I've put off writing this post about my Whipple surgery for a while now because I know it means reliving some harrowing experiences, and I also know it's going to take a long time to write, and that time could be spent sleeping. But, I know I NEED to write this because I can use all the catharsis I can get.
Ever heard of "the worst best news?" Alternatively titled, "the best worst news?" If not, makes sense, because I like to think I came up with it.
The day I found out I had a large pancreatic tumor, I knew right away it was bad news.
No tumor comes to you filled with glitter and unicorn wishes (if they did they'd have a much cuter name), so that part I knew.
Receiving any kind of diagnosis is often just the very beginning of what you're going to go through, although, at that moment, it may feel like the end, as in "I finally know what's wrong! It's all smooth sailing from here!"
Whether you'd been suffering from pain and other symptoms for a long time before diagnosis (like I had) or not, diagnosis is a marked start to a new journey.
Hopefully, it's a journey of recovery, but it will have all kinds of other lessons sprinkled in if you choose to see them.
Regardless, these journeys never seem to be linear, do they?
They're full of ups and downs that you didn't think your mind or body could physically survive, yet here you are! And here I am.
Why I'm Writing About My Whipple Surgery
My sole purpose in writing about my experience isn't to bash into your brain that a positive attitude is a cure-all. It isn't, so I won't. (That isn't to say a positive attitude isn't an immense benefit to whatever you're going through, but hell, if you find out you have a tumor and you can keep a smile on your face 24/7 after that, I'll have some of whatever you're having!)
Besides the much-needed catharsis writing brings me, what I really want to do is be a resource for someone else who goes through what I did.
When I was first diagnosed, I learned that what I had was very rare, and the nature of any rare medical condition is you won't often find yourself in a room full of people who've gone through what you had, like you would with, say, a broken bone.
These rare conditions can be incredibly isolating, and I hope by writing this, one person who needs to read this right now, finds it.
My Symptoms Leading Up to the Discovery of My Tumor
Over the past year, abdominal issues I'd had since age 12 started to become more and more aggressive.
I would get crippling pain in my abdomen that would often incapacitate me for hours, and it was usually accompanied by a bad taste in my mouth.
Weird, right?
When I was four, I was diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer, and the symptoms I was experiencing were nearly identical to those of an ulcer.
Based on my history, my doctor made the logical decision to begin treating me for an ulcer, just as any other doctor would based on my age, symptoms, etc.
Ulcer meds weren't working, though, and my symptoms were getting worse and worse.
I would hunch over in tears, moaning and groaning for hours until the pain passed.
One night, I ended up in the ER with my mom when the pain became worse than it ever had before. The ER doctor thought it was an ulcer as well but decided to run some tests to be sure.
Testing, Testing
First, I had blood tests, and they showed my liver enzymes as being higher than normal. The doctor said this could mean gallstones. While I waited for an ultrasound, I was googling the treatment for gallstones and the relatively simple surgery to remove them.
"I can totally handle that and still be good to go on my trip to England in two weeks," I said to myself.
After the ultrasound, I was sent for a CT scan.
Rather than thinking "there must have been something on the ultrasound if they need further imaging," I was mostly focused at the time on not wanting the radiation from the CT scan and that I could use a snack, STAT.
We'd been at the hospital for several hours at this point and we knew we'd have to wait for the results for a while, so my mom darted home to let her dog out.
Just as my mom was on her way back, the ER doctor came into my room and asked where my mom had gone.
I said she was on her way back, and he said we'd wait for her until we discussed the CT scan results.
This is the moment where you feel your heart drop down to your feet, and the world becomes a different place for you from now on.
I told the doctor I was very anxious for the results and asked him to please tell me, but he told me I'd be anxious either way, so we'd wait for my mom.
When the doctor left the room I felt my bottom lip begin to quiver and I let out one of those sighs/beginnings of a sob that can only be compared to a whale's mating call.
I sat waiting for my mom (another thing that only took a few minutes but felt like an eternity to me) and went between moments of "Don't freak yourself out for no reason, everything's fine!" to "Oh my god, this is it, I have cancer."
