Whipple procedure

I didnt have a whipple, just plain resection. But here is my experience that will translate to your sisters case

1) Have an ectra pillow to hold against the stomach and incision. It helps with the pain, particularly when you cough or move

2) Get moving as soon as possible. Start with sitting up in bed, then move to a chair, then start taking slow small walks. Ask for a walker if the hallways dont have enough wall rails to help with support. I shuffled for weeks after, but you need to start moving to get other things going.

3) Eat food as soon as you can. The hospital will not let you go until you poop. After not eating for too long, my bowels were so confused and slow that I had tostay an extra week in the hospital waiting for the magical number 2. I had a BIG problem with eating hot food after the surgery, it smelled so bad to me that I could not eat it. Instead, we finally figurered out sandwiches, ice cream, fruit but it was too late to get my bowels moving. Plus, the pain meds they give you can cause constipation so be on the lookout for it.

4) I had my mother help me so much. She even shaved my legs for me since the incision prevented me from bending over. It might sound weird, but the growing leghair made the jaundice feel more itchy. It was heaven! I dont know if it was just my nurses or nurses in general, but when I couldnt get out of bed, they sponge bathed me, but never brought me a toothbrush. My mom helped with that too. Again it seems little, but for me, I feel better when I am clean and fresh.

Hope that helps.

Kris

My husband, Gary, had the Whipple performed at Duke by Dr. Tyler. We are used to seeing Dr. Clary’s name posted by patients’ rooms all the time on the second floor. Our experience at Duke has been nothing but the best (except for the reason you’re there!). The nurses are exceptional and everyone is very friendly. Gary had many complications from the Whipple (infections, leakage of bile, etc.) but each case is different and his was out of the ordinary. Expect to see many residents that are on your doctor’s rotation, and some of our best information came from them. The rooms are oddly shaped and difficult to manuever, but you take that for what it’s worth – the care is the important thing.
Gary spent longer than usual in ICU after the surgery because there wasn’t a room available on the step-down unit (nurse to patient ratio is 1 to 3). After that you are sent to the regular surgical recovery unit (ratio is 1 to 4). Because of complications, Gary was in the hospital for almost a month, but like I said, his wasn’t the usual case.
After care has been very thorough. Generally you return to the doctor’s clinic (held one day per week) 2 weeks after surgery. They follow you up with radiation or chemo consultations (doctors from those teams might see you while you’re still a patient in the hospital), and then repeat visits are done about every month for bloodwork, ct scans, etc.
Let me know if there’s anything else you wonder about (buy a package of 10 parking tickets for $25 in the hospital gift shop) – otherwise you pay $6 everytime you use the parking garage. If you need a convenient hotel – The Brookwood is good – walking distance and they give hospital rates.
Good luck. Your sister will be in good hands. Take care! Elaine