MY DAD'S EXPERIENCE SO FAR OF WHIPPLES PROCEDURE....

[Ruthy]

In July this year, 2011 my dad was diagnosed with pre-cancerous changes in his duodenum. An endoscopic resection was deemed impossible after seeing 5 consultants (!) as the area was too large, so whipples was suggested. He was terrified about the prospect of this right through till going into theatre.

His procedure took place on 1st November. 3 weeks later he is still stuck in hospital, I shall advise he is in Addenbrookes in Cambridge - a pain for us to get to see him as it's a 90 minute car journey and the parking prices are extortionate (but that's another story..).

10 days after the procedure he was opened up again as a CT showed his abdomen full of fluid. The pancreas was still leaking and there was also an abscess behind it. All other patches seemed to be working. He was drained out, the pancreas sealed again and closed up again, hoping that would be the end of it. 22 days later he still has 3 drains in and the doctors don't know what to do about the continual pancreatic leak, he is back to no solid food to take the strain off his bowel and liquids only. He has awful oedema in his scrotum, legs and feet so I have given him nettle tea and green tea to drink rather than caffeine, and some chewing gum to have something to taste other than a dry mouth! He's back on a feeding drip but the problem of him not being mobilised enough is adding to the oedema. He is so depressed. He's not on painkillers at all anymore, which is good as he is more coherent now. But what can they do about the leak, other than keep him there for the rest of the year as they can't operate again. It's all very worrying and we miss our dad being the person he normally is. I tell him time after time this was the better option between having pancreatic cancer, feeling ill and not long to live but he regrets going through it now. I've read of so many people having a good outcome and being discharged within 2-3 weeks. Why my dad??

[Miki8]

I am so sorry about your dad...I pray things get resolved for him...

[macca]

Ruthy

Ihad whipples on 13/04/2010 then another operation for internal bleeding on 20/04/2010. I had two drains which stayed in for months. The cancer was not cleared and i had palative chemo for 6 months. A scan in january 2011 showed the cancer was clear. I battle on with hope. Please tell your dad to keep hope going anything is possible. Perhaps i could get my daughter to send a comment to you as she has gone through your journey.

macca [kevin]

[Ruthy]

Thank you both. Update is as of 2 days ago there was slightly less fluid in the drain but we were told that could change again. 3 weeks of sitting in a chair has turned dad into an even older man (!) but we (my sisters and I and nurses who take note) are now encouraging him to mobilise as much as he can, even with the fuss of remembering to pick up his catheter and unplug the feed monitor, just so he even walks to the sink to clean his teeth or put a dressing gown on over his slightly small hospital gown which leaves nothing to the imagination (!) to walk to the end of the corridor and back. He CAN do this, he just needs encouraging. We hope to hear imminently if the signs of MRSA have gone and then with the oedema (and onset of cellulitis in his legs from the swelling) being able to reduce with the mobilising and drinking nettle tea (which has good properties for this problem) he should be on the road to recovery. He has been told though he may not be discharged still for another 2-3 weeks. We'll get there! Fortunately Macca he is not in the same position of you with cancer treatments to endure too. I am so glad to hear you are rid of the horrid disease!