After Whipple Procedure

I was diagnosed with bile duct/gallbladder surgery in April 2007 and had a Whipple procedure done in May.  I had some cancer in my liver one or two lymph nodes and severe erosion of some of my stomach.  I was in the hospital 14 days.  I with stood the operation well and went home to heal.  Three days after returning home I had bleeding from my incision and went back to a closer hospital, where I was originally diagnosed, and had three bleeders stopped.  I was given 4 units of blood at that time.  The following morning I was medivac to Tampa General, where I had my whipple done in May. By that evening late I was being rushed into surgery as my hepatic artery to my liver had an aneurysm and it had burst.  I was give 14 units of blood and not expected to live.  I beat all the odds and am now doing very well in my recovery, in cheno treatment and intend to live a long healthy life. 

I have some questions about the abdominal swelling and tenderness that I get in entire abdominal area.  Is this normal?  I eat small meals, get exercise (Yoga, walking) and am pretty careful about what I eat.  I do have quite a problem with constipation from the chemo and have to be careful about stool softners or laxatives as they can cause some sever abdominal pain, cramping and discomfort for me. I was wondering what other peoples experience was with the swelling and tenderness.

Thank you for your help and having this website available.

Hi,

My boyfriend had surgery 1/5/07.  He did not have whipple surgery but he had liver resection where they removed over 70% of the liver.  He then developed an infection in the muscle tissue and had to have all of the stomach muscle removed.  He has swelling in the abdomen, after he eats, you can tell the stomach inflats. It also happens after a long day.  His stomach is very sensitive and sometimes he feels like the stomach and around the incisions are numb.  He says this feels wierd.  I couldn't tell you exactly. 

Anyway, I think what you are feeling is pretty normal. As far as the constipation is concerned my boyfriend was constipated and we had to go back to hospital several times for this.  It happened the first couple of months being out of the hospital.  It eventually got better and he is now on a regular cycle.  I think it will probably be the same for you.  Try using a heating pad.  This really helped the cramps and to loosen up the  blockage which was causing the constipation also drinks lots and lots of water. 

Anyway, hope this helps. I am so happy to hear you are doing well.  All odds were against us as well but with the Lord on our side, we have pulled through.  May God bless you as he has blessed us. 

Christina

On 10/2/2007 Surviving it all wrote:

I was diagnosed with bile duct/gallbladder surgery in April 2007 and had a Whipple procedure done in May.  I had some cancer in my liver one or two lymph nodes and severe erosion of some of my stomach.  I was in the hospital 14 days.  I with stood the operation well and went home to heal.  Three days after returning home I had bleeding from my incision and went back to a closer hospital, where I was originally diagnosed, and had three bleeders stopped.  I was given 4 units of blood at that time.  The following morning I was medivac to Tampa General, where I had my whipple done in May. By that evening late I was being rushed into surgery as my hepatic artery to my liver had an aneurysm and it had burst.  I was give 14 units of blood and not expected to live.  I beat all the odds and am now doing very well in my recovery, in cheno treatment and intend to live a long healthy life. 

I have some questions about the abdominal swelling and tenderness that I get in entire abdominal area.  Is this normal?  I eat small meals, get exercise (Yoga, walking) and am pretty careful about what I eat.  I do have quite a problem with constipation from the chemo and have to be careful about stool softners or laxatives as they can cause some sever abdominal pain, cramping and discomfort for me. I was wondering what other peoples experience was with the swelling and tenderness.

Thank you for your help and having this website available.

Hi

I had bile duct cancer diagnozed 2 yrs ago and had the whipple surgery. I was out of hospital in 9 days and doing well only to relapse a week later with acute pancreatitas. I spent another 12 days in hospital recovering from this and it was a far worse experience than the original whipple surgery. I too went through 6 months of oral chemo.

In the past two years I have suffered bloating, cramping and sever gas pains (all part of adjusting to the reduced digestive system. Over the past 6 months the cramping and gas became worse and I was losing weight. I returned to the specialist who informed me that my reduced pancreas had stopped producing enzymes. He has put me on enzyme replacement tablets that I take with each meal. This has stopped the cramping and the constant running to the bathroom but I am still having to deal with bloating and gas pains.

I have concluded that I will probably have to live with the bloating and gas issue as a result of the radical whipple surgery and deal with it. The alternative is not worth thinking about.

I hope this helps.

John

On 10/2/2007 Christina23 wrote:

Hi,

My boyfriend had surgery 1/5/07.  He did not have whipple surgery but he had liver resection where they removed over 70% of the liver.  He then developed an infection in the muscle tissue and had to have all of the stomach muscle removed.  He has swelling in the abdomen, after he eats, you can tell the stomach inflats. It also happens after a long day.  His stomach is very sensitive and sometimes he feels like the stomach and around the incisions are numb.  He says this feels wierd.  I couldn't tell you exactly. 

Anyway, I think what you are feeling is pretty normal. As far as the constipation is concerned my boyfriend was constipated and we had to go back to hospital several times for this.  It happened the first couple of months being out of the hospital.  It eventually got better and he is now on a regular cycle.  I think it will probably be the same for you.  Try using a heating pad.  This really helped the cramps and to loosen up the  blockage which was causing the constipation also drinks lots and lots of water. 

Anyway, hope this helps. I am so happy to hear you are doing well.  All odds were against us as well but with the Lord on our side, we have pulled through.  May God bless you as he has blessed us. 

Christina

Thanks for your input.  I am glad that your boyfriend is doing well.  I have been truly blessed.  May your blessings continue.