Whipple surgery

My whipple surgery was June 29, 2006.  Complications due to inflamed tissue being removed.  3 major nicks in vessels.  Agressively used retractors 3 times.  Said would take twice as long to recover.  I have had several problems since.  Have little to no energy. Nov. 2008 found blockage in small intestin, but never described except for being hard and ERPC scope could not get past.  With all the problems I describe each month doctor says all test shows ok.  It was good to see others having same problems.  When out of ICU after sergery I asked my surgeon if there was any place on the internet to get info for after I get home and he told me no because 90% of people who have the whipple are dead in the first year-80% next-70% next-by the 5th year 99.9 are gone.  (I was given 4 months to live before surgery)  My home doctors explain little to nothing of tests results from blood or MRI's that have been done since coming home (3 MRI).  It's taken 2 weeks to get on this site since I found it so I'm looking forward to learning what I can and sharing what I know.  This whole experiance has taken over 10 years.  220lbs down to 145lbs at time of surgery.  Post surgery after 3 weeks 113lbs.  2 years to get to 160, and now back to 145.  Shooting for more than 2 more years.  All thru all, God has been unbelivable in helping me overcome all I have faced so far.  Looking forward to positive info., and sharing what I know. 

Sunwolf,

     My husband had his Whipple April 29, 2009.  No complications.  He had adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas, no spread except for one nearby lymph node.  It had clear margins and was 1/3 cm.  His doctors recommended adjuvant therapy to prevent a recurrence.  He had three treatments of Gemzar (chemo) once a week for 3 weeks, off a week, then he had 5 weeks of 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and radiation all at the same time.  He was feeling really well until the last regiment of chemo/radiation.  Constant diarrhea caused him to lose another 15 pounds the last two weeks (total of 50).  His chemo stopped Tuesday but he still has diarrhea.  We're hoping it stops soon.  No medication helps, only diet modification.

     Anyway, I am glad you found this site for help and information.  I am usually on the Johns Hopkins pancreatic cancer discussion board.  That is a very active board with lots of helpful information and nice people.  Just google it and you should find it.  You will find lots of Whipple survivors and others who have been helped with various regimes of chemo in all stages of cancer.

     Nancy

Hi,my mum was 71 when she was diognoised with bowel cancer and had an op to remove it,she is now 80 and last year she was diognoised with pancreatic cancer,this time it was a major operation (whipples) and especially at her age it was a very worrying time knowing if she was going to make it ,but guess what  shes just stripped her bedroom and papered it herself.hows that for some one who has been hit twice with cancer and still remains out going and gets on with life,no body would even know she had been so ill she looks a picture of health and does every thing for herself.i am a great believer .it will only have you when you allow it to.so get out there and enjoy your live like my mum does,shes a credit to every one.