Recovery from whipple procedure?!?!?

I was looking for an info or ideas you had for recovery from whipple.  My father had a tumor in his bile duct that was found in August of 08.  He had the whipple procedure On October 20th.  His situation is a little different do to the fact that he has an artificial leg.  It's been 5 months and he is still on the feeding tube(which I have read is normal) and he has a  tube from his stomach to help drain the enzymes b/c it was gettin full and not draining to his intestines which was causing him to throw up almost daily.  When he gets up to go anywhere he has to use his crutches b/c he can't wear his artificial leg b/c the strap that goes around his waist would cover up the feeding tube and is very uncomfortable.  He still in only eating maybe one cup of applesauce a day if that and when he does eat they usually drain it from the tube so it's not going into his intestines.  He is also diabetic and I have read that the stomachs of diabetics are slower to recover.  From not eating and having to use crutches he is not very active.  He gets very anxious and is takin ativan for that.  He was a very active man before all of this.  He worked out 4-5 times a week, rode his motorcycle every chance he got and in general was a very healthy person.  He is almost 67 years old but was in better shape than most men in their 30's.  He has lost a considerable amount of weight(close to 40 lbs) and just doesn't seem to have the drive to beat this.  I'm worried that he is getting discouraged b/c the recovery has been at such a slow pace.  He also had signs of a possible infection shortly after surgery so they put a wound vac on to help the incision heal.  He no longer has that but it just seems that he may have a good day and then three or four bad ones.  Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.  I want my dad back, and this just isn't him. 

 

On 2/23/2009 tryintohelpmydad wrote:

I was looking for an info or ideas you had for recovery from whipple.  My father had a tumor in his bile duct that was found in August of 08.  He had the whipple procedure On October 20th.  His situation is a little different do to the fact that he has an artificial leg.  It's been 5 months and he is still on the feeding tube(which I have read is normal) and he has a  tube from his stomach to help drain the enzymes b/c it was gettin full and not draining to his intestines which was causing him to throw up almost daily.  When he gets up to go anywhere he has to use his crutches b/c he can't wear his artificial leg b/c the strap that goes around his waist would cover up the feeding tube and is very uncomfortable.  He still in only eating maybe one cup of applesauce a day if that and when he does eat they usually drain it from the tube so it's not going into his intestines.  He is also diabetic and I have read that the stomachs of diabetics are slower to recover.  From not eating and having to use crutches he is not very active.  He gets very anxious and is takin ativan for that.  He was a very active man before all of this.  He worked out 4-5 times a week, rode his motorcycle every chance he got and in general was a very healthy person.  He is almost 67 years old but was in better shape than most men in their 30's.  He has lost a considerable amount of weight(close to 40 lbs) and just doesn't seem to have the drive to beat this.  I'm worried that he is getting discouraged b/c the recovery has been at such a slow pace.  He also had signs of a possible infection shortly after surgery so they put a wound vac on to help the incision heal.  He no longer has that but it just seems that he may have a good day and then three or four bad ones.  Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.  I want my dad back, and this just isn't him. 

Hi! 

I was reading your message and I have heard that recovery from this whipple surgery is very very hard on the body. Which everyone's body is different.  I have been doing some reading about this procedure, as for my mom is having to be faced with having this procedure done too or opt not too.  We were told by her doctor that if she has this surgery, would be different for her since she has had a Gastric Bypass.   This surgery for her would be hard since they will have to re-route organs, veins and artieries and a 25% chance they would have to go back in if there was a bleed.  He said the recovery time would be at least 2 weeks in the hospital and 8 weeks before she could be somewhat feeling better.  She has been diagnosed with Bile Duct/Pancreatic Cancer with a internal / external bile bag.  It might be different for your dad, but i hope this information can help you.  Here is a web page for you to read up on http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/tumor/pancreasdiseases/

Regards,

Ashlee 

If you can go back into messages on the message board there is a message that is somehting simliar to your message. I just copied and pasted her message and contact information from what I found on this message board and much more to follow.  hope it helps!

Member

Samy11

Subject: After Whipple Surgery
Date: 03/19/2006

I think your dad has what my mom had, ampullary cancer.  It took two visits to different oncologists for us to get this information.  The nodule started in the small intestines and the junction of the biliary ducts and traveled to the pancrease and to the lymph nodes.

She had a terrbile time, just terrible.  She had her operation on the 2nd of February 2009 and has continued to loose weight, but she is feeling much better, sleeps half the day, but can go to movies, out to eat and is actually taking a short trip to the coast.

 When my mom was looking at chemotherapy, the second oncologist said she really needed to be treated for colon cancer and pancreatic cancer, which would make the drug of choice Full Fox...but your dad is younger, my mom is 79.  So they would probably do a more aggressive treatment.

Did your dad loose his hair due tot he trauma of the operation by chance?

Yes, my mom is altered, lost 65Ibs since December and is not going to do chemo or radiation.  As we call it, she has chosen life for her remaining time.  She said she could not go through the nausea and not eating again.

 Hope this helps.

 

 

 

On 2/25/2009 butterflynash wrote:

 

On 2/23/2009 tryintohelpmydad wrote:

I was looking for an info or ideas you had for recovery from whipple.  My father had a tumor in his bile duct that was found in August of 08.  He had the whipple procedure On October 20th.  His situation is a little different do to the fact that he has an artificial leg.  It's been 5 months and he is still on the feeding tube(which I have read is normal) and he has a  tube from his stomach to help drain the enzymes b/c it was gettin full and not draining to his intestines which was causing him to throw up almost daily.  When he gets up to go anywhere he has to use his crutches b/c he can't wear his artificial leg b/c the strap that goes around his waist would cover up the feeding tube and is very uncomfortable.  He still in only eating maybe one cup of applesauce a day if that and when he does eat they usually drain it from the tube so it's not going into his intestines.  He is also diabetic and I have read that the stomachs of diabetics are slower to recover.  From not eating and having to use crutches he is not very active.  He gets very anxious and is takin ativan for that.  He was a very active man before all of this.  He worked out 4-5 times a week, rode his motorcycle every chance he got and in general was a very healthy person.  He is almost 67 years old but was in better shape than most men in their 30's.  He has lost a considerable amount of weight(close to 40 lbs) and just doesn't seem to have the drive to beat this.  I'm worried that he is getting discouraged b/c the recovery has been at such a slow pace.  He also had signs of a possible infection shortly after surgery so they put a wound vac on to help the incision heal.  He no longer has that but it just seems that he may have a good day and then three or four bad ones.  Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.  I want my dad back, and this just isn't him. 

Being tired could be related to absorbing less nutrients from your food.  I have read a lot on this and one thing they keep mentioning is to take enzymes.  You need them to help break down the food as they say the tummy can be lazy at first...so you wouldn't go too long without enzymes to help you break down and absorb your food.  You would be starving and not know it as the body gets to such a weak state.  Have you ever read Bill Henderson's book about cancer.  I have a friend who is a chiropractor and he suggested it to me.  It is to help you naturally beat the odds of cancer.  No...I'm not here to sell anything just to share.  My father is going to have this surgery and I've been reading up on it as much as possible so I can help him.  Actually he has diabetes and that really concerns me...heard that it will really throw your sugar off...and that can also make you very tired.  They say you really don't feel hungry...but you still need to eat foods that will rebuild your body.  I have a friend who called and said my father has the best surgeon...she goes to church with him and knows a guy who had the operation and he is doing great.  I believe one of the most important things is to stay postive as that can help you as much as anything to heal.  Keep me posted and if I hear of anything else I will let you know.

 

Dee