← Return to Husband had Whipple surgery and chemo: He's uncomfortable

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I had 12 Folfirinox treatments and then 15 r=
adiation treatments with oral chemo twice a day. I started chemo in May and i=
t lasted until mid-October, then October 31st started radiation and was luck=
y enough to stay at the Hope Lodge right in Rocester (a free cancer house) f=
or three weeks while I did radiation. I finish November 18th. I flew to Cali=
fornia to celebrate Thanksgiving and an early Christmas with my son and flew=
back to MN in time to have my surgery with Dr. Truty (Kendall=E2=80=99s par=
tner) on December 6th. I was in the hospital for 8 days with no ICU. I woke w=
ith an epidural and one drain plus a feeding tube which I never needed. I ex=
perienced very little pain and eating, even in the hospital, was no problem.=
Once home it was slow going but the nurse from Truty=E2=80=99s office calle=
d and said I was trying to run a marathon instead of learning to walk. Once I=
understood what she meant, I realized how well I felt each week from the pr=
evious week instead of looking at only day by day. I never used my feeding t=
ube so they took it out on my  week visit. I flew to Florida for the wi=
nter on January 20th after the =E2=80=9Cgo ahead=E2=80=9D by Truty=E2=80=99s=
office. I have not had any problems with eating although I am still 18 poun=
ds lighter, at 5=E2=80=994=E2=80=9D i went from 132 to 114-117. Since then I=
bought new clothes as pants and shorts fell off my hips, but I am loving li=
fe and my last two scans have been NED and my CA19-9 is down to 3. I play pi=
ckleball 5-6 days a week for 2 hours. I am in Vegas with my family and walki=
ng 17,000 to 21,000 steps a day with my Grandsons. They might be killing me b=
ut I love the fact I can do it at 72. Dr. Truty is not trained in robotic as=
is Kendall, so I did not have robotic and I would prefer open anyway. I wok=
e up to a glued incision which looked healed after the first day and never b=
othered me after at all. It is still a bit numb but no problems. I hope all t=
his rambling helps alleviate any fears you might have. I realize we are all d=
ifferent in how we react and heal, but that is my story. Mayo is a miraculou=
s place and Truty and Kendall are amazing surgeons dedicated to PC. I wish y=
ou the best of luck with your journey.=E2=80=9C=
Yesterday is a memory, today is a gift, tomorrow is a dream=E2=80=9D.=E2=80=9CI am not going to die before I am dead=E2=80=9D.=
Sent from Denna=E2=80=99s iPadOn Jul 12, 2023, at 9:54 AM, Mayo Clinic Connect=
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Replies to "--Apple-Mail-3049A7D4-2822-463B-B370-353EA0B9E76D Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I had 12 Folfirinox treatments and then 15 r= adiation..."

Thanks so much for your "ramblings"! I'll share your very helpful and encouraging reply with my wife. Like you, I found every aspect of patient care to be exceptional, particularly my specific pancreatic care team, including each and every staff member in gastroenterology, oncology, surgery, etc. Indeed, Mayo Clinic is an amazing place.

I'll be using your endnote comment as good reminder going forward. "Yesterday is a memory, today is a gift, tomorrow is a dream." May I be lucky enough to find myself in your condition a year from now. Best wishes to you and your family.