My husband is 49 years old and had a whipple done 1/22 of this year. We read everything and prepared ourselves for "the worst case scenario". (Thank you God) That didn't happen. We had one of "The best" surgeons perform his surgery. He removed the head of the pancreas (with a 3cm tumor), the common bile duct, the gallbladder and the duodenum. The stomach was left alone. Everything was reconnected without issue. He had no drains after surgery, only an NG tube a feeding tube and an IJ (internal jugular catheter for fluids, pain meds and blood draws) were inserted during surgery. The surgeon was very optomistic that he "got everything" and there were no visible signs of metastisis.
Pain the evening after sugery was intense, but managed with IV meds. Recovery started the moring after his 7 1/2 hour operation. I got my husband to stand at the bedside long enough to wash him and for the nurse to change his linens. Later that day, he even sat up in a chair for about 30 minutes. The following day, we progressed to walking twice around the floor (pushing the IV pump and using the pain meds often though). The NG tube was plugged the end of the 2nd day since very little drainage was comming out. They started small amounts of tube feedings to stimulate the bowels late on the second day. He tolerated that well and they started clear liquids on day 3 - also tolerated well and took out the NG. I think the first bowel movement was either day 3 or 4...a scant amount but proving everything was working. Everything progressed at a steady pace. The sugery had been on a monday, and by friday the feeding tube came out and he was eating a soft diet and he was not pressing the dosing button on his pain meds at all. He was also walking around the floor as much as possible. He came home on Saturday, only 5 days after this massive surgery.
The only "snaffu" so to speak was that he needed to be on enzymes to help digestion. Something the docs should have prepared us a little better for, an oversight on their part. We had to contact them and say we needed them (he was gassy and obviously not digesting fats. His stools were very loose, light colored and "floaters" and he lost about 6 pounds in the week after discharge from the hospital.)
As far as follow up with Chem or radiation...well that is a personal choice. I cannot begin to tell you what to do, but I will say we opted NOT to do either. The defining moment came when we met with our first oncologist and he said, bottom line, "Chemo doesn't work for pancreatic cancer". He went on to say it may "buy a few months". We asked why they would submit people to chemo if it doesn't work and he said "because it's all we have." He then went on to tell us to look at clinical trials- no guarantee though-- but that may be a "better chance". We consulted with a total of 3 oncologist at different facilities with the same answers. This is when we started researching ourselves. Everything we have read confirms chemo and/or radiation does not prolong outcomes with pancreatic CA except by maybe a few months. And the cost for those few months would be a completely compromised immune system. All of our research also indicated that although science can't (or won't) confirm causes of pancreatic cancer there is a direct correlation between the occurance of it and the "modern western diet" with all its hydrogenated oils, high sugar content and chemicals.
We've approached this event as a team (my husband and I are in this together) so our approach to recovery began with drastic dietary changes. When you start reading labels...I mean really reading and understanding all the ingredients, not just a few key ones, grocery shopping becomes very stressful and depressing. We no longer eat: refined sugars (including fructose, dextrose, sucralose) any white or wheat flours, any processed foods, any fast foods, any hydrogenated oils any pork and very limited dairy and beef.
Bottom line, our diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic if possible, 8-10 servings an day), complex grains (brown rice, wild rice, whole oats), oily fish (Alaskan salmon, sardines) hormone free chicken and eggs, legumes and nuts and tofu. I cook only with extra virgin olive oil ad use walnut or almond oil for salad dressings. I also use tofu for a thickener for sauces/gravies, cream pie fillings and "mayo", REAL soy sauce (brewed soy and water only). He also takes certain supplements to enhance his immune system and hopefully prevent any metastasis. Our philosophy that guides the choices we make is directly from the Hypocratic Oath: FIRST DO NO HARM...(in my opinion, a number of physicians need to be reminded that they took this oath!)
I've had to relearn how to cook, but it's been worth it. My husband's (and my) health has been amazing. He used to suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was overweight. He no longer takes any meds for any diseases (except the enzymes). His blood pressure consistantly runs 120's/ 70's, his cholesterol numbers are all "within normal limits" now and he's down to a healthy weight which we are maintaning. His liver enzymes are normal, as well as his C-reactive protein (inflammation). Tumor markers are all negative as well.
These were very difficult changes to make, it was not easy and at times is still a challenge. We went back to our original gastroenterologist and family practice doctor and they support the choices we have made and help us any way they can (with monitoring and tests, etc.) They are both very optomistic with our results so far.