CancerCompass message board discussion started by littlebean27 on 4/22/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23320,0.htm Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi, I just underwent the pylorus preserving whipple 3 weeks ago at Bethesda NNMC...  I'm trying to find out some info on diet and the constant lingering ache after any and all food consumption...  My doctor told me that this is normal, and that I'll need to adjust my diet to figure out what to avoid and what should be safe to eat...  Great in theory, but I'm in pain and bloated whenever I eat or drink anything...  Even water upsets my stomach a bit...  Does anyone have some advice on this issue?  Also, how long does the whole sharp pain in the sides and center of the abdomen really last?  I'm already starting to slip into a depression because I'm pretty useless here at the house, cant even really interact with the new baby because I keep having painful muscle spasms in my abdomen...  Really, any and all advice would be appreciated... Thanks,  littlebean27 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/22/2008 littlebean27 wrote:Hi, I just underwent the pylorus preserving whipple 3 weeks ago at Bethesda NNMC...  I'm trying to find out some info on diet and the constant lingering ache after any and all food consumption...  My doctor told me that this is normal, and that I'll need to adjust my diet to figure out what to avoid and what should be safe to eat...  Great in theory, but I'm in pain and bloated whenever I eat or drink anything...  Even water upsets my stomach a bit...  Does anyone have some advice on this issue?  Also, how long does the whole sharp pain in the sides and center of the abdomen really last?  I'm already starting to slip into a depression because I'm pretty useless here at the house, cant even really interact with the new baby because I keep having painful muscle spasms in my abdomen...  Really, any and all advice would be appreciated... Thanks, I had my whipple 16 years ago. Like you, the first few weeks were terrible because of bloated tummy. I ate hot foods, hot soup, steam rice, hot coffee, oatmeal, even warm drinking water, no pop, no fatty foods and no milk.I take pepto-bismol when I have tummy aches and apply an ointment all over my tummy. I fogot the brandname but this is an ointment for athritis or rheumatism.  The pain will gradually go away after many months. Your body is still adjusting. I hope this helps. joytothe world Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Basic advice from my doctor was to follow a low fat diet, eat five or six small meals daily.  She actually described it as "grazing".  At first, I had problems with spicy foods.  Even plain old ground black pepper would cause stomach pain.  This all improves with time, and we are talking months not weeks.  It helps to keep track of what foods you tolerate well and stick with those at first as you slowly add more variety to your meals.  I found keeping a food journal was useful.Re. pain.  Some of your pain may be caused by medications you may be taking. Pain pills in particular. In the next month or so, when your system adjusts to its new plumbing and some of the nerves that were severed begin to settle down, things will get better.If you aren't taking prescription pancreatic enzymes, please talk to your doctor about them.  They should resolve the problem with bloating and gas which can be causing pain in your side. Some doctors seem reluctant to prescribe them, suggesting you keep trying to adjust your diet. Why I don't know.  There are no adverse side affects from the enzymes. They made a huge difference in quality of life for me, and from what I have read on other forums almost all Whipple patients need them.Recovery takes time which is often frustrating.  Try to be patient with yourself and don't rush it.  If you are feeling seriously depressed, please talk to you doctor.  You  may need anti-depressants for a short time. I had Whipple surgery a little over five years ago.  It took time, but today I can eat almost anything I did before having the surgery.   Hope you start seeing improvement soon.    AliveInOldeTown Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you both for answering my questions...  I am so sick of hearing advice from those never in this boat...  My coworkers and neighbors, though very well meaning, just dont have any experience to base their recommendations on, so I just cant put too much faith in their advice...  It helps me to know that I'm not alone and that others have been thru this many many times before....Thanks again, Dan littlebean27 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/22/2008 littlebean27 wrote:Hi, I just underwent the pylorus preserving whipple 3 weeks ago at Bethesda NNMC...  I'm trying to find out some info on diet and the constant lingering ache after any and all food consumption...  My doctor told me that this is normal, and that I'll need to adjust my diet to figure out what to avoid and what should be safe to eat...  Great in theory, but I'm in pain and bloated whenever I eat or drink anything...  Even water upsets my stomach a bit...  Does anyone have some advice on this issue?  Also, how long does the whole sharp pain in the sides and center of the abdomen really last?  I'm already starting to slip into a depression because I'm pretty useless here at the house, cant even really interact with the new baby because I keep having painful muscle spasms in my abdomen...  Really, any and all advice would be appreciated... Thanks, Hi glad to hear you made it through the procedure....... YEAH !!!I had my Whipple done August 2006.I had much stomach pain and started out eating bland foods. I was told to eat very small meals throughout the day. And, if you have to go to the bathroom during the night, eat a couple of crackers. Problems is the new plumbing doesn't know what to do yet. It keeps producing stuff and theres nothing in there to use it on. Hnece some of the discomfort.It took me months to figure out what small meals were throughout the day, but I made.I know eat anything I want, just take a few extra enzyme pills for fatty stuff.As far as stomach pain goes, it took a long tome for mine to go away. Then a month ago I got sick and had vomitted alot. Tore my stomach up and now am back to almost original pain. It's real touchy, but sure as heck beats the alternatives.Stay healthy - you'll get through this and you'll be back to eating whatever you want. The one thing thogh is that you will never be back to NORMAL as we knew it. That's what my Dr and Oncologist told me.God bless..................   