Whipple procedure: What is the recovery like?

Here are some citations that may help clarify.

- Patients with normal‑range CA19‑9 levels represent a distinct subgroup of pancreatic cancer patients https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ol.2016.5501
"CA19-9 is the most important tumor marker in pancreatic cancer and is aberrantly secreted by the majority of pancreatic tumors (6,9,11–15,17,18). However, a distinct subset of patients with pancreatic cancer present with normal serum CA19-9 levels and are occasionally Lewis antigen-positive."

- What Is CA 19-9? from Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/diagnosis/ca19-9/
"Not every patient with pancreatic cancer will have a high CA 19-9 level.
Some conditions other than cancer can cause high CA 19-9 levels.
The CA 19-9 test cannot be used to diagnose or screen for pancreatic cancer by itself. Instead, doctors often use it to judge a treatment’s success."

I had the whipple procedure at the end of June.
Luckily no problems. Spent one week in hospital. Started back on regular diet about 4 days after surgery. No problems.
After about a week you can resume normal activities. Best of luck.

I had the Whipple procedure. Hospital stay after, one week.
Pretty much was unrestricted. Felt good and thank God, no complications.

I had a Whipple procedure along with removal of both ovaries in October. Large tumour in head of pancreas plus larger ovarian tumour meant a long incision from just below my breasts to my pelvis.

Spent 3 days in ICU and 2 weeks in the hospital. Sat up on day 2 and started walking on day 3. Just ice till day 3 and no solid foods till day 5. Pain management, anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory meds required up to 6 weeks post-op.

All tumours benign. Now permanently on Omeprazole to prevent gastric ulcers. Meal portion size back up to about 60% of same pre-OP. Frequent stomach muscle cramps from extended periods of driving, housework, gardening, but good mobility overall. Scarring not too bad but will need work to lessen visibility.

Wishing all of you well with your respective treatments.

elliek, do you have an elastic abdominal support brace for your abdomen that you use to support your stomach muscles while out driving, gardening, and doing housework?

My abdomen was opened up 3 times to have most of my large intestine removed and then subsequent 2 bowel obstructions with a revision of my anastomosis that all occurred in a span of one year.

The abdominal support really made a difference in my confidence that my abdominal muscles were being supported well and being so, I never experienced a hernia, incisional or otherwise.