Post Whipple Night Sweats, Fatigue, Loss of Appetite, et.al

Hi! I had my Whipple Procedure February, 2009. The head of the pancreas was removed amongst other things. I seemed to be progressing fairly well until around May, when I realized that not only was my appetite waning, but the fatigue was getting worse and I was having night sweats, vomiting and diarhea similar to what I experienced, pre-surgery. And yes, I am having the "ugly Whipple pain too!"

Suffice to say when I went to the doctor last week, he was discouraged because of the weight loss,(though he and his nurse made some suggestions for caloric intake) but he also expressed some concern regarding the night sweats, vomiting and the fatigue. He indicated that I could be having a problem with my glucose. I've noticed that I cannot tolerate anything which contains processed sugar, though I crave something sweet to offset whatever I might ingest that contains salt.

Has anyone else experienced something akin to what I've described post Whipple surgery? I certainly welcome and appreciate your comments, suggestions and/or thoughts. Thanks much.

sorry you are having trouble, revclg...I am very interested in the replies you get because my husband has just been told he may be a candidate for the Whipple procedure

On 8/14/2009 revclg wrote:

Hi! I had my Whipple Procedure February, 2009. The head of the pancreas was removed amongst other things. I seemed to be progressing fairly well until around May, when I realized that not only was my appetite waning, but the fatigue was getting worse and I was having night sweats, vomiting and diarhea similar to what I experienced, pre-surgery. And yes, I am having the "ugly Whipple pain too!"

Suffice to say when I went to the doctor last week, he was discouraged because of the weight loss,(though he and his nurse made some suggestions for caloric intake) but he also expressed some concern regarding the night sweats, vomiting and the fatigue. He indicated that I could be having a problem with my glucose. I've noticed that I cannot tolerate anything which contains processed sugar, though I crave something sweet to offset whatever I might ingest that contains salt.

Has anyone else experienced something akin to what I've described post Whipple surgery? I certainly welcome and appreciate your comments, suggestions and/or thoughts. Thanks much.

I had the whipple 5 years ago and yes I went through all the above. I hope you are taking pangestyme (currently called Creon 10). With out these enzymes you can't digest food. I take 3 with meals and 1 or 2 with snacks. I had no appetite but forced myself to eat good for you foods. Sugar foods did taste good, but made me sick. I got out of bed or off the couch and got in as much exercise as I could handle. Lots of walking!! Extreme fatigue is what they call it. The exercise and forced nutrition eventually kicked in and I got better. The night sweats went away with the other improvements. The whipple pain stayed with me for most of the last 5 years, but I came up with a fix that works. Don't laugh, I'm serious, but I drink 40 to 60 oz if Gatorade a day. I also drink other fluids though the day. I am working with the university hospital to come up with a scientific study to find out why. I think it is the electrolytes. If anyone try's this and it works, please respond back. Glen a survivor!!!!

 

On 8/14/2009 revclg wrote:

Hi! I had my Whipple Procedure February, 2009. The head of the pancreas was removed amongst other things. I seemed to be progressing fairly well until around May, when I realized that not only was my appetite waning, but the fatigue was getting worse and I was having night sweats, vomiting and diarhea similar to what I experienced, pre-surgery. And yes, I am having the "ugly Whipple pain too!"

Suffice to say when I went to the doctor last week, he was discouraged because of the weight loss,(though he and his nurse made some suggestions for caloric intake) but he also expressed some concern regarding the night sweats, vomiting and the fatigue. He indicated that I could be having a problem with my glucose. I've noticed that I cannot tolerate anything which contains processed sugar, though I crave something sweet to offset whatever I might ingest that contains salt.

Has anyone else experienced something akin to what I've described post Whipple surgery? I certainly welcome and appreciate your comments, suggestions and/or thoughts. Thanks much.

 

revcig,

Sorry you are experiencing ill effects.  I hate to bring up the elephant in the room, but has your doc considered a recurrence or mets?  Have you had CT scans and how do your CA 19-9 results look?  Did you have follow-up radiation and chemo, which is the standard of care?  And have you had your fasting glucose measured or had a glycosolated hemoglobin?  These test results should give you some idea of what may be going on with you.