Interestingly, dying never went through my head, which still surprises me to this day. When my mom walked back in the room, I reached for her and cried out of fear and utter exhaustion at the whole ordeal.
When the doctor came back in the room, he sat in a chair by the door, and the shadow of the curtain fell over him making it look like we were in an episode of Tales from the Cryptkeeper.
He said the scan showed a large mass on my pancreas.
"FUCK!" I said to myself. (At least I think it was just to myself)
My first question was if it's cancer. As a medical world junkie, I knew pancreatic cancer is a grim diagnosis, often discovered too late to be treated effectively.
"I don't know," the doctor said.
He explained he'd been on the phone with a hepatobiliary surgeon who said there is a particular type of tumor that young women in their teens and twenties get that often isn't cancerous, but we wouldn't know until it was out.
As scary as this all still was, this was comforting to me as it meant there's a chance it was ANYTHING other than cancer.
I'm not a religious person, but I remember this whole night pleading to some higher power for it to be anything other than cancer.
"I'll never eat sugar again if it's not cancer!" I said to this higher power as if wagering had anything to do with it.
The doctor patted my foot and told me I was lucky because the surgeon he spoke to happened to have a clinic the next day, and I would be able to see him then. My appointment was only about 12 hours later, and I am still so thankful this was all able to go so quickly.
Holding My Breath
I was high on morphine for the pain through all of this, and then on a whole bunch of anti-nausea meds to deal with the morphine side-effects, so I was very loopy at times, but had moments of total lucidity.
I was oddly calm about everything going on, and didn't dive into a panic mode.
My mom drove me home and came in to sleep with me because she didn't want me sleeping alone.
My dad and brother were waiting in my living room when I got home (about 3 AM) and they both looked concerned, which naturally made me feel concerned too, but I mostly worried about them being sad.
They hugged me a lot and I recall thinking, "This is nice," but I knew if I let myself, the tears would start coming and not stop.
So I went up to bed, and fell asleep surprisingly fast.
We met with the surgeon the next day, and he thoroughly explained my CT scan images to us and went over the surgery I would need.
As soon as I heard "Whipple surgery," I thought of Grey's Anatomy and how people always die from the surgery on the show. Grrreeaaaat.
(Interesting tidbit: my surgeon appointment was on a Thursday, and that very night there was an episode of Grey's about a pregnant woman with pancreatic cancer who needed the Whipple)
Frantz Tumor
The tumor was most likely what's known as a solid pseudo-papillary (SPT) tumor or Frantz's tumor.
He said the tumor was well-encased and he suspected it was benign.
News of the tumor was the worst news, but hearing the surgeon thinks it's benign is the best kind of worst news you can get.
However, because of the pain it was causing, its sheer size (the size of a baseball), and the issues arising from all the surrounding organs and structures it pushed on, not to mention its potential to become cancerous if it wasn't already, it needed to come out.
We wouldn't know for sure what the tumor was made up of until it was out, but hearing him say he believed it would be benign was comforting.
He wanted to do my surgery soon, and this also meant I had to postpone my trip to London to see one of my lifelong best friends, Jena, which I had been so excited for.
Up until the surgery, I really think I was more upset about missing my trip than anything else.
Then, a week before my surgery, Donald Trump won the presidential election, and that was a whole new kind of sadness.
Whipple Surgery is Scheduled
My surgery was scheduled for November 15, 2016.
I scoured Google for information on the Whipple surgery (even though you'll find everyone tells you to stay off Google in situations like this).
In my mind, knowing as much as I could about what was going to happen provided me with a small bit of control in the whole situation.
Truthfully, of the hundreds of articles I read about the Whipple, nothing truly prepared me for what it would be like, but I'm thankful for that because I don't think I would have slept a wink for the two weeks before the surgery if I'd known what I was in for.
Managing Expectations
I knew there would be pain, but from what I read, it's very well managed in the hospital by an epidural you get before surgery, as well as other IV pain medications.
I knew I'd wake up with a tube down my nose, and a long scar down the center of my abdomen, from just below my breastbone to the top of my belly button.
