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Whipple procedure anyone?

rosie61
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Hi, I've just joined and was wondering if anyone knows anything about this type of surgery? My husband has just had it to deal with a malignant duodenal ulcer, which we know is a rare type of cancer but its all very new to us and everything has happened so fast. Any help or advice regarding enzyme therapy tablets (Creon) in particular - and good food choices (I cook everything and anything from scratch) would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

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    Hi Rosie My dad had the Whipple's procedure about 20 years ago. He had to have Creon tablets with food for the rest of his life - its to help digest his food. He ate pretty much what he always had done but in my Dads case this was plain simple food as he did not like spicy food but he ate lots of fruit and veg. He was also diabetic so had to watch his diet due to that. He was not a drinker so I cant say how that would have effected him. Many people who have had other ops removing gall bladder have to have Creon tablets and seem to manage quite well. I think its a matter of trying out food and see what happens. Hope this helps.
  • Offline in reply to river56

    Hi River56

    20 years ago! Wow, that's amazing. Do you mind me asking what type of cancer he had? 

    My husband's been out of hospital two weeks now and has healed really well (the bits we can see) and has been gradually trying lots of different foods - most of which he seems able to tolerate well. He's only eating small amounts but is coping with the Creon and taking about 12 or so capsules a day. Does that sound about normal? I guess everyone is different depending on the operation. I'm only asking because he's having Creon as they removed half his pancreas - so it's replacing the enzymes that it would have produced, the same as your Dad (?). It's so good to hear of someone who has had this operation and then managed the food/Creon balance and got on with their life.

    Thank you for the reply, it really does help.

     

  • Offline in reply to rosie61

    Hi Rosie Dad had a tumour that had grown round his tubes and had fused them together. When they did the surgery they could not remove all of it. They did remove part of his pancreas and all his gallbladder. He did have problems after a few years with infections this was caused by fluid leaking into the space left by the gallbladder. He had antibiotics at home to take when the symptoms started (high temperature and shaking). Dad died aged 82 but not from cancer that was over 3years ago.

     

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  • Offline in reply to rosie61

    Hi Rosie Dad had a tumour that had grown round his tubes and had fused them together. When they did the surgery they could not remove all of it. They did remove part of his pancreas and all his gallbladder. He did have problems after a few years with infections this was caused by fluid leaking into the space left by the gallbladder. He had antibiotics at home to take when the symptoms started (high temperature and shaking). Dad died aged 82 but not from cancer that was over 3years ago.

     

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