Newbie Concerned about Surgery for A.P.

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

My name is Colin and I live in Perthshire, Scotland, UK.

Here is my story so far, and I will try to be brief.

Since January I have had intermittent abdominal pain. I was hospitalised for 1

night in January, but as I felt better in the morning I was released without

tests. After that pain came and went, what triggered it off I don't know but a

few beers now and again did not help matters with hindsight. Having said that

I've never been a hardened drinker.

2 very severe attacks came whilst we were touring California and I spent 5 days

in the Henry Mayo Clinic north of LA, with a diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis.

Once back in the UK I went through a raft of tests to try to get to the bottom

of things. It took until early October, from a CT scan, to show that the tail of

my Pancreas was swollen (I was in pain at the time of the scan) and pancreatic

fluid had been leaking out in the wrong direction which caused a cyst to form in

my spleen.

3 weeks ago I was back in hospital to get a spleen drain inserted to allow the

cyst to dry up. 3 weeks on I still have the drain giving out on average 100mls

of juice daily.

My consultant hospital doctor tried a pancreas ECRP and stent last Monday but

this failed as the entry point for them was too narrow. I now get the feeling

that on my weekly visit to him on Tuesday he will want to schedule surgery, as

we have previously touched on. This will involve removing the damaged tail of

the pancreas, removal of the spleen and probably the gallbladder as well.

I suppose my main question is (which I will talk at length with my doc) is how

dangerous is this procedure, what are the ramifications of theses 3 things being

removed, what size of scars will I have, and roughly how long will the off work

convalescent period be post-surgery.

I am also scared about wound infections as I have had big problems in the 2

operations I have had in my life. The 1st was my appendix when I was 6, when the

scar burst open again a few weeks after surgery to remove it. The 2nd was triple

heart bypass 2.5 years ago, when my chest wound again burst open and took months

to finally heal back up again. I seem to be allergic to slicing! My local GP

(doctor) is against taking my spleen out for these reasons but the consultant

feels things have been damaged there from the initial cyst.

Hope someone has experience or views on my comments, which turned out not to be

very brief...

Colin

40 years old

Scotland

[Guest guest]

Colin,

Please don't be discouraged by the lack of response to your questions. Your

main question is one that many can't answer, and may be scared to comment

on. You said that your main question involved the dangers of the procedure

they are suggesting for you, which by your description sounds to me like a

Peustow procedure, with modifications, this being the removal of your gall

bladder. If it is this procedure, you should be reassured to know that this

procedure has a very low mortality rate, as well as a low rate of operational

complications. The success rate of that procedure is 70-90%, which is also a

positive sign.

I can understand your PCP's concern about the removal of your spleen, as

that would make you more suseptable for infections, yet I'm sure that

considering your past medical history, your doctors will be wary of this and

most likely have you on a heavy regimen of antibiotics before and after the

surgery.

I don't have any medical training and only write about what I've researched in

my never ending quest for knowledge about chronic pancreatitis and all

things involved with the disease. Fortunately, I haven't had any surgery for my

chronic pancreatitis, either, so I can't speak with any experience on the size

of

your incisional scars or the length of recuperation time for this procedure. As

you are well aware, each surgery has it's own risks, yet it does sound as

though this procedure is not one that has a high rate of problems. You should

be reassured to know that they've been doing that procedure for over 50

years, so it's certainly not anything experimental or one that doctors are

unfamiliar with.

You have to rely upon your own best judgement and consider the guidance of

your doctors in making the decision to go ahead, or not. Remember that it is

your decision, and be firm about your choice. I'm sure the doctors are

recommeding what they feel, by looking at your films, present problems and

symptoms, is the best option to bring you relief at this time.

We don't have many members here who have had the Peustow, so that may

be part of the reason why you haven't had any others step forward to discuss

this surgery with you. One of our members, Cecila, from Arizona, is

considering having a Peustow procedure done in the very near future, yet I'm

sure she is as anxious and full of questions about it as you are.

Please continue to post and ask any questions, or comment on anything that

interests you. We are interested in hearing more about your circumstances

and I would like to know what the doctors have to say when you see them

next. I wish you all the best of luck, and the best of health, and I hope you

will

find a solution that can bring you relief from your pain.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

SE Regional Rep., PAI

Note: All comment or advice is based on personal experience or opinion, and

should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.