I knew I'd wake up with less of a pancreas, less of my stomach, less small intestine, with no gallbladder or bile duct, and if all went accordingly, no more tumor.
The tumor, by the way, is known as Toddrick.
A much less bloody representation of the before and after of the Whipple surgery
These were all things I knew, but what I didn't know, or at least what I didn't understand, was that I was about to be tested.
Not tested in any small way like "when your dog wakes you up seven times in on night and is testing your patience" kind of way, but a "your body is about to be cut in half and sewed back together, literally, and the same thing will happen to your mind, figuratively," kind of way.
Noooo big deal.
The Morning Of My Whipple Surgery
The morning of the surgery began with me having to chug two cups of apple juice at 4 AM, as part of some new protocol for increased healing after surgery.
If you know me, you'd know the prospect of being up at 4 AM was almost as bleak as having a tumor.
Almost.
Once you check in as an inpatient, you're taken to a series of different waiting areas until you're finally near the operating room.
I sat with my mom waiting for the nurses to get me and take me to the OR.
When I finally had to go, I really didn't want to let go of my mom, and I'm sure she felt the same.
They have you walk yourself into the OR, perhaps as some way of giving you control in a situation where you're otherwise powerless.
Getting one last round of candy crush in before surgery
The OR was a lot bigger than I had imagined, and I was disappointed not to see a gallery with the cast of Grey's Anatomy watching me from above (actually, with Grey's luck with the Whipple this was for the best).
The nurses were all sweet, and I recall them asking me things about myself, but I don't remember what.
I had to hunch forward and lean on a nurse's shoulder while I had the epidural put in my spine and I remember thinking, "But we just met."
Of course, I was minutes away from them seeing me from the inside out (literally), so leaning on a random nurse's shoulder isn't nearly as intimate as it seemed to me then.
I remember laying down once the epidural was in and the anesthesiologist adjusting my ponytail, but I don't remember them ever telling me I was about to go to sleep.
Waking Up After Whipple Surgery
The next thing I knew, a nurse with a soft voice and short blonde hair was waking me up.
The first thing I thought was she reminded me of my best friend, Kayley.
And this was incredibly comforting to me even though I was still completely out of it and not really sure what was happening.
I don't know how long it lasted, but I know I was in and out of sleep several times, only waking up to tell my nurse how nauseous I was, or crying because of the pain in my abdomen.
I recall two nurses looking at each other concerned when I insisted I was in a lot of pain because the pain I was feeling at this point was supposed to be managed by the epidural.
They had me roll to one side to check if my epidural had somehow fallen out (it hadn't), and the pain was indescribable.
I specifically remember thinking, "I can't do this."
But then there's that little voice of reason in the back of your head reminding you that you don't have a choice.
When I was finally taken to the high observation unit (standard for the first few nights after a Whipple), I got to see my parents, and I remember being overcome with happiness at the sight of them and how it made my eyes fill with tears.
Recovering from Whipple Surgery
The next two days are a blur (including sweet visitors whose visits I don't remember at all), marked with prominent moments of clarity and some memories I'll never forget.
In the bed beside me (not beside me in my bed, but his own, to be clear...) was an old man who was hallucinating, moaning, and screaming constantly. It's basically what I imagine the soundtrack in hell to be.
The Epidural
During this time, we found out the reason I was in so much pain is my epidural went up my spine, rather than down.
So, instead of numbing my midsection, my chest was basically frozen.
Once the epidural is in, it couldn't be redone because I didn't have the physical ability to hunch over again to have it fixed.
The pain team would try several different medications over the next two weeks to try to pick up the slack from the misplaced epidural.
I was in excruciating pain I can best describe as feeling like my ribs were being pulled apart and that my stomach was filled with fire.
I poured sweat constantly, soaking through the sheets and my hospital gown, but I was always freezing cold and couldn't find any comfort.
The tube down my nose and throat had left my throat so sore I had to use hand signals to communicate when I needed to suck on a wet sponge or an ice chip.
