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PNET Surgery: My recovery journey
Hello everyone, yesterday on February 24,2023 I underwent a distal pancrectomy and a spleenectomy. I am am posting this comment from my hospital room. I arrived at the hospital at 5:15 Am for registration and I was taken in by the pre-op staff for preparation…as I walked in the area I was in had numerous bays with beds ready for the next person to have surgery.. the anesthesiologist came and spoke to, he then left and came back and began administering meds to call me down, I kid you not, minutes later I woke up in the recovery room. I don’t even remember them wheeling me into the operating room. So here is my post op experience so far. I’m am currently experiencing mid and lower abdominal pain 7/10 severity. The nurses her have been helpful. They’ve administered morphine, Tylenol etc… my surgery was done laparoscopically I have about 6 portholes in my belly and a tube coming out upper midsection for secretion of the pancreatic fluids. They also have these pads on the lower portion of my leg which massages me about every minute or so alternating legs. This was done to prevent blood clotting of any sort…last but not least the old dreaded catheter/foley that’s in my bladder. I have to say my throat is sore from the tube they had in me during surgery.. I can tell you that coughing, moving around is painful for me at least. This is why they administer drugs to keep the pain at bay.. remember they just removed my spleen and half or more of my pancreas.. of course no big appetites or anything like that. I been drink ice water and chewing on ice chips. All these meds tend to dry out mouth. Later around the 10 pm the nurses helped me up and I walked a lap on the hospital floor I am at. So far i have experienced some pain in the belly part of it is probably gas pain as well. Whoever is goin though this procedure just prep yourself mentally and physically it’s not that bad you will be ok. if anyone needs more info please feel free to contact me… I will try to add more details and updates through the day or days to come.
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Hello everyone I am on day 2 in the hospital. Today was a bad day with pain. I was a 10/10 and morphine wasn’t working. The floor Dr of the day upped my dosage changed it to a stronger medicine. Can’t trembler the name but it I’ll find out., I’ve also been given heparin, Pepcid AC, Tylenol etc etc…. The new meds kinda curbed the pain. My stomach is definitely bloated, I’ve been on a liquid diet 4 times a day and have not ate any of it. Either it’s too salty or just no appetite. The hello is good tho.
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1 ReactionHello everyone I am on day 3 post op. Yes I’m still in the hospital. The nurses here are great very attentive. I am still having pain in my belly and it’s swollen. That is probably expected just due to the nature of the surgery. I’m continuing pain meds for management. I’m up and walking 2-3 times a day sometimes just once.
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3 Reactions@outlawcancer
It was great to hear to you share your experience with your surgery. Would love to share info with you. My wife’s having the same surgery, plus treatment of tumors in her liver, so we will be surgery partners in the coming days. It was great to hear that they got you up and moving around the day of surgery. How long was your surgery? Ours is scheduled for 4-6 hours. I take it you have the drain tube coming out of the pancreas area, hopefully you will be able to remove it before leaving hospital. Please keep in touch on your progress in the coming days.
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1 ReactionHello @outlawcancer,
Providing a log of your recovery from surgery is so helpful as others consider their own surgery. While everyone's experience is different, it helps to have some perspective.
Do you know when you will be discharged from the hospital? Do you have support or help once you go home?
Hello @kim1965
I'm glad that you were able to read the experience of @outlawcancer in order to prepare yourself for your wife's experience. Remember that everyone's experience will be different, though.
Will your wife be having the treatment for the liver during the same surgery? Do you know the name of the treatment?
Yes, the plan is to remove the mass on tail of pancreas, spleen, gall badder, and remove as much of the tumors on liver as possible through ablasion on surface, and combo of sonogram and radiation on ones that are inside of liver. Around a 4-6 hour surgery.
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2 ReactionsHello, my arrival and check in time was 5:30 am, I was taken to the pre-op area around 5:45 am. I had a really nice nurse she took her time prepped me up with saline drip , some antibiotics and other meds which I don’t recall. All I remember is still being in the pre-op area, I don’t ever remember being wheeled into the OR. Of course the next time I woke up, I was in the recovery room. When I came to some consciousness I look Ed up at the clock and it was 2pm. The rule of thumb was surgery was performed 2 hours after check in. My surgery took 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. Everything else was either prepped or post op revert room. I was then wheeled up to my room where I am currently typing this reply comment. My procedure was done laparoscopically, I have to warn you, I am 6’0 270 pound male adult and I been in some excruciating pain in my belly area. Also be prepared to have a Foley catheter in your bladder. They took mine out yesterday. I do have a drain tube, it’s been drained several times and it’s pretty active: it’s not painful at all probably more of a nuisance than anything else. Try to stay at the hospital As long as you can. The meds are great and the service great. Good luck to both of you. If you need any more info please feel free to send me a message or coment on this thread.
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2 ReactionsI’ll be honest I’m in no rush to leave the hospital. The service is great and the meds are on time. I will see my surgeon tomorrow morning when she makes her rounds on the hospital floor.
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4 ReactionsI'm glad to hear that you are so pleased with the care that the hospital is providing, @outlawcancer!
Will you keep posting as you continue your recovery at the hospital or at home?
Thanks for the added information, @kim1965. I wish you both the best! I know this type of surgery is difficult for both the patient as well as the family members. I hope you keep posting with updates.
Will you have another family member with you as you wait during the surgery process? Has a surgery date been set?