1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Foods after Pancreatectomy/Splenectomy

Posted by flashbackfcr @flashbackfcr, Aug 19, 2022

My husband had a total pancreatectomy/splenectomy and gall bladder removal on 8/11, so he's now a Type1 diabetic (was a Type2 for a couple of years before). He was in the hospital for 6 days. They started him out on clear liquids (1 day), then moved to soft foods for a couple of days and then put him on their "regular" diet. I absolutely understand that he needs to eat whatever he can in very small amounts, but we're definitely struggling. Nothing appeals to him and even eating small amounts causes diarrhea. I'm trying for high quality protein, low fat, low fiber foods. This morning's breakfast was 1/2 hard boiled egg, 1/2 slice cinnamon bread (no raisins), 1/4 banana, and no sugar added cherry juice diluted 50/50 with water. Can anyone offer any suggestions of what foods might be good to offer at this point? He's beginning to stress over the diarrhea because he says he has no warning and many times can't make it to the bathroom 12 feet away. He doesn't move around much, and I'm wondering how to motivate him to do more of that too? I know it will be a LONG road ahead, but today it seems longer than he will tolerate. Any advice or tips would be much appreciated!

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c2pricorn66 | @c2pricorn66 | Nov 2, 2023

Hi Colleen
Creon 25000 mg 3 x a day and 10000 mg in between meals (snacks) seems to settle his tummy ache. But the drain still attach exactly 8 weeks today. Surgeon pull out and cut 4cm of the drain and re-stitched last night stitches came undone and 10cm came out now in severe pain -off to see hospital again.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 2, 2023
In reply to @c2pricorn66 "Hello & good day. Hubby had lap distal panc & spleen on the 6 Sept. and..." + (show)
@c2pricorn66

Hello & good day. Hubby had lap distal panc & spleen on the 6 Sept. and on regular diet. A few weeks after, he was put on 25,000 creon 3x a day but he's been getting abdo pain @ times esp when he doesn't snack or pass meal times. How long can you go on it? and should Dr lower its dose?

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@c2pricorn66, how is your hubby doing? Have you been able to find the right Creon dosage?

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jk77 | @jk77 | Oct 25, 2023

I realize that you posted 3 mos. ago, but in case this might be of use: White rice? (A bland, low-fiber food that has binding properties.)

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jk77 | @jk77 | Oct 25, 2023
In reply to @mnewland99 "Also, bananas are very high in sugar and any sugar substitute would cause diarrhea. Have you..." + (show)
@mnewland99

Also, bananas are very high in sugar and any sugar substitute would cause diarrhea. Have you tried Ensure protein drink?

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Ensure is very high in sugar + assorted lab chemicals.

I use Bolthouse Farms Protein Plus shakes, and I dilute them with equal parts dairy milk and soy milk (bc these shakes also contain too much sugar, but they're less synthetic than Ensure, Boost, etc).

I also recommend Orgain shakes or Orgain powder + fluid.

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marienewland | @mnewland99 | Oct 22, 2023

Also, bananas are very high in sugar and any sugar substitute would cause diarrhea. Have you tried Ensure protein drink?

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1 reply
marienewland | @mnewland99 | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @c2pricorn66 "Hello & good day. Hubby had lap distal panc & spleen on the 6 Sept. and..." + (show)
@c2pricorn66

Hello & good day. Hubby had lap distal panc & spleen on the 6 Sept. and on regular diet. A few weeks after, he was put on 25,000 creon 3x a day but he's been getting abdo pain @ times esp when he doesn't snack or pass meal times. How long can you go on it? and should Dr lower its dose?

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I took 36,000 3x per day for the first 8 mos. Then took papaya pills when creon became unaffordable ($2500 per bottle). I didn’t experience diarrhea but did experience pain if I didn’t take it before eating. After taking papaya pills I found out I didn’t need to take those either and now I take nothing. However due to my now diabetes type 1 situation I’m careful with what I eat which is mainly low carb and low sugar. Maybe low carb and sugar diet would help?

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1 reply
marienewland | @mnewland99 | Oct 21, 2023

Is he taking creon before he eats? I ate chicken noodle soup to start and egg whites and toast. Couldn’t eat much in the beginning but it gets better as time go by.

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c2pricorn66 | @c2pricorn66 | Oct 21, 2023
In reply to @marvinjsturing "@flashbackfcr I had my Whipple 8 years ago. I reviewed my notes about my diagnosis and..." + (show)
@marvinjsturing

@flashbackfcr I had my Whipple 8 years ago. I reviewed my notes about my diagnosis and surgery last week. One of my symptoms was diarrhea. My doctor started me on Creon the day he diagnosed my cancer. I currently take 3 Creon 24,000 with each meal and 2 with each snack. If I forget to take even one dose of Creon, I will have diarrhea in 24 hours. As long as I take my Creon, I can eat just about anything I want.

Jump to this post

Hello & good day. Hubby had lap distal panc & spleen on the 6 Sept. and on regular diet. A few weeks after, he was put on 25,000 creon 3x a day but he's been getting abdo pain @ times esp when he doesn't snack or pass meal times. How long can you go on it? and should Dr lower its dose?

REPLY
2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 18, 2022
In reply to @flashbackfcr "Thanks for asking. He's not doing very well - he's been re-hospitalized twice for serious GI..." + (show)
@flashbackfcr

Thanks for asking. He's not doing very well - he's been re-hospitalized twice for serious GI bleeds. He's on day 8 of the 2nd hospitalization today. Mayo surgeon thinks the problem is solved - they "clipped" a stomach ulcer and put a stent in a narrowed vein coming from the liver. From the most recent endoscopy, the ulcer no longer seems to be bleeding and the bile seems to be freely flowing from the stent placement. However, his hemoglobin remains between 7.5 & 8.5, even after several transfusions. They just gave him another 2 units today, hemoglobin is at 10.1 now. If it trends downward again, they'll repeat the endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures looking for the cause. The continuous diarrhea hasn't let up, but it's looking more like stool than just frank red blood now. The many "procedures" he's had while hospitalized have left him weak and with lots of muscle wasting since he's been NPO for so long. Hoping the upcoming week will bring better things!!!

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Fingers crossed. I'll be thinking of you both and hoping for that the clip resolves the issues. Keep up posted.

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flashbackfcr | @flashbackfcr | Sep 18, 2022

Thanks for asking. He's not doing very well - he's been re-hospitalized twice for serious GI bleeds. He's on day 8 of the 2nd hospitalization today. Mayo surgeon thinks the problem is solved - they "clipped" a stomach ulcer and put a stent in a narrowed vein coming from the liver. From the most recent endoscopy, the ulcer no longer seems to be bleeding and the bile seems to be freely flowing from the stent placement. However, his hemoglobin remains between 7.5 & 8.5, even after several transfusions. They just gave him another 2 units today, hemoglobin is at 10.1 now. If it trends downward again, they'll repeat the endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures looking for the cause. The continuous diarrhea hasn't let up, but it's looking more like stool than just frank red blood now. The many "procedures" he's had while hospitalized have left him weak and with lots of muscle wasting since he's been NPO for so long. Hoping the upcoming week will bring better things!!!

REPLY
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