How People Are Coping After Whipple Operation

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my husband had a kidney transplant just over 3 years ago,less than a year later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the dr's think the anti rejection tablets he has to take may have caused this. The operation was sucessful, he had his bile duct, duedenal, gall bladder and pancreas removed. He is still in constant pain in his stomach, his surgeon is at a loss as to what is causing it, he seens to get the pain after eating, as he is now a diabetic this can cause a lot of problems. He is on CREON tablets to help with digestion and he takes up to 28 a day. He is also constipated at times and then has a period of the runs, he also full of wind most of the time and this can be very very smelly. In all although the op was a succsess he has never been well since, do other patients feel this way or is it because he has had a transplant as well.

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Bodac

I too had the Whipple and still have pain. I continue to worry, but the Dr is at a loss as well. There is a new MRI machine @ MDA, of which I am scheduled next week. My pain has increased to my back (like in the beginning) and gradually gotten worse. I did not have full blown cancer, just what they called pre-cancer. A blockage in my bile duct, but since the surgery had pain expecially at night. I visit the pain clinic and stay on pain meds for mine, and continue to follow up, just in case. I hope this helps. Karen

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Barbara1

Hi Karen, Thanks for replying, its helpful to know that he isn't alone, the dr's have almost convinced him he's imagining it. He too gets the pain at night and in his back as well also after eating so of course he tries not to eat which is no good now he's diabetic. Can I ask if you live in the US or the UK? As we are interested in this new scan and we might not have it over here yet. Thanks again for replying, Barbara

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Tapalias

Hi Karen, I too had the Whipple on 01/3/05to remove a 2cm cancerous tumor off my pancreas. And I too have back pain. I just had an MRI done which came back with a mass that is in the same region as my pancreas. However they are not sure what it is yet. They are doing a CAT scan next week to get a better idea. Myself and the doctors treating me Hope it's something related to the surgery (fluid or fibrous tissue) and it’s not cancer. I’ve done well after the surgery, even with chemo(still doing that for the next six months) but we are all puzzled. I was wandering if they ever found out what was causing your back pain. The description you gave is very similar to what is happening to me. Please let me know. Thanks, Ted

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Brigid

My mom's story is similar...no back pain but she cannot control the diarreha/constipation swings that keep occurring. Surgery June 27th/chemo started 8/7. Do you think it is chemo or surgery related? Have you found any help with this?

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Rordon

It has now been eleven months and my mom still has bed pain and on heavy medication. She has gone to different doctors has had scans blood work but they can not find anything. Does anyone have any ideas?

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Liz91

I stumbled onto this site because I have been discouraged that I still experience pain even after the whipple (which was done because I had a case of pancreatitis that started in November 2004 and didn't get better until the surgery). My pain is infinitely better than it was before, but still there. It is encouraging to know I am not alone. I have not contacted any doctors- has anyone had any answers from tests that would encourage me to contact my docs? Thanks, Liz

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Paulandsue

My husband had the whipples procedure in 2003 due to a large tumour that had originated from the small bowel but attached itself to the pancreas along with dueodenum and gall bladder. it was Non Hodgkinsons Lymphoma so he was given 6 sessions of R-chop chemo and has been clear for 18 months. He is however still suffering a lot of pain usually after eating and it seems to progress as the day goes on. He is permanently bloated up and you can see the movement of wind in his stomach. He too suffers from very smelly wind. He gets a lot of explosive diahorea wich is always fatty no matter how much they have upped his creon (40,000) He now takes about 25 a day. For the last 12 month he has also been Jaundice but everyone seems lost as to why. He has had various scans and blood test which have eliminated the cancer as the cause but no one can say what is causing it. If anyone has experienced Jaundice I would be very gratefull if they could let me know.

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Andym

I had my operation 6 weeks ago as I was told I have bile duct cancer. I was operated on in Belfast (Northern Ireland.) After the operation I feel great no problems at all, I was out of hospital 12 days after the operation and playing lawn bowls 17 days after the operation! 6 weeks on I have no pain at all. My recovery is down to my faith in Jesus Christ he has carried me through this hard time. The Docters have now told me that the cancer was completely removed and I should make a full recovery. Andrew

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Keith_66

On 6/30/2006 Paulandsue wrote:

My husband had the whipples procedure in 2003 due to a large tumour that had originated from the small bowel but attached itself to the pancreas along with dueodenum and gall bladder. it was Non Hodgkinsons Lymphoma so he was given 6 sessions of R-chop chemo and has been clear for 18 months. He is however still suffering a lot of pain usually after eating and it seems to progress as the day goes on. He is permanently bloated up and you can see the movement of wind in his stomach. He too suffers from very smelly wind. He gets a lot of explosive diahorea wich is always fatty no matter how much they have upped his creon (40,000) He now takes about 25 a day. For the last 12 month he has also been Jaundice but everyone seems lost as to why. He has had various scans and blood test which have eliminated the cancer as the cause but no one can say what is causing it. If anyone has experienced Jaundice I would be very gratefull if they could let me know.

I had cancer in my bile duct that caused me to go jaundice. This led to a whipple operation on Jan 5th of 2007 I am in recovery. when recovery is complete I will start kemo and radiation. I suffer from stomach pain after eating and everything taste bad. Bowl movements are okay though.

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