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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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Hi @outlawcancer and congratulations on being home, now. Yes, loose stools are common after extensive digestive tract surgery and each person's experience is different. If you have any concerns, though, please contact your doctor's office by phone or through the patient portal.
I look forward to hearing from you as you continue your recovery. Will you keep posting with any concerns or questions?
Hello @kim1965,
I so appreciate the update! I'm glad that Day 2 is a better day for Kim and that she is walking. I recall walking the halls pulling my IV stand with me. Does she have an NG tube as well?
Keep posting as you can and let Kim know that each day will be easier>
That is excellent news. Tell her to keep up the great work.
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3 Reactions@outlawcancer
Day 2 update- Kim is doing way better today than last night. They have her walking 4x a day and sitting in the chair 3x a day. Pain is being held at 3-4, or lower, so much better today. I know it’s early yet, but going well so far. Drain tubes are slowing down.
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6 ReactionsThanks for the update on @kim1965. Make sure you’re there by her side when she needs you for moral support. Any surgery is a tough battle especially when when organs are being removed. She’s gonna need support and time to heal. God speed we’re here for your. Try to comment on her progression as time goes on.
Surgery update: Kim had surgery today to remove remove remaining mass on pancreas, remove gall bladder, remove spleen, remove as many liver tumors as possible. The surgeon states the left lobe of liver Kim’s good, but right lobe has micro tumors remaining that further treatment in future may address or the right lobe may be removed. Awaiting lab results on tumors removed to develop next step in our plan. Surgery was about 4.5 hours and she didn’t wake up till 5 hrs after. Onward to day 2 today.
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4 ReactionsHello everyone I am now at home resting. My pain levels have dropped significantly since yesterday. I haven’t been needing to take any heavy duty meds. Please excuse the nasty talk about this but I’d like to get feed back from those who been through this? Today I had my first bowel movement , of course it was diarrhea and it was like a dark green, and fowl smelling. Sorry that gross. But has anyone else experienced this?
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3 ReactionsBy the way, I would also like to send a thank you to everyone who has commented and posted on this thread and provided moral support.
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2 ReactionsHello everyone this is day 6 in the hospital. I am being released today to leave home. Some may ask why such a long hospital stay. Well I opted to stay a bit longer because the care I was receiving from the nurses and doctors was great. Meds on time, pain management the overall experience was great. I am also happy to report that my drain tube has been removed I’m now wearing a gauze. Let me touch on this so that those of you who will have this know what it’s like. Drain was removed, the drain hole does not get plugged up at least not medically. They place a gauze and pads over the hole, and it’s actually not a big hole more like a scar. Anyhow, they let fluids drain on its own and in about 3-4 days that hole will eventually close on its own and the fluids will stop draining. This is done to prevent an abscess. Medication I’ll be taking at home will be, Tylenol couple times a day, mobic, injectable blood thinners for couple of weeks to prevent blood clots, stool softeners. This has been a wild 6 day ride for me, my first major surgery that I do not wish upon anyone. Please take care of your body, mind and soul. Seek help immediately when you need it. God bless everyone through what ever journey you are going through. Keep your head up and stay positive. Amen!
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1 ReactionThanks great advice.🙏