Re: whipple plans

[Guest guest]

Good morning -

I am still waiting on the confirmation regarding the scheduling of my

whipple. Right now, I would like to plan it for the day before Thanksgiving.

As an

educator, timing wise, that is a " down " time for me as the first semester is

finishing up, I have a two-day holiday over Thanksgiving and a two week holiday

the end of Dec. I would only need to use 18 sick days, which is EXACTLY what

I have, if I can get back to work the first week of Jan. I will play that by

ear, depending on how I do. That would only be six weeks post-op, though.

I am enjoying my favorite kind of day - it is raining and totally cloudy!!!

That must sound funny to most of you, but it so SELDOM occurs here in AZ that

it is great!

I am really stressed at work. The new supt. keeps piling more jobs on my

plate. I can't do anymore! I am going to my immediate boss and talk to him

some

about what to do.

I have SO many meetings to attend each day! I have to stay until 8 p.m. It

takes me at least that long after my meetings end at 4:30 to do my desk work!

My pancreas is not happy. I do love my job - but can't do EVERYBODY elses'

jobs as well!

My best math/science statistician/literacy specialist resigned on Friday -

GREAT! One more kink in the road!

My husband, Jerry and I are planning to drive the 2000 miles back from AZ to

IN when I have my surgery so he has a car while he is in IN and then after I

start getting stronger, I will also have a vehicle so I won't have to depend on

everyone to take me around.

Jerry will only stay for a week or so, to make sure I am doing okay, then he

will fly back to AZ for the next three weeks, while I recover at various

family members' homes. Then he will fly back to IN and drive me home. The dr.

said I should be able to make the 2-3 day trip 3 - 4 weeks post-op which will

put

it around Christmas.

I understand it is a LONG recovery, which I am not sure I will be very

patient for. According to the dr., two months post-op I will still feel like I

have

been runover by a Mack truck. It will take a FULL year to feel back to

normal, assuming everything goes well. Many of you have said the same thing,

but

most of you are glad you had the whipple surgery.

I know the whipple is not a cure. The pancreas will still be supseptible to

the disease. One of the biggest potential outcomes that I fear is chronic

pain since I don't have that now. I pray that I don't get that.

Well, off to enjoy this rainy day. Thanks for listening.

Cecilia

Mesa, AZ