I had a fan in my room that I would sometimes request to be blowing right in my face, then 30 seconds later I would be shaking so hard from cold it felt like my teeth might break.
My mom has a video of me sleeping with my eyes rolling back in my head while I talk about the beautiful sunset (in the middle of the night).
I was hallucinating from the pain medication so anytime I closed my eyes I would hear 100 voices whispering my name over and over again like a horror movie.
Any noise would set me off, and I felt like I could hear the walls breathe. I continually tried to focus on counting to ten.
I told myself you just need to get through these ten seconds, over and over and over again.
It's hard to talk about pain and not feel like you're complaining or exaggerating, and I can't help but feel like it's almost useless to try and describe the pain because unless it's happened to you, it isn't understandable.
I also hesitated to talk about the pain because if you're reading this and you're preparing to undergo a Whipple procedure, it will do the opposite of comfort you.
But please keep in mind it is rare for the epidural to fail as it did me, and you will likely have much better luck! But even if you don't, you'll get through it, because if I can, I know you can, too. (After all, I AM a "delicate flower," as my dad says)
Having a fentanyl-induced snooze
Drama Queeeeen!
One of the most sobering moments of this whole experience happened on the second day after surgery.
I felt pain I didn't think was physically possible to withstand if you weren't dying, and I became convinced I WAS dying.
I was sure there is no way you could feel how I felt and NOT be dying.
My mom stood at the end of my bed, and when a nurse was checking my vitals, I asked her if I was dying.
"Please, just tell me," I begged her.
I KNEW I was dying, and when I saw my mom tear up when I asked, I took it as further confirmation of my impending death.
Of course, it sounds totally dramatic to assume you're dying when you're sick or in pain, but this was unlike anything I could have imagined.
There was no relief, no moments of reprieve where I could remind myself I would get through this, so when the nurse answered "No," I thought "Well, of course they're not going to admit it if I'm dying."
One of my first walks after surgery. I was warned how difficult (but important) these walks were after surgery, and boy, they weren't kidding.
I finally began to have a few moments in the days where I would be a little more clear-headed as I came out of the surgical anesthetic.
I was constantly comforted by my sweet mom, dad, and brother who made sure someone was with me all the time. This meant them sleeping in chairs beside my bed, and tending to my every need.
I was completely helpless at this point, and I can't begin to imagine how taxing this would be on them.
I thought of any of them being in this position and seeing them in that state and was grateful to be the sick one, rather than the witness and the caretaker.
On one particularly hard day, as I did a mandatory lap around the unit, dragging my IV pole, my mom by my side ready to catch me if I collapsed, I turned to her and told her I was okay with dying. "If I die now, it's okay. I can't do this anymore."
Not an easy thing for a mother to hear, and I immediately felt guilty for saying it when I saw her face, but truthfully, I was so not myself at this point, I really, really meant it.
I remember looking at the window in my hospital room and thinking if I could get up by myself, I would jump out of it.
They trace the bleeding on your bandage after surgery to see how much it spreads. I was so lucky not to have any infections or issues with my incision and staples.
My scar a few months after surgery
Low Points After Whipple Surgery
These thoughts are so dark I hesitated to share them as well, but they're an important part of my story.
Recalling these dark moments symbolizes the body and mind's incredible ability to come back from the deepest despair and pain.
It's hard to admit to ever reaching a place so low, and I'm not proud of it, but it serves a purpose.
You can have these moments that for you, are the lowest of low, where not only do you feel as though you're dying, but in fact, hope you are because dying seems better than the reality you're in, and come back from them.
You can come back from those dark moments and find yourself laying on the couch, snuggled with your dogs, writing about your experience and realizing how far you've come and how strong you are.
And instead of focusing on the pain you were in, the pain you're still in, and the struggles you continue to face, your most overwhelming feeling can be GRATITUDE.
Comparison may be the thief of joy, but it can also be the supplier of gratitude.
Hear me out.
When you're at your lowest, you can look to people you assume to be "above" you, as in they somehow have it better than you.
