post Whipple incision pain

Hi, I am posting here hoping to find other Whipple patients.  My cancer was confined to the ampulla, and I am almost 2 months post op and starting my chemo.  Recently, I have had some pretty good incisional pain or otherwise what feels related to the surgery - like possible adhesions or my pancreatic stent moving?? Any ideas out there?  It doesn't usually last a real long time, but it can be several times during the day and it stops me in my tracks - pretty sharp.

Hi Julie,

I had incision pain following surgery and attributed it to nerves waking back up.  It was a sharp pain radiating from the incision.   I didn't have problems with adhesions, and I didn't have to my knowledge a pancreatic stent, so I can't speak to either of those.  The incision pain took some time to completely go away, but it eventually did.  I read an account of a person on Johns Hopkins discussion board who said the doctor found her incision pain was associated with  internal surgical staples.  Apparently, there are quite a few of those left following surgery.

Hopefully, this problem will go away soon for you.

 

 

On 10/11/2009 julielt wrote:

Hi, I am posting here hoping to find other Whipple patients.  My cancer was confined to the ampulla, and I am almost 2 months post op and starting my chemo.  Recently, I have had some pretty good incisional pain or otherwise what feels related to the surgery - like possible adhesions or my pancreatic stent moving?? Any ideas out there?  It doesn't usually last a real long time, but it can be several times during the day and it stops me in my tracks - pretty sharp.

 

Hi Everyone,

I had my Whipple surgery on Sept. 10th of this year and now I am at home recovering.  I have not had incision pains but I have had quite a few muscle spasms which has stopped me in my tracks.  They last for about a minute or two and I find that I have a very hard time breathing.  That is my first concern, to breathe and wait out the spasm. My wife has been a God send to me.  She really is at a lost as what to do when this happens to me but she helps me get through them.  She is my angel coach.  Please let me know if anyone gets these muscle spasm and how they handle them.    Thanks,     Tom T.

Had my whipple 2-25-09 and I can relate to your incision pain.  It just takes time but trust me it will get better..This is a tough tough surgery.  A good doctor friend of mine told me that he would rather have open heart surgery than a whipple.  Hang in there.  There are days now that if it weren't for taking pills that I didn't have to before I'd forget that I'd had a whipple..There is light at the end of the tunnel my friend-best wishes to you.idahobubba

where are you located idahobubba?   I'm in Idaho, too!  small world.  Thanks for the encouragement.

I had my Whipple surgery November 12, 2008 (almost 1 year ago). I had the pain and it felt like the pain was along a ridge on my scar. I was even afraid they left something in me. I asked the doctor, nurse and anyone else who would listen. Finally I read a post similar to this one and discovered it was normal and would go away with time. It did begin to feel better. There are times I overdo manual labor and I feel my abdominal muscles tighten on the scar area. Hand in there. God has blessed me every step of the way and he will watch over you as well.

Tom,

I had muscle spasms also.  Had my Whipple at the end of May of this year.  Spasms were just as you described, and tough to breath.  I found that if I laid flat, stretched my body, sometimes I could avert them or lesson the intensity.  Now I get them so rarely, and they are very very light in intensity and breathing much easier.  I mentioned it to my oncologist and he had no ideas, neither did my radiologist.  Hang in there, it WILL improve with time. 

Gary

Dear Erica

The first time that I experienced the muscle spasm was when I had my first post operative meeting.  i had finished the meeting and seemed to pass wiith flying colors.   I was ready to leave when the first spasm hit me.  I was at a totallost to what was happening. The physican assist , as well as my wife were both at a lost to what was happening to me.  The pain was just at my sternum and was intense, so I connot tell them what was happening.  It also lasted for about a minute or two and then left me feeling very tired. It has been six weeks since I was discharged.  I have pain meds but if I take any meds with narcotics in them to counter the pain then I am not permitted to drive. So I  have been taking Advil (start with 3 and then I take 2 every 4 to 6 hours.  I have found that it helps to cut down the degree of pain of the spasms.  Sometimes this helps to cut down on the number of spasms.  The doctor told me that I could take up to 4 advil up to every eight hours.  In the 6 weeks that I have been out , I have had about 15 spasms.  I can feel them begin, so I try to get away from where people can see me. Sometimes they ask if they need to call 911, but I am able to explain that it is only a muscle spasm. I try to breathe in and out as normal as possible. I am ok in about a minute or two.   Good luck with your dad.  God bless you all.               Tom T.

Hi Tom,

Your whipple is recent compared to mine. July 2004. I have been dealing with what you call muscle spasm. I don't know if we are talking about the same thing, but I have heard it called whipple pain. Mine is a severe cramp in my stomach area. It puts me on the floor where ever I am. Breathing becomes my only focus. The pain is off the scale! Sometimes I don't know if I will survive this one. I have found a fix, almost a cure. I have had a long time to experiment. I take calcium lactate, which reduces the intensity. I drink 60 oz of Gatorade a day, which reduces the frequency, dramatically!! Sound crazy, but after 5 years of this fun, I found an answer. My oncologist agrees with me that it is the electrolytes that are out of balance. I am working with some docs at the university hospital to find out why it works.