Looking to connect re Whipple surgery: What do you wish you had known?

In 2012 I had a whipple surgery, and spent 8 days in the hospital, plus an additional night in a hotel close to the hospital "just in case". Right now, as long as I take my medicine and eat properly, I am feeling very normal. I returned to work 3 months later, on a limited schedule. This was not easy. The hardest part was learning to manage my type1 diabetes, because for the first 2 years I did not have an insulin pump. I always have a couple cans of fruit juice in my purse or car, and little candies or glucose tablets. Be sure your family and friends know to give you juice if your insulin drops. And the other hard part was figuring out my diet. Right now I take 3 creons with every meal, and follow a low-carb, low-oxalate, low-fat, low-salt diet. Best is to have three 45-carb meals, no snacks. You can survive well, but you have to follow the rules.

I had the whipple last year in November. After one year I have very little negative affects and no reoccurring cancer yet. But post surgery was hard, I guess I would have liked someone to explain some of the complications. My biggest issue was infections and leaky ducts. I had a gi tube for 5 weeks as my atomic was not healing well and antibiotics through Iv for 3 months. I was in hospital for 52 days and finished my antibiotics at home with home care. Chemo was very hard on me as well as infections continued with my suppressed immune systems. The only other thing that took me back after surgery was the drugs used for pain control, I reacted bad and hallucinated and had difficulty until I got them to reduce dose. Over all I’m am so glad the medical team was successful and I’m planning my life moving forward. At 61 I am now retired and finding other interests. Good luck and trust the system and keep positive.

@rmlrml Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have been at this for a while and have learned how to be successful. Congrats to you. What are three things that you can share with others that may help them be successful as well? Thanks.

1. You are no longer in charge. Your digestion/diabetes/kidneys are in charge. Do what you must to keep them healthy and don't fight it.
2. Re: diabetes, do not eat if your blood sugar is too high, just wait til it comes down. So you eat your meal an hour after others? So what? Just do right for your own body. No late night snacking. No stacking insulin. Take your insulin bolus, then wait til it starts to come down before you eat. I give it 20 minutes or so.
3. Learn to read food labels. Fats are very hard on me, for some reason salads with olive oil is the worst.

Hello @point4mom

It has been a couple of weeks since you posted about your upcoming Whipple procedure. Do you have any questions or concerns as you anticipate your December appointment?

@jerryc131 what doctor did his surgery. We are looking into surgeons right now.

What dr did his surgery? We are looking for a surgeon right now

@medicalhelp777
My husband had his surgery at UVA in Charlottesville. VA. His surgeon was Todd W. Bauer.
His radiation and chemo at the adjacent building at the Emily Couric Cancer Center.
Good luck!

@medicalhelp777
Where are you located?

@medicalhelp777 we traveled to Arizona. Banner health /MD Anderson with Dr. Choti. Chief surgeon