Connect
← Return to Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Discussion
Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: 23 hours ago | Replies (2203)Comment receiving replies
I need help using this site. To the best of my knowledge no one has responded to my initial input. I want to know what people have experienced who have had the same type surgery that I have had. Can you help me with this?
Carol Stroop.
Replies to "I need help using this site. To the best of my knowledge no one has responded..."
@cstroop1 Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. Sorry that I missed your original question. Below is another link that I hope you find helpful. How are you feeling?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-restrictions-if-any-are-in-place-6-weeks-after-the-whipple/
@cstroop1
My surgery is not Wipple but will be to remove a part of the tail of my pancreas. Scheduled in April of this 2026. Mayo’s Dr. Shauffley is my surgeon.
Would love comments from those who have had this type of surgery to help me understand what I am in for pre and post surgery.
Hi. The surgery you are having is likely a distal pancreatectomy. I had a distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy in April 2023. Mine was not robotic. I was hospitalized for six days. Most of that with a spinal block for pain control. Recovery was challenging but I was back to work remotely in about a week after I was released from hospital. Since my surgery, I have had to eat smaller, more frequent meals but am lucky that a portion of my pancreas is still there so no need to have supplemental meds to assist with digestion.
I would guess they will take your spleen as well which will require you to have some additional vaccinations post surgery.
It took my scar quite awhile to heal. Frequent walking is really good to help you accelerate your recovery.
Being eligible for surgery is good news. A surprise I had is that the doc took several areas of my liver to be assessed during the surgery. If there had been spread beyond the lymph nodes nodes, they would not move forward with the procedure. Fortunately for me there wasn’t.
About 4 weeks after my surgery I started chemo (folfirinox).
It has been almost three years, but I’m happy to answer any other questions you have to the best of my recollection.
My surgery was not done at Mayo but you are in great hands at Mayo.
Connect
@cstroop1
You may want to review this thread on the pancreatic cancer connect section: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/whipple-or-no-whipple/
There are other threads in the pancreatic cancer section which also speak to how patients are responding/coping with the surgery. Even though my wife's pancreatic cancer was too locally advanced to have the Whipple done, I have found this thread helpful and encouraging. I hope you do too and good luck Carol!!!