You might do this when you're lamenting about the size and shape of your thighs, comparing them to those of a model, or looking at your little home and focusing on how much you wish you lived in your friend's bigger house.
But, if you choose to, and yes, it's absolutely a choice, you can use comparison in an entirely different way.
You can tell yourself "My legs, whatever size they may be, work and propel my body through life when some people rely on a chair to do so."
Instead of coveting your friend's bigger house, you can think, "Damn, I'm lucky to have a home at all."
Don't get me wrong, just because someone has it worse than you, doesn't mean you're not allowed to think your circumstances are utterly shitty.
You can feel sorry for yourself, cry yourself to sleep, and let comparison steal your joy - I am certainly guilty of all three - but for your own well-being, you can try to find something to be grateful for in any situation.
Perspective
I think of children and babies given horrible diagnoses who undergo intensive operations and treatments, who have no idea what's going on other than they're in pain. They haven't had 27 years to live a wonderful life like I have.
I think of all the people who are diagnosed with pancreatic tumors with a far less favorable prognosis than mine who have to undergo chemo and radiation in addition to having the Whipple surgery.
I think of people who lose their parents, siblings, and friends to cruel diseases.
I think of people without access to world class medical care whose tumor diagnosis (if they were ever even able to receive a diagnosis) is a death sentence right off the bat.
I think of those being treated in hospitals that are unclean, understaffed, and lacking necessary supplies.
Support
As much as I found the hospital bed I spent two weeks in horribly uncomfortable, I was lucky to have a bed at all, let alone a bed in a clean, well-stocked hospital with a team of surgeons and nurses devoted to my care.
I think of people without family or friends around to care for them and support them. My friends have showered me with love and support, sending check-in texts, gifts, and good thoughts, and have been so patient with me as I try to adjust to my new normal.
My family has never left my side through all of this.
They have held me up, literally and physically, when I couldn't do it myself and bent over backward to bring any shred of peace, comfort, or ease to my life that they possibly could. They "slept" in chairs by my bedside, holding my hand and trying to comfort me however they could as they watched, feeling helpless, as I cried in pain. They weren't helpless, though; their utter presence provided me with more comfort than I could ever express and I won't forget for a second how lucky I am to have them.
Time Goes By
It's been a couple of months since surgery now, and I received the amazing news that my tumor was fully excised and all of my lymph nodes and tissue samples were NEGATIVE for malignancy.
Whipple surgery is still a part of my everyday life, and there likely won't ever be a day that goes by without thinking about what I've been through.
The long scar down my stomach isn't the only constant reminder I have of my experience: I can't eat the same foods I used to, I'm often too weak to do simple things like making it up the stairs, I've had agonizing bouts of pancreatitis, I always feel like I've just had the hardest ab workout ever as my muscles and my organs try to put themselves back together, and I'm nauseous for a large portion of every day.
My new normal is having less stamina than a 90-year old, and learning to adapt to the changes in my body and how I live my life because of it.
But my new normal is also looking around every day and thinking, "Wow, I'm lucky just to be here."
There's a certain type of gratitude that I could never have felt had it not been for reaching such a low point in my life.
This experience has gifted me the insight that not every day is a given, and nothing should be taken for granted. I know, I know, you're rolling your eyes, but amidst your eye rolling, I hope you find yourself discovering gratitude in some part of your life you hadn't before.
For example, you can now be grateful this long winded article is finally coming to an end!
Thank-you so much for taking the time to read this, and to anyone who has taken the time to send any kind of love or light my way, I truly feel it and it means the world to me.
xoxo - Chelsea
I've been overwhelmed by the responses to this article and the people who reach out to me who find this article before their own surgery. If you want to talk more about Whipple surgery, life after, or anything else, please don't hesitate to comment below and get in touch.
For more information about the Whipple procedure, as well as other resources for those with pancreatic illnesses, click here.
