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Anyone on metformin after Whipple for pancreatic cancer?

Posted by margaretbannan1948 @margaretbannan1948, Jul 23 3:01am

I would like to chat with someone who has had a Whipple operation for pancreatic cancer and is on metformin. Thank you kindly Maggie

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 23 3:13pm

Hi @margaretbannan1948 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I have not had a Whipple for my pancreatic cancer, but I do take insulin daily to help with my compromised pancreas due to cancer. Prior to my pancreatic cancer diagnosis, I was on metformin for a few years. I did a search of previous conversations around your question. To my surprise, this link is the only conversation that came up. There isn't much there. I actually expected to find something more helpful.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/high-a1c/
I am hopeful that others with more direct experience with metformin post Whipple will respond. Do you have a specific question or two to ask, so we can help the responders address your concerns? Thanks.

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margaretbannan1948 | @margaretbannan1948 | Jul 24 2:41am
In reply to @tomrennie "Hi @margaretbannan1948 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I have not had a Whipple for my pancreatic..." + (show)
Profile picture for Turkey, Volunteer Mentor @tomrennie

Hi @margaretbannan1948 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I have not had a Whipple for my pancreatic cancer, but I do take insulin daily to help with my compromised pancreas due to cancer. Prior to my pancreatic cancer diagnosis, I was on metformin for a few years. I did a search of previous conversations around your question. To my surprise, this link is the only conversation that came up. There isn't much there. I actually expected to find something more helpful.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/high-a1c/
I am hopeful that others with more direct experience with metformin post Whipple will respond. Do you have a specific question or two to ask, so we can help the responders address your concerns? Thanks.

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@tomrennie
Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache, which seems to have appeared around the time I began metformin. I will go to my GP but I thought it would ease off. It is not there all the time but enough to be concerned. I think it is a side effect of metformin after a Whipple. Thank you kindly.

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3 replies
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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 24 4:35pm
In reply to @margaretbannan1948 "@tomrennie Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache,..." + (show)
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@tomrennie
Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache, which seems to have appeared around the time I began metformin. I will go to my GP but I thought it would ease off. It is not there all the time but enough to be concerned. I think it is a side effect of metformin after a Whipple. Thank you kindly.

Jump to this post

@margaretbannan1948

I read your post about the stomach pain after starting Metformin. I also took Metformin for several weeks and had the same side effect. I have heard that an extended-release formula of Metformin can help with that pain. As I never tried it, I can't say for certain, but it might be a good question to ask your doctor.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 24 5:43pm
In reply to @margaretbannan1948 "@tomrennie Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache,..." + (show)
Profile picture for margaretbannan1948 @margaretbannan1948

@tomrennie
Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache, which seems to have appeared around the time I began metformin. I will go to my GP but I thought it would ease off. It is not there all the time but enough to be concerned. I think it is a side effect of metformin after a Whipple. Thank you kindly.

Jump to this post

@margaretbannan1948 Metformin gave me stomach pain as well. It would come and go. It did decrease over time, but it still occasionally happened. I never found a remedy for it. I didn't have a Whipple. I haven't taken it for over 5 years, and I definitely wasn't aware of the extended-release formula that @hopeful33250 suggested. I agree with her. Talk to your doctor about it.

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margaretbannan1948 | @margaretbannan1948 | Jul 24 5:47pm
In reply to @margaretbannan1948 "@tomrennie Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache,..." + (show)
Profile picture for margaretbannan1948 @margaretbannan1948

@tomrennie
Thank you kindly for your response. Yes, I have stomach pain, like a belly ache, which seems to have appeared around the time I began metformin. I will go to my GP but I thought it would ease off. It is not there all the time but enough to be concerned. I think it is a side effect of metformin after a Whipple. Thank you kindly.

Jump to this post

@margaretbannan1948
Thank you fir your advice. After researching it is clear that Metformin after a Whipple needs to be taken with Creon or other supporting medication. I have been taking it at night with just a drink. Problem seems to be corrected now so thank you kindly for your assistance.

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1 reply
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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 24 7:20pm
In reply to @margaretbannan1948 "@margaretbannan1948 Thank you fir your advice. After researching it is clear that Metformin after a Whipple..." + (show)
Profile picture for margaretbannan1948 @margaretbannan1948

@margaretbannan1948
Thank you fir your advice. After researching it is clear that Metformin after a Whipple needs to be taken with Creon or other supporting medication. I have been taking it at night with just a drink. Problem seems to be corrected now so thank you kindly for your assistance.

Jump to this post

@margaretbannan1948 That's good to hear. So the creon is working? Did your doctor give you an idea on how much to take?

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mopow496 | @mopow496 | 6 days ago
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@margaretbannan1948 I read your post about the stomach pain after starting Metformin. I also took Metformin..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@margaretbannan1948

I read your post about the stomach pain after starting Metformin. I also took Metformin for several weeks and had the same side effect. I have heard that an extended-release formula of Metformin can help with that pain. As I never tried it, I can't say for certain, but it might be a good question to ask your doctor.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 I had to change to extended release metformin due to nausea (triggered by food smells) It was a welcome change!

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