Questions about Whipple procedure

Hi Jim and I am so happy to hear you had such a good recovery from your Whipple. When we talk about walking, I forgot that before they released Teddy he had to show them he could even walk the stairs! You and he were in surgery about the same amount of time and in the hospital the same amount of time. Funny….we lived in an adult community in Phoenix and before he could walk too far he would get in the golf cart and just putt golf balls. He loved golf and measure his recovery on what he could do on the golf course!!!

Rachel,

Sorry you have to go through all this all over again.

I had a Whipple in December 2009. My operation took about 6 1/2 hours and I was in the hospital for 6 days. I had a mid-line incision (some others have a chevron or shark bite). My scar has faded as has my memory of the immediate after effects of the Whipple procedure. It took about 1 year for me to feel back to my new normal. At almost the 3 year mark, it is like I never had the procedure and I feel great.

What is most important is to get up as soon as you can after surgery and walk, walk, walk. That is what gets you out of the hospital and back to health fastest. Try and get yourself as strong as you can before your surgery if you have time. Keep a positive attitude, after all you are one of the lucky ones who is eligible to have surgery. Pay attention to when your body is tired and rest. Let people help you.

I can be reached at randi.barrell@gmail.com if you have specific questions that you would like me to answer. No question is too personal, I am willing to answer anything you as based on my personal experience.

Good luck to you Rachel. Don’t let surgery scare you.

Hugs,
-Randi-

Rachael, so sorry your cc has returned but so happy to hear you are a good surgery candidate. I will pray for a successful surgery.
Lisa

Rachael-Welcome and sorry you had to find us. I have had 2 transplants, I am very sorry it is back and very interested in your story. I am curious how you recieved a transplant 19 days after being diagnosed, did you not do any chemo radiation… Please share more of your story with us.
Lots of prayers-Cathy

Eli, EXCELLENT POST! I re read it and Teddy really pretty much followed the same routine. His recovery was a little slower as he first had an aborted Whipple 3 weeks earlier then a double e coli infection and he was 73 at the time. I do remember how surprised I was to see him sitting in a chair the next morning. Hope Marina is doing well!

Hi Rachael,

My wife had Whipple surgery in July 2011, at age 44. I wrote about her Whipple experience in this post:

http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?pid=57484#p57484

If you have any questions – please do not hesitate to ask here or through email.

Wishing you all the best,
Eli

Dear Rachael, I too am so very sorry to read about the CC returning. My Teddy had a Whipple so I will tell you what I know then if you have any questions feel free to ask. The Whipple is a big surgery but NOT life threatening. Teddy’s took 8 hours, but depending on what the surgeon sees it could be 5 – 8 normally. One very good suggestion is to ask for an Epideral as that will numb you for the first day or 2 after and it really doesn’t hurt, I had one myself. His hospital stay was 10 days but he was coming out of an e coli infection when he had the surgery. Everyone heals at a different rate. It is a long recovery, could be like 6 weeks to 2 months before you start feeling your old self again. I am not sure what you want to know so ask away. Bad that the CC returned but good that surgery is an option! Be Strong and I am here to answer your questions.