Sugar after the whipple

Question: Is anyone having issues with sugar digestion after the whipple? 

I used to be a dessert addict, but I can't tolerate sweets anymore. The doc said it was the fat in the sugary treats, so I tried just plain sugar to test the truth of why he said. Off to the bathroom I went! 

I read the articles and asked the doc about the articles,he said he had read nothing that would tell him to say stop it's us.

Rick

I was told to avoid high sugar foods, especially for the first few months after surgery, to avoid "dumping syndrome".  Here is a link to information on the syndrome if you want more info.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dumping-syndrome/DS00715

The site does not mention that high sugar foods or desserts as a trigger but the physicians told me specifically to avoid sweets to avoid it.

I am just a patient like the rest of us but some articles or opinions led me to restrict sugar more not less.  Yes I have been plugging a legit book, by Dr. Servan-Schreiber who has been on public television, the Anti-Cancer diet.  He had cancer and did research.  He plugs low glycemic index sugars and alternative sweets like small amounts of 70% dark chocolate.  I have switched mos. ago to Agave and Stevia and erythritol (sp?) with small amounts of cane sugar, apple sauce, sometimes some fruit juice in baked goods.  I avoid high fructose corn sugar.  I posted on this site as well that pre-whipple I had A1C's of 6 for years and years, normal 4-6, but now American Diabetes association says 5.7-6.4 prediabetic and 6.5 diabetic, the ultimate sugar issue.  Well last two A1C's which are mos. of average sugars were normal--hi 4 and mid 5!  So I don't know if my metabolism was off for years or other dietary changes... weight was ok before too so that's not it.  I exercised before and after.   I was able to wean off enzymes but not everyone can, if a lot of runs, floating, may need them.  Do some searches.  I think all of us without a part of our pancreas and related organs need to look at sugars and fats as the gland helps us digest those.  Just my two cents.  J in NH

despite my seeing the doc considered 'father of nueorendocrine cancers,' who is himself a gastroenterologist plus endocrinologist & surgeon who is considered an expert in pancreatic cancers & who does many whipples, i was never told about not drinking fluids with meals, tight clothing on my abdomen (i mean not even stocking/tights, which i have to pull down to top of my thighs when i wear them & i now wear maternity leggings), never ever warned about fats which kill me now with pain & sugar, which in my case causes total unconsciousness because of the impaired sugar metabolism my particular cancer causes -- all the text books say that a somatostatinoma, which is what i am, produces diabetes, but in my case my blood sugar drops so quickly that i pass out, so i avoid sugar, all of these things i have learned through trial & error -- no sugar, no fats   good luck

I too am a sweets addict. I just finished 4 cookies. Sugar has not affect on me except to add weight. I know I should not eat much because of the debities scare. Lots of oil (I use olive oil) can send the train down the track.

On Dec 08, 2011 3:22 PM sledd wrote:

I too am a sweets addict. I just finished 4 cookies. Sugar has not affect on me except to add weight. I know I should not eat much because of the debities scare. Lots of oil (I use olive oil) can send the train down the track.

Yes, I love it too, cookie, candies,TWIZZLERS,but it gives me gas & makes me go a lot. You have to stay away from fatty foods, oil & fried food. The bad thing was they did not know a lot & I was loosing weight. I take Creon 24000, 3 every time I eat, also told to eat 4-5 small meals a day. Also depends on how much they did with the Whipple, mine was head of pancreas & 1st 9.5" of small intestine, re-do the bile duct. I am 6 years cancer free but I am getting osteoporosis, B & D level low & calcium. For 5 years I took amodium with meals.

On Dec 07, 2011 4:48 PM eyesurvived wrote:

Question: Is anyone having issues with sugar digestion after the whipple? 

I used to be a dessert addict, but I can't tolerate sweets anymore. The doc said it was the fat in the sugary treats, so I tried just plain sugar to test the truth of why he said. Off to the bathroom I went! 

I am scheduled for a mini whipple on jan 9th, 2012.....no one has gone over post whipple nutrition and digestive disorders with me.....i have a neuroendocrine tumor on the pancreas that has not grown and is benign......i do not want the operation but am told that the tumor can be come malignant at any time......i would love to hear from everyone and their experiences.....and also their quality of life post whipple..

mdiskin: Please, do it. I too had doubts. I'm so glad that I did it. Really, life is just about the same, and you'll be alive!!! You are so lucky that this non-malignant tumor was discovered. It's a gift. Somebody up there wants you to do something profound with the rest of you life. BTW: My pan cancer was discovered at stage 1.  

