Resolving the opinion about chemo first or surgery first seems compelling. Third opinion asap to address this issue seems like a very high priority. I was not an operative candidate to start with, but if I was in the situation you are in I would feel it was compelling to know the pluses and minuses of chemo up front.

Hi. Disclaimer: I'm one of the less-informed persons on this part of the Mayo site, and the following is anecdotal only.

I had an open Whipple on 10-5-23. I was in the hospital for 8 days (they kept me an extra day bc I live alone and lack nearby helpers -- wanted to make sure that I felt strong, felt confident about moving around and heating food, etc.).

I had relatively little pain after about 14 days, and I feel pretty good at this point (25 days after surgery); I think I would feel very good if not for one atypical factor (I have a tube in my stomach to help anchor it -- the surgeon had intended to fix my hiatal hernia as well but had to abandon that plan). To date there have been no complications (knock wood), and I'm pretty sure that radiation and more chemo are in my future, but I won't know for sure until I see my onc next week.

I'm almost 62; I'm in good (not great) health apart from my pc -- no other health problems, but I'm sedentary and a bit pudgy (and working to change that); and, I was diagnosed on 2-15-23 and had 8 rounds of Folfirinox between 4-4-23 and 8-2-23, if any of this helps.

I wish you well as you make your decision and navigate all of this. It's overwhelming, to say the least.