Symptomatic after two years out from Whipple

Hi Brittany
I am 6 years out of a modified Whipple taking the remaining pancreas and leaving part of the head. I have seen 3 nutritionist and many GI visits and endoscopies. All reveal that my stomach is very angry in the surgical site, post surgery. The area of the removal of 2/3 of the stomach seems irritated. A year ago I added a second PPI like Protonix, Prilosec to my regimen and it has really helped. However, I still can’t eat spaghetti sauce, pizza and have to limit things like popcorn and chips as they absolutely make me bloated, nauseous and I can’t eat much in the days following. Also smaller portions is a must!
Are you currently on Creon type enzymes?
If so, that can cause the same issues it seems. I am not on Creon, since testing shows I am not deficient. Also, consider a food diary, this way you can tell what causes issues. I am already Glutenfree, low oxalate( due to development of kidney stones and lactose free . I try and follow a low Fodmop diet, eliminating gas causing foods like garlic, onions, beans etc. Keep being a squeaky wheel, and get the care you need.
While studies show that GI problems can follow us the rest of our lives, we can find solutions to improve how you feel! 💜🙏

Em, thank you so much for responding and sharing! I appreciate you. I will definitely check out the low fodmap diet. I do take Ceron as the head of my pancreas is gone. I get really bloated/abdominal pain without it. I’m pretty much vegan, any high fats and animal fats seem to be bad news for me. I get so nervous and sometimes don’t eat because of getting sick. I weight 82 pounds it sucks, I lost 20 lbs after surgery. So I’m trying to gain. Protein shakes are too heavy on my stomach so I’m really just trying to figure out what I can eat. Just sucks. I can’t only eat white rice. 🥴

Oh wow Brittany…Ask your oncologist if you can see a nutritionist and you can both figure out some bland meals. I can’t do protein drinks, even vegan based makes me sick. I was overweight at surgery and lost 40 lbs at first and 20 more pounds since getting well. I am now thin and I do fight to keep my weight up as well. I change up breakfast foods often. I am eating oatmeal currently and think it’s very healthy and helps keep me full. I eat cheese or boiled eggs and sometimes peanut butter for snack. I stopped milk and lost more weight as I hated all the substitutes. So I added back lactose ice-cream helps me maintain weight but it’s only 1/2 cup a day. The nutritionist wanted me to do vegan but since beans are off base, I am better off with a regular diet. I hope you get the help you need! 🙏💜

Yes, I’ve spoke to a nutritionist. It just seems like my body isn’t holding fat. It all sucks. Not to mention the bill I received after my last procedure. Double what the estimate was. Healthcare is nuts and I never know what insurance is going to cover and what they will not cover. Ugh now I’m just complaining. Thank you again for chatting and sharing. A food diary is a must, just need to stick with it. It’s just frustrating because I can eat eggs one day totally fine then the next day it makes me sick.