Re: Panc divisum/W

[Guest guest]

W-

Your case and mine are SO similar. We both use Dr. Lehman, we both have panc

divisum, we both have had numerous ERCPs/Sphrincteronomies/stenting.

I, too feel well MOST of the time - have not had any " pain " in months and my

last acute attack/hospitalization was in February. I had stenting done in

April and in July. Both times, Dr. Lehman could only get a size " 6 " in and only

one stent. This last time in July, he told me I would need to have stenting

done nearly every month to get my duct up to a " 20 " . As you know, that would

be impossible with living in AZ and I really don't want to put my life on hold

for a year.

I just started my new dream job as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and

Assessment for my school district and finally get rewarded for my Ph.D.

Hence, my decision to do a whipple. I met with Dr. Atilla Nakeeb at IU Med

Ctr when I was there in July. He talked to me and my husband for an hour and a

half - and still acted like he had all the time in the world to answer my

questions.

Okay, enough rambling. I guess it is the same old question (and I read

Darren's questions, too, since he is feeling so well, why do the TP surgery).

WHEN

is the time to do surgery?

Well, here is what finally got me to that point. Even though I feel well,

work out at the fitness center nearly everyday, eat most anything I want, only

have attacks 2 - 4 times a year requiring hospitalizations, and take NO pain

medication except during attacks, why am I having a whipple done?

Okay - here is why. Dr. Nakeeb told me that he read my CT scans for the past

three years, and my panc is progressively being damaged - even when I am not

having attacks, and even though I have no pain or symptoms.

I can wait until the BIG attack and my panc is totally destroyed, but then I

am in bad shape for the surgery - i.e. immune system is taxed, nutritionally,

I would be deficient, no physical exercise, so I also would be " weak' in that

area, and I would be dependant on pain meds, which also is harder on all the

systems.

So, now I am deciding while I am in " good " physical condition to have the

whipple.

I welcome any other input from others on this board.

, has Dr. Lehman discussed having the puestow or the whipple with you?

Cecilia

Mesa, AZ