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Pancreatic neuroendocrine insulinoma

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) | Last Active: Sep 20 5:34am | Replies (73)

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@hopeful33250

Hello @jasonrex86 and welcome to the NETs support group on Mayo Connect. I'm so glad to hear that you are panning on getting a second opinion at Mayo. We have many members who have experience with insulinomas, and I'll tag them so that they can respond to you, @ahtaylor (who recently had an embolization at Mayo Clinic in Rochester), @tomrennie and @pavlina60.

If you would like to read more about their experiences, they have shared their stories on the Mayo Connect Spotlights. Here are the links to those Spotlights:
--@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/
Have you had problems with your blood sugar numbers, @jasonrex86?

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Replies to "Hello @jasonrex86 and welcome to the NETs support group on Mayo Connect. I'm so glad to..."

Thank you for posting their links.
I starting experiencing periodic hypoglycemia about a year and a half ago. In the beginning, my endocrinologist said it was most likely prediabetes. For over a year I didn't take it very serious because I have no family history of diabetes and I'm otherwise healthy and in good physical shape. He did mention an insulinoma but indicated that it was extremely rare. About three months ago things got much worse as I was experiencing hypoglycemia many times a day. I had blood drawn after fasting for about 14 hours, my blood sugar was a 31 with elevated insulin levels. I was prescribed diazoxide but could not tolerate it as it was counter productive because I was nauseous all the time and struggled to eat anything.
I've had 3 CT scans, an MRI, and a PET scan, all appeared normal. An EUS revealed 2 insulinomas in the pancreas. While having laparoscopic surgery it was determined that they couldn't get them out without performing a whipple procedure so they're now advising having one of them ablated using RFA via another EUS. The other mass is very small and they're advising to do nothing to it for now.
I'm currently managing my sugar level with a dexcom sensor and eating many meals a day. I wake up at least once every night and sometimes as many as three times a night to raise my blood sugar.
I'm still waiting for an appointment at Mayo but hoping it will be in a couple weeks so I can get a second opinion before having RFA. Is there anyone on here that has treated their insulinoma with RFA? My understanding is that they frequently grow back over time.