Re: Re: RE Whipple procedure and pain management to Angie

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

I know that my situation is not as bad as others. I am only saying my only

option is surgery and I was wondering if anyone had been in the same boat.

There is no one who has been in the same situation as me it seems. With gastric

bypass and CP.

I will see Dr. Hawes in March but they have already told me it is only for a

consult as he cannot help me. He cannot perform any ERCP's. No endoscopic

procedures at all.

It doesn't seem that my situation will resolve. I have been battling this

for almost 3 years. Of course to many of you that is nothing. I know that many

of you guys have had it much longer. But most of you had the option of other

methods such as the ERCP and stents. I don't. I am just trying to educate myself

as much as possible in case it worsens and that situation comes up.

I didn't know if anyone had the surgery when they had a small cyst or not.

My enzymes have not elevated with an attack for over a year now. I did not know

that was not normal. I thought everyone did not elevate after a while.

My doc actually thinks I have had CP much longer but didn't realize it until

it got to this point.

I am hoping the PM doc will help and that I won't have to have surgery but

if it worsens I want to know what to face. Since that is my only option. Do you

wait until it becomes completely debilitating before you do anything and

become diabetic? I just don't know what my answer will be until I go to see Dr.

Hawes I guess.

I am sorry for all the questions.

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Angie,

If the cyst you have is vey small has your doctor considered draining it by

doing a needle aspiration? I don't know if this is not a possibility for

you because of the gastric bipass, but I know that knowbody has mentioned it

as a possibility.

-a

I have no medical knowledge except the knowledge that I have obtained

through my experience with pancreatitis

[Guest guest]

Angie,

If the cyst you have is vey small has your doctor considered draining it by

doing a needle aspiration? I don't know if this is not a possibility for

you because of the gastric bipass, but I know that knowbody has mentioned it

as a possibility.

-a

I have no medical knowledge except the knowledge that I have obtained

through my experience with pancreatitis

[Guest guest]

Thanks a. They have not mentioned that yet. I am not sure. It would be

great if they could do that. If it is in the head of pancreas and not on the

outside can they do that?

Thanks!

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Thanks Heidi. I was just trying to educate myself. I don't like not knowing

about all there is out there. I don't like to be an ill informed patient.

Thanks for all of your advice.

I was not really worried about the surgery just wondering. I don't know until

I see Dr. Hawes what they will decide. I am looking forward to meeting him

and getting the PM doc on the schedule.

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Angie,

I don't know whether or not they can drain your cyst because of its location

with a needle aspiration, only your GI and a intervential radiologist cand

do it. I don know that rather then having surgery many times my doctors

have decided to put in external drains (I *loved* having a tube hanging from

my buttox) and also tried to just drain the cysts with needle aspiration,

but I don't know if everything that they drained is classified as a cyst

because sometimes they like to call them " collections " . I just think that

you should listen to all the things that the other people have had done and

make a check list of the possiblilites and just ask the doctors. There ever

never a dumb question, specially when it comes to medicine and your health

-a

[Guest guest]

Thanks a,

I appreciate your advice so much. I have learned so much from this group. I

am so glad not to feel alone in this anymore!!

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "