Hello @sshindle and welcome to the NETs Support Group on Mayo Connect. I'm glad that you found this forum. I appreciate your comment that you've been inspired as you've read the posts of others who are on the same journey as you are.

I would like to invite some other members to this conversation including @pavlina60, @ahtaylor and @tomrennie.
Here are their Connect Spotlights where you can read more about their experiences:
--@tomrennie
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/the-world-aint-all-sunshine-and-rainbows-meet-tomrennie/
--@pavlina60
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/a-scientists-approach-to-helping-others-meet-pavlina60/
--@ahtaylor
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/giving-it-all-youve-got-meet-ahtaylor/
As insulinoma tumors often affect blood sugar numbers, I'm wondering if this has been an issue for you as well?

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you continue to post your questions and concerns as you anticipate surgery?

Welcome to the group! To say the least insulinomas can be challenging! Every case is a little different - it is not necessarily a lifelong condition and is actually curable if all the tumors are removed. Much like you, I had multiple insulinomas in my pancreas (11 removed or ablated). I had a modified Whipple for my first surgery which removed 2. When symptoms reappeared a month after surgery and additional tumors could not be found by my endocrinologist in NC, I was referred to an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic. After a week of testing, 4 more were found pre-operatively, 4 were found with an intraoperative ultrasound and the 9th was found in the distal part of the pancreas that was removed. My second surgery was the same as yours - distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy.
My recovery from the distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was complication free. I was in the hospital for 5 days. The incision was large - from sternum to belly button and the over to my left side. That was probably the most challenging part of the recovery. I have done well without a spleen. There are vaccines every 5 years post splenectomy. If you have specific procedure questions, I am happy to answer. My wish for you is this surgery removes the remainder of the tumors and it is not a lifelong condition for you 🙂
For me, there a still very small tumors in the pancreas and now in the liver so I continue to battle hypoglycemia but otherwise am doing great and receiving great ongoing care at Mayo Clinic. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with additional questions! Take care!

When is your surgery? Or have you already had your surgery? If so, how did it go? Just thinking about you as I know you said you were scared. Either way hope all is well!
I am going to Mayo soon for a Hepatic Artery Embolization to get to the tumors in the liver and hopefully reduce hypoglycemia symptoms.
Keep us posted and best wishes!