Whipple procedure: How to manage daily, chronic nausea and diarrhea?

Posted by apriloravecz1 @apriloravecz1, Jun 24 9:21pm

I had stage 2 ampullary cancer and had a whipple procedure in March of 2021. Eventhough my cancer seems to be in total remission I have had very severe nausea and diarrhea daily. It's been going on for 3 years with no letting up. My oncologist has run every possible GI test and can't find a reason for my chronic condition. Has anyone else had a whipple procedure done and has the same issue?

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

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 25 7:42am

Hello @apriloravecz1 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can understand you wanting to connect with others who have had this surgery. We have several discussions on Connect regarding the Whipple procedure as well as Ampullary cancer. Here are some links to those discussions. I would encourage you to read the posts in these discussions and to click on "Reply" below any post where you would like to ask a question or post a comment.

--Ampullary Cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=ampullary+cancer
--Whipple Procedure
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=Whipple+procedure
Here is some information from the Mayo Clinic News Network on the topic of Whipple Procedure,
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-cancer-whipple-procedure-for-pancreatic-cancer/
I would also like to invite @restless1973 to this discussion as well.

Have you been offered any dietary suggestions that might help with this severe nausea and diarrhea? Are you taking any digestive enzymes?

I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract and have had a consultation with a registered dietician which was very helpful. Have you been given a referral to a dietician at your hospital?