Spasms after Whipple

Did these resolve for you? I just had Whipple 2 months ago and have also started getting these painful contractions, they last about a minute, followed by a LOT of burping.

I have had these spasms, last about a minute. I had Whipple a year ago. I had them more at the beginning, very infrequently now. Mine cause pain across my back, similar to gall bladder or pancreatitis attack, and sometimes referred pain up to my shoulder. I notice if I eat at night, and lie down or lie back soon after, this can bring it on - have to get up and walk around. Someone suggested holding arms above the head, I do that too. It does go away in about a minute, but painful while it lasts. My doctors don't know the cause.

@dalegantous
Hello,
I have just seen this thread and so glad about that. I have spasms, too, and glad I’m not the only one. I thought I was having a heart attack the first time it happened. My cardiologist said no.

I had a Whipple surgery 1 and 1/2 years ago. ( I still have my pylorus.) My spasms occur across my midsection and often up into my shoulders and chest. They last about a minute. I usually stand up and walk through them. I can’t see any pattern to when they occur, but they sure do hurt. My doctors don’t know the cause either.

@dalegantous
Hello,
I have just seen this thread and so glad about that. I have spasms, too, and glad I’m not the only one. I thought I was having a heart attack the first time it happened. My cardiologist said no.

I had a Whipple surgery 1 and 1/2 years ago. ( I still have my pylorus.) My spasms occur across my midsection and often up into my shoulders and chest. They last about a minute. I usually stand up and walk through them. I can’t see any pattern to when they occur, but they sure do hurt. My doctors don’t know the cause either.

@sara53 My husband had a Distal Pancreatectomy in July of 2024 , He also had the Spasms
and the Oncologist had no idea why. I have read responses on this site from so many people
about these Spasms. My husband also said he felt he was having a Heart Attack at first. They would last about a minute but they took his breath away when they were bad. They lasted a good 6 months and then went away.

Three months ago, I had to undergo another surgery for an abdominal obstruction due to scar tissue from my Whipple back in 2024. What I have noticed is that since my last surgery in which the surgeon "cleaned out" all the scar tissue, I have not had any more abdominal spasms. I am wondering if this could be the "root cause" of the spasms that I had experience post Whipple and prior to my second surgery? Time will tell.

Hi Fellow Whipple Spasm-ists! I had my Whipple 15 years ago, in January 2010. Yeah, those spasms haven't gone away, and if anything, have increased. I recommend that your physician prescribe Sucralfate. I take a 'swig' at the first twinge, and if the pain doesn't decrease within 10 minutes, I take another 'swig'. A home remedy is dill pickle juice. YES, dill pickle juice. My spasm(s) resemble a severe heart attack. It starts in my abdomen, up my chest, down my arm(mostly left side), up my neck, into my jaw, and ears, and with difficulty in breathing. Before knowing of the medication, I had spent hours in the ER, multiple times, fighting the pain with everything they could throw at me. Finally, the pain would subside. There are a couple of pages on Facebook dedicated to these spasms and us! BTW, I have been tested numerous times for a heart attack, and there were no findings, ever.

@sara53 Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am sorry to hear about the spasms, but it seems that you are not alone in having them. I am glad that standing and walking seem to help. Are they getting more or less frequent over time? Other than the spasms, how are you feeling?