Whipple Surgery

My husband had Whipple surgery last November (5 mos ago).  He was one of the lucky ones, in that the tumor was actually in a duct, very early stages and had not spread.  Therefore, chemotherapy was not necessary.  He was in the hospital 2 months, before his stomach started tolerating food.   Now he is eating everything and tolerates most food except if he eats too much at a time.  We've been dealing with each hurdle one at a time:   ie. weight & muscle loss, sleeplessness, loose and frequent bowel movements.    He is getting better in all those areas except he's not re-gaining weight.  But my main question is in regard to what I would call, a lingering lethargy.  My husband is 69, and was very sharp and active for his age.  Since the surgery, he seems to go into a "fog" at times.   His zip and vigor has dimminshed greatly.  I was chalking it up to the aftermath of surgery, but I would think after 5 months, the "cobwebs" would be lifting.  Has anyone else experienced this kind of lethargy?  I really need some imput - it's been very frustrating.

Penny   

Hi, that sounds like wonderful sucess to me.  I had my whipple almost 18 years ago and am here, doing well.  My tumor was an Islet Cell in the head of the Pancreas.  My whipple was also very sucessful and I did not have to undergo Chemo or Radiation.  I was told back them to have lots of calories and eat pastas, potatos,etc. with carbs.   I also carried around a supplemental drink every day.  I don't remember which 1 it was but you find them everywhere.  I even got to like them after a while and they supply everything as in a meal.  When I did not get the proper nutrition, I was lethargic.  When I did, I functioned better and my strength came back.  This surgery is so major that it does a real "number" on our bodies. It takes a long time to recover so don't rush it .  This is in my humble opinion.  I am no Dr. but I know what I went through!  Larry

On 4/17/2008 pennypan015 wrote:

My husband had Whipple surgery last November (5 mos ago).  He was one of the lucky ones, in that the tumor was actually in a duct, very early stages and had not spread.  Therefore, chemotherapy was not necessary.  He was in the hospital 2 months, before his stomach started tolerating food.   Now he is eating everything and tolerates most food except if he eats too much at a time.  We've been dealing with each hurdle one at a time:   ie. weight & muscle loss, sleeplessness, loose and frequent bowel movements.    He is getting better in all those areas except he's not re-gaining weight.  But my main question is in regard to what I would call, a lingering lethargy.  My husband is 69, and was very sharp and active for his age.  Since the surgery, he seems to go into a "fog" at times.   His zip and vigor has dimminshed greatly.  I was chalking it up to the aftermath of surgery, but I would think after 5 months, the "cobwebs" would be lifting.  Has anyone else experienced this kind of lethargy?  I really need some imput - it's been very frustrating.

Penny   

Hi I had my Whipple done on August 9th, 2006. My tumor was in the head and they said it hadn't spread. I did radiation and am still doing chemo once a week. I turned 60 while in the hospital for my Whipple. Was only in there 3 weeks.

My bowels are still in an uproar, except when I am on Xeloda, an oral chemo, which a side effect is diarreha, I get constipated. Go figure.... So I do IV and oral chem right now.

I am and have been very lethargic throughout the whole ordeal. The 1st 8 to 12 months I was in so much pain, discomfort and whatever else you'd like to call it. I couldn't and still can't tolerate any of the protein drinks on the market, my loss as I hear they are great.

I was 165 when the Whipple was performed, went down to 128 and after about 18 months, got to 142 where I now stand.

I still have much pain in the abdomen (which I just live with). I took up golf with some older friends of mine (never played before). Have some aches and pains, but have fun. I try to ride my motorcycle, but can't as much as I'd like to. I eat just about ANYTHING I want and had a great appettite until the Xeloda. I was told to stay away from sugars being the Pancreas doesn't do it's full job and I may be a candidate for diabetes......

Other than that - LIFE IS GOOD. I thank God I am alive and pray that every other cancer patient becomes a survivor......

God bless you and your husband - good luck.... 

On 4/17/2008 pennypan015 wrote:

My husband had Whipple surgery last November (5 mos ago).  He was one of the lucky ones, in that the tumor was actually in a duct, very early stages and had not spread.  Therefore, chemotherapy was not necessary.  He was in the hospital 2 months, before his stomach started tolerating food.   Now he is eating everything and tolerates most food except if he eats too much at a time.  We've been dealing with each hurdle one at a time:   ie. weight & muscle loss, sleeplessness, loose and frequent bowel movements.    He is getting better in all those areas except he's not re-gaining weight.  But my main question is in regard to what I would call, a lingering lethargy.  My husband is 69, and was very sharp and active for his age.  Since the surgery, he seems to go into a "fog" at times.   His zip and vigor has dimminshed greatly.  I was chalking it up to the aftermath of surgery, but I would think after 5 months, the "cobwebs" would be lifting.  Has anyone else experienced this kind of lethargy?  I really need some imput - it's been very frustrating.

Penny   

I had Whipple surgery in 2002, similar to your husband the tumor was contained and I did not have chemo or radiation.  I was 50 at time of surgery, and had always been very active and otherwise healthy. 

After Whipple, I had trouble with fatigue (or lethargy).  Around  8 months from the surgery I would frequently fall asleep when I sat still for a few minutes.  I also felt that I had trouble thinking clearly which scared the heck out of me.  I had lost weight post surgery, but more disturbing I was losing muscle mass.   I thought it was just part of the post Whipple life I was going to have until the doctors checked it out at about 1 year from surgery.  Turns out post Whipple I became diabetic.  My blood sugar was sky high.  If you aren't already doing so, you may want to start checking his blood sugar.  If it is high, it can affect his mental capabilities and cause general fatigue.  You mentioned muscle loss as well.  Uncontrolled diabetes was causing this in me.  If blood sugar is staying high, it doesn't take long for the muscle loss to start.   It took a few months to get  my blood sugar under control, and then I started regaining muscle, stamina and had no more problems with drowsiness or regaining some weight.  I stopped feeling that I couldn't think clearly and my husband confirmed that I was back to my normal self once I got the blood sugar down.

You didn't mention if your husband takes pancreatic enzymes with his meals.  These should help eliminate loose frequent bowel movements if taken in sufficient quantity. 

Best wishes for your husband's recovery.

In your replies to a few messages I see you say that you are an 18 year Pancreatic Cancer survivor. WOW is that correct, 18 years? God bless you......

I had the Whipple done August, 2006.

Stay strong...............

I just celebrated three years post whipple and find that I cannot properly process the vitamins and minerals that we would normally get through food; therefore I supplement with B12, Calcium, Iron,  Enzymes (Pancrease) and have to have my potassium level checked monthly.

 I also have plenty of yogurt and nutritional drinks on hand.  I, too, lost a consideral amount of weight going from 205 lbs to 96 and now back to 112 with the help of lots of proteins and carbs.

I'm not lethargic but do require a "power nap" (usually a couple of hours) to get through a busy day.

Hopefully, all your husband will require is a little vitamin/mineral boost to get him back to his old loveable self;)