Whipple procedure: How to manage daily, chronic nausea and diarrhea?

Posted by apriloravecz1 @apriloravecz1, Jun 24, 2024

I had stage 2 ampullary cancer and had a whipple procedure in March of 2021. Eventhough my cancer seems to be in total remission I have had very severe nausea and diarrhea daily. It's been going on for 3 years with no letting up. My oncologist has run every possible GI test and can't find a reason for my chronic condition. Has anyone else had a whipple procedure done and has the same issue?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 25, 2024

Hello @apriloravecz1 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can understand you wanting to connect with others who have had this surgery. We have several discussions on Connect regarding the Whipple procedure as well as Ampullary cancer. Here are some links to those discussions. I would encourage you to read the posts in these discussions and to click on "Reply" below any post where you would like to ask a question or post a comment.

--Ampullary Cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=ampullary+cancer
--Whipple Procedure
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=Whipple+procedure
Here is some information from the Mayo Clinic News Network on the topic of Whipple Procedure,
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-cancer-whipple-procedure-for-pancreatic-cancer/
I would also like to invite @restless1973 to this discussion as well.

Have you been offered any dietary suggestions that might help with this severe nausea and diarrhea? Are you taking any digestive enzymes?

I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract and have had a consultation with a registered dietician which was very helpful. Have you been given a referral to a dietician at your hospital?

apriloravecz1 | @apriloravecz1 | Jul 1, 2024

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @apriloravecz1 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can understand you wanting to connect with others..." + (show)

Yes. I was given MCT oil and some powder to put in my drinks

minpin3165 | @minpin3165 | 2 days ago

Hello:
I had the whipple surgery in July 2023. Had stage one ampullary cancer. Many complications so I started chemo 3 months later. My one oncologist wants to keep me on chemo forever and my new one wants to take me off. First guy told me that the cancer is so rare and aggressive that without chemo it would have an 85% reoccurrence. My new doc says he has never heard that and thinks my quality of life is more important.
Has anyone else had their doc tell them to stay on chemo forever? or stop after a year? I would love someone else's experience on this.
THank you