Sherri Carter
Oh my. I'm having a Whipple next Tuesday, and thank you for writing this. I think I have had my blinders on, or have been in denial about this upcoming procedure. Only recently, from talking to a woman my age who has gone through this (and reading your story) have I come to the conclusion, this ain't no picnic. My short story - whole family in really awful car wreck, me and my sons airlifted to hospital - CT scan showed besides 5 broken ribs, broken toe and broken sternum, two spots that "lit up" that needed to be seen about. One was on the ovary - had a total hysterectomy and dealt w/that first bc the pancreas thing, was not something we were sweating as much. Turns out, the small tumor on the pancreas was cancerous and a Whipple was the solution. So, next week I go get my insides rearranged. Thank you for sharing your story. I really needed to read what happens from someone who has been through it. I'm sorry your epidural failed you! That truly sucks. All the best health and happiness to you in 2019!
chelseaxoandso
Hi Sherri!
I'm so sorry you're going through all of this - but I can already tell what a fighter you are and you're going to come through this with flying colors.
You're right, it is no picnic. But you will get through this. If you have any questions or want to talk more, please don't hesitate to contact me: chelseakram@gmail.com
Thinking of you!
Ron May
Thanks for your story. I completed my Whipple in April of 2018 - I had IPMN of Main Branch.
Continued health and years of being blessed!
chelseaxoandso
Thank you for reading my story! I hope you're doing well.
Brenda
You write the way I think inside my own head. I'm scheduled to have a whipple next Wednesday, April 3, 2019. For pancreatic cancer. I made it through three months of one of the toughest chemo regimens there is ...Folfirinox. I was a healthy 45 year old woman who worked out five or six days a week. One night I woke up with a gallbladder attack and they found a small tumor on the head of the pancreas, which was pressing on the common bile duct, creating problems for my gallbladder and liver. Had it not been where it was I would not be so lucky. My cousin died of this last year. I'm constantly reminding myself that I'm lucky I get to have this surgery. I did suffer one bout of pancreatitis caused by the ERCP they did when they put a stent in the bile duct. I remember thinking that night and many nights during chemo that I just can't do this anymore. But even as that thought is in your head, and you know it's the absolute truth, you still do it. We don't have a choice. Probably couldn't hoist ourselves up to jump out of that window And I really hate it when people tell me, "Well you look good!" or "You sound good!" in a tone that really says, well it couldn't be all that bad because you look good. I don't know but I think I have some hellish times ahead for me. Reading your story has helped me, though. Thank you for writing it. I wish you blessings and wellness in your near future!
chelseaxoandso
Hi Brenda!
I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this and I wish you so much luck on your recovery. I know you can do this! You'll get back to working out and feeling good.
If you want to talk more or you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me: chelseakram@gmail.com
I'll be thinking of you.
Mary
Thank you so much for this! I had the same tumor as you and I had my whipple in December this year. my epidural also failed. The pain is truly indescribable. I went back to college half time three weeks after my surgery and I’m still having trouble keeping up, it is frustrating to feel so feeble and depressed dent when you’re only 20. I know it’s only been 7 weeks so I’m hoping I’ll gain my strength back soon. Is love to hear when you started feeling back to normal
Stephanie Hines
Hello- I am currently 7 weeks out from my Whipple procedure- my question... did you lose a lot of weight? I am very thin, I heard it’s a thing so I’m curious.
