TP / Splenectomy

[Guest guest]

Doc,

You wrote, " My wife had her surgery today here in Phoenix. The

surgeon said ... After 4.5 hours, that he did a Total Pan as well as

removed the spleen and part of the Duodenum ... I know about the

Diabetic part but not sure about living without a spleen. "

I am sorry to hear that she had to undergo pancreatic surgery. and a

TP at that. I hope that both you and your wife were able to get some

sleep last night. Sometimes I feel better to have finally made a

decision. Please send an email with her hospital mailing information

I believe that Sue H. from the UK had a TP without the ICT. You may

want to talk to her to get some input from someone who truly

understands what to expect in the recovery period and beyond. I am

interested in seeing how it goes, as well, because Dr. Sutherland

wants to do a TP without ICT, (since I am already insulin dependent),

in preparation for a cadaver pancreas transplant. He wants to wait ~

six months for the surgical bed to heal.

I had a Splenectomy when I had the Distal Pancreatectomy. As it

turned out I had a large splenic thrombosis, a blood clot in the

spleen. The spleen is a very important organ, but God designed our

complex integrated body system to compensate and assume the function

of other cells to ensure continued homeostasis -- to the best of its

ability, anyway. I put together a file on " what you need to know when

you have your spleen removed. " Visit:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pancreatitis/files/Pancreatitis/,

then click on The Spleen.

Please keep us informed on your wife's progress. We'll keep her in

our prayers.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International

[Guest guest]

*** Thanks Karyn,

She's at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center on McDowell

Ave and 12th Street in Phoenix. Her transplant surgeon was Dr. Larry

Koep who has been doing this kind of surgery for years.

Talk about sleep, well I think I crashed last night,,,, never

moving during my 9 hours of sleep !!! I guess it all caught up with

me afetr a tension filled few days.

I did meet several members here, who's names I unfortunately

forgot, that did have the TP without Islet transplants. As I recall

both said they would rather deal with the diabetic problem than with

the onslaught of sudden pain associated with CP.

A few minutes ago, I read several web sites saying exactly what

you did about other organs compensating for the loss of the spleen.

Still and all, precautions such as imunnizations,,,must be taken

against getting infections for the first several years after the

Splenectomy.

I will be glad to keep you and others posted on her recovery as

well as the plan that her medical team formulates once she gets

home,,, we know it's going to be a balancing act as far as the diet

goes,,, so what else is new , hehehe.

Thanks for your advice and concern and be well,,,, Doc in Az.