What's recovery after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy like?

You are amazing. I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow and I hope I will have the courage you had in dealing with the complications

I had a distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy in 2016 (7 years ago). At that time I was in my late 20's. A few things have changed in my life after my pancreatectomy. First I no longer have daily pain now that my tumor is gone, that is the good news. However, I can no longer drink alcohol due to getting pancreatitis from consumption. I also now take digestive enzymes with all my meals to better digest food. I have also had two pregnancies since my pancreatectomy and got bad gestational diabetes with both babies and had to go on insulin. But going back to 2016 for post surgery recovery I was in the hospital for 11 days. My procedure was done at Mayo Clinic laparoscopically. I had some post surgery complications my incision site on my pancreas leaked and I had to get a drain put in. I got to wear this drain for a month. It does take a lot to care and clean the drain daily. Also once my drain was put in I had to get a nose tube put in to suck the leaking pancreatic fluids from my stomach, so I was hooked up to a bed for three days straight. This was the worst part of my recovery since I could not talk or eat with my nose tube in. After I got my nose tube taken out I was so weak from not eating or moving for days that I had to use a walker to walk. I sure did not feel like a 27 year old at this point. My full recovery time till I felt pretty good to eat normally and leave the house was about 12 weeks. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any support or have questions.

I had a distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy in 2016 (7 years ago). At that time I was in my late 20's. A few things have changed in my life after my pancreatectomy. First I no longer have daily pain now that my tumor is gone, that is the good news. However, I can no longer drink alcohol due to getting pancreatitis from consumption. I also now take digestive enzymes with all my meals to better digest food. I have also had two pregnancies since my pancreatectomy and got bad gestational diabetes with both babies and had to go on insulin. But going back to 2016 for post surgery recovery I was in the hospital for 11 days. My procedure was done at Mayo Clinic laparoscopically. I had some post surgery complications my incision site on my pancreas leaked and I had to get a drain put in. I got to wear this drain for a month. It does take a lot to care and clean the drain daily. Also once my drain was put in I had to get a nose tube put in to suck the leaking pancreatic fluids from my stomach, so I was hooked up to a bed for three days straight. This was the worst part of my recovery since I could not talk or eat with my nose tube in. After I got my nose tube taken out I was so weak from not eating or moving for days that I had to use a walker to walk. I sure did not feel like a 27 year old at this point. My full recovery time till I felt pretty good to eat normally and leave the house was about 12 weeks. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any support or have questions.

@breezygirl i Also had a distal pancreadectomy for tumor in tail of pancreas, which included spleen removal.
This surgery did require a few weeks of “relaxing” but by no means was I bedridden. Just sore when yawning or laughing for awhile. The surgery normally does not take very long with an experienced surgeon that does it laperoscopically. Lots of immunizations afterwards. Not only have I never had Covid, but I haven’t even contracted a cold since the surgery in December, 2022. Last month i travelled to Portugal for a little vacation. shoulder to shoulder often !
my health, even after 14 rounds of Fulfurinox, was good. so my case is different than your husband's. Just be sure the surgery is done by Lap with a surgeon very experienced with the DaVinci machine they use! a pancreas/liver/hepobiliary specialist.

I am 3 weeks post distal pancreatectomy with spleen removal. I am a 68 YO male who was in fine condition prior to surgery. It has been miserable! Shooting pain when I breathe, nausea, fever and lack of appetite. 9 days in the hospital….then got to go home and sleep in my own bed. The most wonderful feeling. Spiked a fever…..doctor can’t figure out exactly why……getting antibiotics and hoping.