Regards, Joan L 

 

On 8/14/2009 Joan l wrote:

 

On 8/14/2009 revclg wrote:

Hi! I had my Whipple Procedure February, 2009. The head of the pancreas was removed amongst other things. I seemed to be progressing fairly well until around May, when I realized that not only was my appetite waning, but the fatigue was getting worse and I was having night sweats, vomiting and diarhea similar to what I experienced, pre-surgery. And yes, I am having the "ugly Whipple pain too!"

Suffice to say when I went to the doctor last week, he was discouraged because of the weight loss,(though he and his nurse made some suggestions for caloric intake) but he also expressed some concern regarding the night sweats, vomiting and the fatigue. He indicated that I could be having a problem with my glucose. I've noticed that I cannot tolerate anything which contains processed sugar, though I crave something sweet to offset whatever I might ingest that contains salt.

Has anyone else experienced something akin to what I've described post Whipple surgery? I certainly welcome and appreciate your comments, suggestions and/or thoughts. Thanks much.

 

revcig,

Sorry you are experiencing ill effects.  I hate to bring up the elephant in the room, but has your doc considered a recurrence or mets?  Have you had CT scans and how do your CA 19-9 results look?  Did you have follow-up radiation and chemo, which is the standard of care?  And have you had your fasting glucose measured or had a glycosolated hemoglobin?  These test results should give you some idea of what may be going on with you.

Regards, Joan L 

 

Dear Joan,

Thanks for your comments especially the "elephant in the room" ~ unfortunately and fortunately, depending on how one looks at it I too had been thinking of a possible reoccurence. I did not have chemo or radiation as a follow-up to the surgery - my doctor didn't think it was necessary. I had some blood work done the other day, so I'm just waiting for those results. Having to work at recovery while serving as my own advocate is tough, but I recognize the importance of doing so - just having the right information in order to form the right questions is good...

C

 

 

On 8/14/2009 Glen1 wrote:

 

On 8/14/2009 revclg wrote:

Hi! I had my Whipple Procedure February, 2009. The head of the pancreas was removed amongst other things. I seemed to be progressing fairly well until around May, when I realized that not only was my appetite waning, but the fatigue was getting worse and I was having night sweats, vomiting and diarhea similar to what I experienced, pre-surgery. And yes, I am having the "ugly Whipple pain too!"

Suffice to say when I went to the doctor last week, he was discouraged because of the weight loss,(though he and his nurse made some suggestions for caloric intake) but he also expressed some concern regarding the night sweats, vomiting and the fatigue. He indicated that I could be having a problem with my glucose. I've noticed that I cannot tolerate anything which contains processed sugar, though I crave something sweet to offset whatever I might ingest that contains salt.

Has anyone else experienced something akin to what I've described post Whipple surgery? I certainly welcome and appreciate your comments, suggestions and/or thoughts. Thanks much.

 

I had the whipple 5 years ago and yes I went through all the above. I hope you are taking pangestyme (currently called Creon 10). With out these enzymes you can't digest food. I take 3 with meals and 1 or 2 with snacks. I had no appetite but forced myself to eat good for you foods. Sugar foods did taste good, but made me sick. I got out of bed or off the couch and got in as much exercise as I could handle. Lots of walking!! Extreme fatigue is what they call it. The exercise and forced nutrition eventually kicked in and I got better. The night sweats went away with the other improvements. The whipple pain stayed with me for most of the last 5 years, but I came up with a fix that works. Don't laugh, I'm serious, but I drink 40 to 60 oz if Gatorade a day. I also drink other fluids though the day. I am working with the university hospital to come up with a scientific study to find out why. I think it is the electrolytes. If anyone try's this and it works, please respond back. Glen a survivor!!!!

 

Glen,

First, Congratulations for having survived for 5 years!

I walk a great deal everyday. I've returned to work on a limited part-time basis, but I'm wiped out and miserable - feel like I've been sandwiched between a mack truck and a semi!!

I will give the Gatorade a shot, though I don't believe I can drink as much as you do - I can barely tolerate an 8 oz glass of water, without getting full.

Peace, C

My husband had his Whipple April 29, 2009.  He recovered nicely.  He had 3 treatments with the chemo Gemzar, and is now following up with radiation, 5-FU and oxaliplatin.  Although the surgeon felt he removed all the cancer, he explained that this follow up would help to prevent a recurrence.  Len does have fatigue, but none of your other symptoms.  He takes Creon 10 with his meals and is able to eat whatever he wants although his appetite is a lot smaller than pre Whipple.