WHEN I FOUND OUT & WAS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY:

I cleaned the heck out of my house. No one was going to find dirt or clutter anywhere while I was in the hospital, and I wanted to return to a peaceful environment when too weak to do much about messes. 

I shopped for IV-friendly, silky PJs with matching robes & slippers to take to the hospital. An old girl has to look good for visitors. Ha ha! 

FIRST 11 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL:

The first days after the whipple are awful. Vomiting, pain, and I felt like the surgeon put things inside of me instead of taking them out. The first walk is miserable.  I did less than they wanted.  That improved after a few days. I was walking all over the hospital -- so much that the nurses were complaining. 

Sitting up was worse than walking for me during those days.

Accept the therapy dog visits if you love dogs. It's uplifting beyond belief. 

No showers in the hospital, but my daughter & sister helped me sneak hair shampooing in the sink. One watched the door for nurses. The other one helped me shampoo. 

Feeling grungy isn't good for healing. I put lipstick on everyday, and I refused to wear hospital gowns. If you are a woman, consider shopping for IV-friendly, silky PJs. Pack the lipstick, and your favorite body lotion. Call in 2 pals to help you sneak a shampoo. 

Read something funny while in the hospital. Keep up the humor, and don't allow crying people, sympathetic visitors to come into your room. (I had to order my husband out and several occasions.) Keep the windows uncovered for light -- an uplifiting addition to humor. 

COMING HOME:

I was still vomiting bile when I returned home (11 days later after begging to go home) so the drain for the bile was still hooked up to my stomach. It fell out after 30 days. 

The vomiting ended after about 6 weeks -- a little better each day. The nausea ended after about 3 months -- although I still have to eat small portions about 6 times a day or I will get sick. Hors d' oeuvres (tiny bites for grazing) are my favorites, so I still love those kind of parties more than dinner types. 

Make sure that you have M.O.M. waiting for you at home. The pain meds are very constipating. You won't like that. 

Depression was a problem for me because I could do so little due to the pain and lack of energy after surgery. If you are an active person, this may get to you. It may be a good idea to get a prescription for an antidepressant. You won't need it for more than a few months, and being in a better mood helps the healing -- seriously. 

2.5 MONTHS:

After just 2.5 months, I was totally off of pain meds. That should assure you. 

Chemo wasn't bad at all. I had Gemzar, so my hair didn't fall out, and it didn't make me sick. I had problems with the shots given to build my bone marrow hit hard by chemo -- very mild convulsions. My scalp felt heated and became super greasy on the day after chemo treatments. I'm vain, so that was a problem for me.

6 MONTHS:

After 6 months, my energy returned to a decent level and the pain was entirely gone. Just in time for a total hysterectomy!!!!!! It wasn't cancer. That took another month to recover from, because my bladder split during surgery. I had to be catherized while stitches healed. <<Note: Gemzar softens tissue>>, so keep that in mind if you are due for another surgery after chemo. That's why my bladder split. 

Anthem canceled our health insurance because they considered us to be high risk. My husband had prostate cancer (stage 1) the same year, after a heart episode a few years earlier. We now pay $25K for a $5K deductible. Ouch!!! That's a problem, but remember that you have already been diagnosed....The insurance companies already have you pegged, so go through with it. 

1 YEAR LATER:

I was back to complete normal with 1 exception explained below. I had an urge to volunteer for the less fortunate on top of my full-time job. I did both with no problems at all. Feeling better about it?

8 YEARS LATER:

It's been 8 years now. I was told that my energy level would return to 80% of what it was. Not true. It has 100% of what it was after 1 year -- except for the last 3 months. It seems that caffine in a new special beverage was the culprit. I'm better now that I stopped consuming it.

I keep Amonium AD on hand. Yep, that's a problem, but not always. It all depends on what I consume, but I consider Amonium AD as a complement to wine. (grin) Anything greasy, fatty (like meat) or sugary will cause problems. Produce does too, but I can't live without fruit and veggies. I can live without meat -- never really liked it anyway. I've always been a seafood/pasta/veggie/fruit/grain/dairy person. 

WHAT CAUSED IT:

Cancer doesn't run in my family.

Who knows? I was an avid gardener who used all of those horrible chemicals frequently. If a neighbor stopped by, I would stand there talking to them with all of that stuff on my skin (bad). I also refinished antiques using all of those chemicals: stripping, staining, sealing (bad). I've never liked chocolate, but did love sweets (bad). I did consumed a lot of caffeine (bad). I have always hated fried food, and fat (good). I love carbs (??).

Life is just dandy -- with a few minor bumps mentioned. The whipple is worth doing. You'll eventually be very proud of yourself for tackling this, and you'll have peace of mind. 

*what* he said