mrtippy Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I had a whipple done in 2002.  I had pain and discomfort for several months afterwards.  I used pain medication when I had to, ate very small meals, and avoided fatty foods.  I found that many foods that I didn't think were fatty, actually were.  Just pay attention to what is most bothersome to eat, and stay away from it for awhile.  I can eat almost anything now, except for rich desserts and some dairy products.  Resting is also important.  My son was 2 when I had it done and I know it can be frustrating, so ask for help from friends and family if you can. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Kimgee65 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT First of all, the Whipple took out around a third of your Pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes. You should be taking Creon, (unless you are allergic to pork products) on a regular basis. I take two with breakfast, one with lunch, and two with dinner. Why your doctor hasn't suggested this is beyond me.Second, I'm in my eighth month after the Whipple, and I still have surface muscle pain on  my right side. Not at all debilitating, however.Good luck--you'll be fine. Did they tell you if they got it all? If not, then ask. It's really up to you to stay on top of all of this.   On 4/22/2008 littlebean27 wrote:Hi, I just underwent the pylorus preserving whipple 3 weeks ago at Bethesda NNMC...  I'm trying to find out some info on diet and the constant lingering ache after any and all food consumption...  My doctor told me that this is normal, and that I'll need to adjust my diet to figure out what to avoid and what should be safe to eat...  Great in theory, but I'm in pain and bloated whenever I eat or drink anything...  Even water upsets my stomach a bit...  Does anyone have some advice on this issue?  Also, how long does the whole sharp pain in the sides and center of the abdomen really last?  I'm already starting to slip into a depression because I'm pretty useless here at the house, cant even really interact with the new baby because I keep having painful muscle spasms in my abdomen...  Really, any and all advice would be appreciated... Thanks,   lechefgerard Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/22/2008 littlebean27 wrote:Hi, I just underwent the pylorus preserving whipple 3 weeks ago at Bethesda NNMC...  I'm trying to find out some info on diet and the constant lingering ache after any and all food consumption...  My doctor told me that this is normal, and that I'll need to adjust my diet to figure out what to avoid and what should be safe to eat...  Great in theory, but I'm in pain and bloated whenever I eat or drink anything...  Even water upsets my stomach a bit...  Does anyone have some advice on this issue?  Also, how long does the whole sharp pain in the sides and center of the abdomen really last?  I'm already starting to slip into a depression because I'm pretty useless here at the house, cant even really interact with the new baby because I keep having painful muscle spasms in my abdomen...  Really, any and all advice would be appreciated... Thanks,   warrior1 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/26/2008 warrior1 wrote: On 4/22/2008 littlebean27 wrote:Hi, I just underwent the pylorus preserving whipple 3 weeks ago at Bethesda NNMC...  I'm trying to find out some info on diet and the constant lingering ache after any and all food consumption...  My doctor told me that this is normal, and that I'll need to adjust my diet to figure out what to avoid and what should be safe to eat...  Great in theory, but I'm in pain and bloated whenever I eat or drink anything...  Even water upsets my stomach a bit...  Does anyone have some advice on this issue?  Also, how long does the whole sharp pain in the sides and center of the abdomen really last?  I'm already starting to slip into a depression because I'm pretty useless here at the house, cant even really interact with the new baby because I keep having painful muscle spasms in my abdomen...  Really, any and all advice would be appreciated... Thanks, Whipple 1/07.  After reading all the replies, I feel so grateful to my surgeon.  I already thought he was great anyway, but now....  I never had any pain after I got home from the surgery (2 weeks in hospital-Cedar's Sinai, Los Angeles), was having pizza 1 month post surgery, and have been eating whatever I wanted ever since.  I especially love Mexican food!  I have only just begun to feel a little queasy after eating sometimes, and that does make me nervous.  My cancer was in the pancreas and stomach, very rare for uterine leiomyosarcoma.  When I was 6 y/o my mumps went into the pancreas and I almost died.  Some of the symptoms you are describing sound a lot like what happed to me back then.  I was unable to eat or drink anything without throwing up, including water.  If this were me, I would get a 2nd opinion, or a 3rd. I totally believe in them.   I mean, you need help, someone to give you meaningful advice.  If you were out here, I would probably refer you to one of my doctor's who is a specialist/surgeon in gastric bypass surgery, etc. and knows all the problems/symptoms of having surgery on your stomach....plus, he is great!  Also, after one of my surgeries, I started having pain 2 weeks post-surgery.  I complained to my doctor to no avail.  I had this pain for 2 years, with all sorts of tests, etc.  Finally, one doctor told me to have my gyn do a laporoskpy to see what was going on.  I was full of scar tissue and adhesions and the reason(s) for my pain.  Perhaps this is the reason for your pain ??  Scar tissue and adhesions can form quickly and are painful.  Mine were attaching to the bladder, adominal wall, colon, etc.  causing all sorts of pain.  Just a thought.  Also a reason for another opinion.  I am rather wordy I know, but I hope this helps a little.  If you have any questions, just let me know.  Good luck!  B  warrior1 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT