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To whipple or not to whipple? What is quality of life like after?

Posted by calvink69 @calvink69, Dec 9, 2025

Am 56 years old in generally good health, though with type 2 diabetes. Have a very large (41mm) adenoma in my duodenum. It's not malignant but is of a type that will almost certainly become malignant, it will eventually block my duodenum. I also have abnormal cells in the bulb of my duodenum, so endoscopic removal is not an option. Surgeon is suggesting a full Whipple, without preserving the pylorus. Realize that I'm blessed that things are pre-malignant but also didn't have a Whipple on my bingo card at this point in my life. Whole process has moved very quickly - started with anemia in mid-October and am looking at a potential surgery date in January. Would appreciate anyone's perspective on living with a Whipple and on quality-of-life post recovery.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 28 9:02am
In reply to @ln100 "@tomrennie Hi. I think slowing down my eating habits and eating less more often is something..." + (show)
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@tomrennie Hi. I think slowing down my eating habits and eating less more often is something I have to train myself to do. I feel bad about being such a downer. I think Jaimie and his Mom are real heroes and are lucky to have each other and so are all the positive people I’ve been reading. I know they are going to do well. My husband is my rock. My insides are just not taking well to the changes. I’m going to look at what @stageivsurvivor said again. Ln100

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@ln100 Changing habits is really hard, especially when you have been forced to change a lot already. Try to focus on changing one or two things first then go from there. Changing too much all at one time can be overwhelming. Does that sound possible? I personally feed off off the positivity and heroics of others. They motivate me to move forward with a positive attitude.

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linda86 | @linda86 | Jul 28 7:48am
In reply to @ln100 "To @tomrennie, Thanks for your concern. So far, no. I’m hunting for a new GI doctor...." + (show)
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To @tomrennie, Thanks for your concern. So far, no. I’m hunting for a new GI doctor. This whipple is no joke. I had complications with the surgery, in the hospital and still a year later. I’m overwhelmed. The dietician said on the spectrum of difficulties after I am on the very high side. I don’t believe that. I can’t be the only one. Oh well. I’ll keep on trying to solve this as best as possible. I don’t want to scare anyone who needs the surgery. It’s just that it’s hard to fathom I had pancreatic cancer because I went in feeling fine physically and came out a wreck. Ln100

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@ln100 my husband had the Whipple but they found more cancer and he only lived a few months after. I just wanted to tell you to
Make sure you have no infection. He had infection that went undiagnosed until they finally sent to an infection disease doctor. That doctor ask him why he had not came to see him sooner. We did not known he needed to see him.

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ln100 | @ln100 | Jul 27 11:20pm
In reply to @tomrennie "@ln100 Have you tried any of the suggestions that @stageivsurvivor mentioned on a previous comment? He..." + (show)
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@ln100 Have you tried any of the suggestions that @stageivsurvivor mentioned on a previous comment? He is the most knowledgeable person that I know on the subject.

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@tomrennie Hi. I think slowing down my eating habits and eating less more often is something I have to train myself to do. I feel bad about being such a downer. I think Jaimie and his Mom are real heroes and are lucky to have each other and so are all the positive people I’ve been reading. I know they are going to do well. My husband is my rock. My insides are just not taking well to the changes. I’m going to look at what @stageivsurvivor said again. Ln100

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2 replies
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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 27 8:24pm
In reply to @ln100 "To @tomrennie, Thanks for your concern. So far, no. I’m hunting for a new GI doctor...." + (show)
Profile picture for ln100 @ln100

To @tomrennie, Thanks for your concern. So far, no. I’m hunting for a new GI doctor. This whipple is no joke. I had complications with the surgery, in the hospital and still a year later. I’m overwhelmed. The dietician said on the spectrum of difficulties after I am on the very high side. I don’t believe that. I can’t be the only one. Oh well. I’ll keep on trying to solve this as best as possible. I don’t want to scare anyone who needs the surgery. It’s just that it’s hard to fathom I had pancreatic cancer because I went in feeling fine physically and came out a wreck. Ln100

Jump to this post

@ln100 Have you tried any of the suggestions that @stageivsurvivor mentioned on a previous comment? He is the most knowledgeable person that I know on the subject.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 27 7:46pm
In reply to @brewster066 "I had the Whipple surgery two weeks. It went well. Pending the final pathology report, I..." + (show)
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I had the Whipple surgery two weeks. It went well. Pending the final pathology report, I am cancer free. I am early on in my recovery. Fatigue and gastric issues are my greatest challenge at the moment.
I consider myself very fortunate. Kudos to Dr Alex Blair and his team at the James Cancer Center at Ohio State.

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@brewster066 Congrats on your Whipple going well. Hopefully, the pathology report confirms cancer free. My fingers are crossed for you. What does the game plan for your recovery look like? Is there a time table for any follow up tests and scans? Thanks.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Jul 27 7:40pm
In reply to @bilas "@tomrennie Yes at times I am falling apart. I was visiting Jamie in the hospital Saturday...." + (show)
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@tomrennie Yes at times I am falling apart. I was visiting Jamie in the hospital Saturday. I decided to go to my car and just let my emotions go. Three ladies came to my car to ask if there was anything they could do. I told the ladies I am just falling apart. We talked and prayed for a moment. A short time later one of the ladies came back to the car with a Starbucks Gift Card and a muffin. I will never ever forget this act of pure kindness. Jamie is home now and sleeping.HUGS, Carole & Jamie

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@bilas You just made me cry happy tears. Thank you. Seems to me that your prayers were answered. You found comforting ladies and an extra special lady to return with a gift card an a muffin. Hopefully, you allowed yourself to smile for a few moments? Greats news that Jamie is home and sleeping. Did his hospital stay uncover anything additional?

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brewster066 | @brewster066 | Jul 27 10:53am

I had the Whipple surgery two weeks. It went well. Pending the final pathology report, I am cancer free. I am early on in my recovery. Fatigue and gastric issues are my greatest challenge at the moment.
I consider myself very fortunate. Kudos to Dr Alex Blair and his team at the James Cancer Center at Ohio State.

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2 replies
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artistrose | @artistrose | Jul 27 10:51am
In reply to @bilas "@tomrennie Yes at times I am falling apart. I was visiting Jamie in the hospital Saturday...." + (show)
Profile picture for bilas @bilas

@tomrennie Yes at times I am falling apart. I was visiting Jamie in the hospital Saturday. I decided to go to my car and just let my emotions go. Three ladies came to my car to ask if there was anything they could do. I told the ladies I am just falling apart. We talked and prayed for a moment. A short time later one of the ladies came back to the car with a Starbucks Gift Card and a muffin. I will never ever forget this act of pure kindness. Jamie is home now and sleeping.HUGS, Carole & Jamie

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@bilas I’m following along. Really feeling for you. ❤️ How nice of those ladies. I had an experience like that once - also went to car to break down. People can be kind which is heartening! Thinking of both you and Jamie and hope for improvement and answers for him. - Rose

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bilas | @bilas | Jul 27 9:06am
In reply to @tomrennie "@bilas I hope the results of the liver biopsy go well. I have had one myself...." + (show)
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@bilas I hope the results of the liver biopsy go well. I have had one myself. Waiting on the results can be difficult. I would be surprised if you weren't falling apart. I sometimes think it is easier to be the patient than the caregiver. All you can do is your best. If your best is falling apart, then fall apart. I know what it is like to feel like Humpty Dumpty. Sometimes, we need the support of all of the king's horses and all of the king's men to put the pieces of ourselves back together again. Do you have help putting your pieces back together again?

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@tomrennie Yes at times I am falling apart. I was visiting Jamie in the hospital Saturday. I decided to go to my car and just let my emotions go. Three ladies came to my car to ask if there was anything they could do. I told the ladies I am just falling apart. We talked and prayed for a moment. A short time later one of the ladies came back to the car with a Starbucks Gift Card and a muffin. I will never ever forget this act of pure kindness. Jamie is home now and sleeping.HUGS, Carole & Jamie

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ln100 | @ln100 | Jul 27 8:42am
In reply to @gamaryanne "@ln100 what was Rifaxin prescribed for?" + (show)
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@ln100 what was Rifaxin prescribed for?

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@gamaryanne Hi. I think to see if I have and treat SIBO (small intestine bacteria overgrowth) which I might have. Who knows. I have constipation with soft stool, and I have diarrhea. I feel like I have to go all the time and struggle to maybe go a little and then I also have explosions of diarrhea and bad cramps. This goes on constantly. And this is after about 9 months of only diarrhea all day everyday. I don’t think the doctors know what anything is or what to do. Sorry I’m so negative but I’m fed up with this. LN100

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