. For me the surgery was rough recovering from

especially in the first two weeks. I had my Whipple in late November of

2000, at the Medical University of South Carolina here in ton. My

surgeon was Dr. , who is internationally renowned for his skills

as a G.I. and pancreatic surgeon. A month before I decided to go with the

Whipple he explained it to me, gave me lot's of reading mateerial -

illustrations, and told me that this was major surgery, and to think about

it before deciding that this was what I wanted. He had performed a lesser

surgery the Puestow, on me in 1998. I was 38 when I had the Whipple. I was

in ICU for a day after the surgery. They found lot's of scar tissue and

stones in my pancreas during the surgery. They told me it was big surgery,

but iwas still shocked at how much pain I had post-op and how hard it was

to breathe. It felt like being run over by a truck. They want you up and

around asap, but it was three or four days I seem to remembeer 'till I

could get out of bed (with help), and sit in a chair. I was in for about a

month I think post op. The people in this group where wonderful about

supporting me, and sending cards. Two nice lady friends from PAI, Diane

Hollister, and Debbie G. were even sweet enough to come by and visit me in

person.

Unfortunately like some people, the Whipple was done too late. Too much

damage had been done and as they said, my Whipple didn't " take. " Not to

complain, I did end up with fewer problems with stones, and not having as

much time spent in the hospital. My diabetes did get a little worse though.

It's a decision that you and your doctor should make and not to be entered

into lightly. It requires some commitment on your part. If there is anything

else that I can help with please drop me a line. Not many people email me

anymore and I miss that. It would be a pleasure to hear from you. I am

always willing to do what I can to help someone out even if that is just

morale support and prayers, and exchanging emails or phoning. I have some

psychological, emotional problems like panic attacks, Generalize anxiety

disorder, and major depression that came on after my pancreatic problems

began in 1990. As you may know this can be a lonely disease. Hang in there!

:-)

Your Pancreatic Pal,

Henry

I have heard a couple of people talking about something called a

> whipple. I was just curious about what exactly it is? I was trying to

> decid what there is to do about my pain and nausea. I have been

> nauseated for 2 days and in a good amout of pain. The doc's put me on

> Vicodin 7.5mg's. But Vicodin no longer seems to work on me anymore.

> My body is getting used to. What other pain meds are out there that

> might help? Thanks for your time everyone!!

>

> Margaret

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