Re: Harvesting the Islets after the Whipple

[Guest guest]

" I know it doesn't seem

like a big deal, but it is a very serious big deal. "

It is a huge deal. I spent the day at UofI Chi with the presurgery

CT, blood and chest. I got home too late to call today but I sure

am going to call tomorrow. The surgeon's nurse is very nice. I was

thinking of asking her to ask him.... " Are you going to harvest

islets from the head and transplant them in the liver? If not, why

not? " and take it from there. I don't understand all of this...it

doesn't matter. I don't want to be diabetic. I trust this forum.

If he says " No " I will call my gastro guy. How do you say

islets...EYE LETS? That is my guess. Hate to sound ignorant.

Short of my father dying when I was young, this is the worse thing

that has ever happened to me.

Thank you VERY much.

Carol

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol How are you feeling this evening? The islet cells, the

insulin producing cells, are not in the head of the pancreas. They

are found futher down on the tail of the pancreas. The standard

whipple procedure includes the resection of the head and part of the

body if needed. This is partly where the digestive enzymes are made

and thats why you will need to take those as a supplement later. If

the tail of your panc is relatively healthy you can continue to

produce all the insulin your body will need.

The islet cells need to be harvasted and isolated by a specific type

of surgeon with some pretty pricey equipment. That is why there are

so few places that can perform the autologous islet cell

transplant. I think a good question to ask your surgeon would be

how much of your pancreas is he planning on removing and you will

want to know the condition of the rest of the pancreas remaining in

your body.

Hope this helps,

Chrissy

> " I know it doesn't seem

> like a big deal, but it is a very serious big deal. "

>

> It is a huge deal. I spent the day at UofI Chi with the

presurgery

> CT, blood and chest. I got home too late to call today but I sure

> am going to call tomorrow. The surgeon's nurse is very nice. I

was

> thinking of asking her to ask him.... " Are you going to harvest

> islets from the head and transplant them in the liver? If not,

why

> not? " and take it from there. I don't understand all of

this...it

> doesn't matter. I don't want to be diabetic. I trust this

forum.

> If he says " No " I will call my gastro guy. How do you say

> islets...EYE LETS? That is my guess. Hate to sound ignorant.

>

> Short of my father dying when I was young, this is the worse thing

> that has ever happened to me.

>

> Thank you VERY much.

> Carol

[Guest guest]

Just had a long and wonderful conversation with the surgeon's

nurse. She is going to talk to him about the harvesting and why/why

not and get back to me. U of I has the equipment and doctors and

all the stuff necessary. My Pancreas tail seems okay...just flatter

than most? Must be that gorgeous flat stomach I have had all my

life. LOL Its the drugs, guys, sorry.

We will see what comes of this. I have available to me one of the

greatest facilities in the country. I plan to use the lot!!!!

The nurse seemed as interested an I in finding out more. I just

love people that are enthused about their jobs.

Carol