1. < Pancreatic Cancer

What's recovery after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy like?

Posted by blw77 @blw77, Jun 6, 2022

Can anyone give me information on how their recovery was after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy? After 2 years of MRIs every 6 months and watching an MNC slowly but steadily grow, my doctor said that I should have this procedure. I'm 45 and typically a fairly healthy and active female. I'm trying to figure out how much time I'll need to be off of work or if I can manage to squeeze in in during the summer yet while I'm off.

Thank you for any information you have!

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

csanjurjo | @csanjurjo | Nov 25, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "That is very good news, @csanjurjo. Have any follow up tests/scans been scheduled yet?" + (show)
@hopeful33250

That is very good news, @csanjurjo. Have any follow up tests/scans been scheduled yet?

Jump to this post

Yes i had a MRI last June and the next month i have the next one. My tumor was an insulinoma so is easy to detect the possible appearance of a new nodule just monitoring the sugar blood level

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 25, 2024
In reply to @csanjurjo "Yes, after three months everything went back to normal, my energy levels too" + (show)
@csanjurjo

Yes, after three months everything went back to normal, my energy levels too

Jump to this post

That is very good news, @csanjurjo. Have any follow up tests/scans been scheduled yet?

REPLY
1 reply
csanjurjo | @csanjurjo | Nov 25, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "That is very good news, @csanjurjo. Is your energy level somewhat back to normal?" + (show)
@hopeful33250

That is very good news, @csanjurjo. Is your energy level somewhat back to normal?

Jump to this post

Yes, after three months everything went back to normal, my energy levels too

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 22, 2024
In reply to @csanjurjo "Hello Teresa, Luckily after some months I stopped having digestive symptoms and the situation stabilized. They..." + (show)
@csanjurjo

Hello Teresa,

Luckily after some months I stopped having digestive symptoms and the situation stabilized. They did some tests to check out what is now my pancreas capacity to segregate enzymes and I passed the tests, so at this moment i do not need to take enzymes and my sugar levels are also inside the expected bounds that is also a very good new.

Best regards,
Carlos

Jump to this post

That is very good news, @csanjurjo. Is your energy level somewhat back to normal?

REPLY
1 reply
csanjurjo | @csanjurjo | Nov 21, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @csanjurjo, It has been a while since you last posted. I was wondering how you..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @csanjurjo,

It has been a while since you last posted. I was wondering how you are doing. Are your digestive issues better now?

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Jump to this post

Hello Teresa,

Luckily after some months I stopped having digestive symptoms and the situation stabilized. They did some tests to check out what is now my pancreas capacity to segregate enzymes and I passed the tests, so at this moment i do not need to take enzymes and my sugar levels are also inside the expected bounds that is also a very good new.

Best regards,
Carlos

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 21, 2024
In reply to @csanjurjo "Hello Teresa, Thank you very much for the quick response. The doctors told me that I..." + (show)
@csanjurjo

Hello Teresa,

Thank you very much for the quick response.

The doctors told me that I didn't have to follow any type of diet, but right after I was discharged from the hospital, that's when I started to notice a greater feeling of fullness and lack of appetite. I have some pain but not too much and i feel very tired. I am 37 years old.

It is true that I am not having significant diarrhea (level 5 in Bristol stool scale) and I have not seen any floating or greasy stools, so you are probably right and it may have more to do with the postoperative period than with the lack of ability of my residual pancreas to generate enzymes. I will discuss it at the check-up with the surgeon to see what he thinks.

Thanks, best regards,
Carlos

Jump to this post

Hello @csanjurjo,

It has been a while since you last posted. I was wondering how you are doing. Are your digestive issues better now?

I look forward to hearing from you again.

REPLY
1 reply
Jami Theiler | @jamitheiler | Nov 20, 2024
In reply to @dantina777 "@jamilynne is it ok to ask when you had your surgery done at Mayo?" + (show)
@dantina777

@jamilynne is it ok to ask when you had your surgery done at Mayo?

Jump to this post

June 2020! I had a friend who had the same last year. Excellent outcomes.

REPLY
dantina777 | @dantina777 | Nov 20, 2024
In reply to @jamilynne "I had the distal panc/splenectomy. Dr Kendrick did an amazing job laparoscopically and had veins to..." + (show)
@jamilynne

I had the distal panc/splenectomy. Dr Kendrick did an amazing job laparoscopically and had veins to reconstruct. Unfortunately, I had pancreatic leak with the small remaining piece of pancreas and developed fluid pockets and an abscess. I was in the hospital for a month and out of work for three months recovering and dealing with drains, infections etc. a friend of mine just had the same only with open surgery and her recovery has been very difficult as well. Much more so with an open wound from chest to belly button. If you can get it done laparoscopically, it’s an easier recovery from a wound healing perspective. Keep in mind that you may also have diabetes after surgery depending on how much pancreas is taken. That’s a challenge to manage at the beginning as well.

Jump to this post

@jamilynne is it ok to ask when you had your surgery done at Mayo?

REPLY
1 reply
gardenlady1116 | @gardenlady1116 | Dec 22, 2023

On my CT scans the pancreas was atrophic and has continued to be. Creon seems to be for life. Stool can be tested for fat. After surgery I just could not eat as much. I was only 103 lb (110 before surgery) and not recovering well from surgery. My doctor started talking about a feeding tube. I started watching the clock and eating every 3 hours. Now I am six months after surgery. If I wait until I was really hungry I just could not eat enough to satisfy hunger. I still keep an eye on the time. Now I can eat more and go longer between meals which is helping me to "get a life again". I have been working on increasing my dose of Creon. At 36,000 three before meals, I have been having less difficulty with gas. Gas was certainly interfering with "getting a life" since smelly gas is not socially acceptable. I have been working with a great hepatobiliary dietician at Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center. can highly recommend having a dietician who is knowledgeable about cancer treatment. A hepatobiliary dietician is really "icing on the cake" and one of the benefits of being treated at a top of the line cancer center

REPLY
csanjurjo | @csanjurjo | Dec 22, 2023
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @csanjurjo and welcome to the Pancreatic Cancer support group on Mayo Connect. You are asking..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @csanjurjo and welcome to the Pancreatic Cancer support group on Mayo Connect. You are asking an important question about an eating plan post-surgery.

Here is a discussion that your might find helpful that deals with foods after pancreatic surgery.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/foods-after-pancreatectomysplenectomy/?commentsorder=newest#chv4-comment-stream-header
It does take time for your digestive system to recover from surgery. While I've not personally had pancreatic cancer, I have had three surgeries for a rare form of cancer in the upper digestive tract. As a result, I understand the need for meals to be small and more frequent.

Did your doctor provide you with any diet plan before you were discharged from the hospital? If not, a call to his office might be a good idea right now. I'd like to invite other members of Connect to this discussion such as @c2pricorn66 | @jk77 @markymarkfl @mnewland99

Outside of the feeling of fullness with fish and meat, how have you been feeling since your surgery?

Jump to this post

Hello Teresa,

Thank you very much for the quick response.

The doctors told me that I didn't have to follow any type of diet, but right after I was discharged from the hospital, that's when I started to notice a greater feeling of fullness and lack of appetite. I have some pain but not too much and i feel very tired. I am 37 years old.

It is true that I am not having significant diarrhea (level 5 in Bristol stool scale) and I have not seen any floating or greasy stools, so you are probably right and it may have more to do with the postoperative period than with the lack of ability of my residual pancreas to generate enzymes. I will discuss it at the check-up with the surgeon to see what he thinks.

Thanks, best regards,
Carlos

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.