Stephanie
Becky Yeboah
Hi Stephanie,
Just wanted to say that I am 6 months out from my surgery and I'm slowly making my way back from large amounts of weight loss. I lost approximately 25 pounds after my surgery due to a number of factors (being on the IV nutrients for so long, then doing the no solids diet, then I had to do an additional no-fat diet due to some complications *this was a huge factor, not being able to eat much in general due to the surgery's impact on the stomach, then I lost all my muscle mass cause I did nothing but lay in a bed for about a month). I am scarily skinny compared to what I used to be (I was quite skinny before too) and absolutely none of my clothes fit me. Shirts that were once too tight are now too loose, and the bras I bought before the surgery are absolutely useless to me lol. I sometimes feel like a little girl again, wearing my older brother's baggy clothes, pants drooping as I walk 😅 Anyways, I've been speaking with my family doctor on and off since the surgery and she's explained to me that the weight loss is normal. I don't always feel normal about it, bit I also (now 6 months later) no longer feel "unheathily" skinny as I've started to eat more and more. I do remember that initial feeling of not really recognizing myself when I looked in the mirror, and that's apparently pretty normal as well. It's just like the scar we all have from the Whipple surgery- there's that weird feeling whenever you look at your body now, cause this body you've been looking at for years and years (and that has looked relatively the same for quite some time), now has this big mark on it that was never there before, and you kinda have to remind yourself that it is indeed You looking back through the mirror. Anyways, 6 months out and it's 100% gotten better. I feel a lot healthier and I've started to eat more and more. I think what's important is that you keep an open dialogue with your doctor and you don't hesitate to communicate any concerns. But my doctor has been really comforting and reassures me that the weight loss is normal, that a little bit of the weight will come back (as it has!) and that it's all part of the journey. Haha just wanted to share my experience since the weight loss side effect of the surgery was a huge shock to me and those around me as I dropped several sizes basically overnight, so I saw your comment and just connected immediately. Hope you're doing well, and I'm glad we all have this platform to connect through shared experienced. All the best,
Becky
Vesna
Dear Chelsea, Thank you so much for sharing your story. My father, who is 75 years old is scheduled for Whipple Surgery a week after July 4th. I am worried so much about it and your story is helping me to prepare myself, at least to know what to expect after the surgery. I'm glad that your family was with you, Family is so important for me to and I will be beside my father the whole time. Wish you all the BEST in the future!
Sincerely,
Vesna.
chelseaxoandso
Hi Vesna!
Thank you for your nice message!
I'm sorry to hear your father needs Whipple surgery, but he is lucky to have you and it will be a big help and comfort to him to have you there!
Please let me know if you have any questions or anything I can help with.
Wishing you and your family all the best!
Lorena
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so helpful to not feel alone.
I was diagnosed with a large cyst on my pancreas and ovary about 2 months ago. Everything was delayed as I was planning my wedding. I just got my biopsy done yesterday. My surgeon recommended getting both surgeries done in one day, removing my right ovary and cyst. I’m absolutely petrified... I think I’ll get a call from him next week to schedule a date for the surgery.
chelseaxoandso
Hi Lorena!!!
Thanks for your comment. Please let me know if you want to talk further or have any questions.
Thinking of you and wishing you all the best!
Sam
Hi, I too have to go for a Whipple procedure but have postponed it. My biggest worry is that my organs will “detach” after the surgery, especially if I am too active. was this a concern for you? Did the doctor tell you not to exercise or stretch in certain ways? I feel I would have to stop doing yoga after the surgery. I am grateful the tumour was found but I can’t help but wonder what my limitations will be afterwards.
Thanks
chelseaxoandso
Hi Sam! I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I had to take a long time off of exercising to let my body heal but now I workout five days a week! I do lots of active stuff like weights, Barre classes, HIIT classes, yoga, and cardio. Your energy levels and some of the things you can do may change, but you'll still be able to be active, it just takes time.
Rana Walley
Hi Sam,
I had my Whipple 4 days ago and the detachment of organs is something I worried about. My surgeon assured me they were secure and I could even sleep on my side. I’m a side sleeper. It will be a while before that can happen.
Sam
Hi Rana,
Thank you. It’s been a year since my surgery now and thankfully detachment isn’t even something that crosses my mind anymore. I do remember sleeping propped up on my back for at least a couple months. I hope the first few days of your recovery are going well.
Jen
Omg. I’ve never related to anything as much as this. In 2007 I had a pancreatic tumor removed after being told for several years my symptoms were PCOS. Then after the surgery came nearly two years of infections, fluid accumulations, pain and multiple admissions. Fast forward to today, I’m again recovering from having a tumor removed. This time from my ovary. I’m four weeks post surgery and happy to say there was no cancer, but that sadly doesn’t help the pain and emotions.
Thank you for sharing your story. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I would love to connect. It’s difficult to talk to friends and family because you do always feel like you’re whining. But there’s just so much I’d like to chat about with someone who understands❤️
chelseaxoandso
Hi Jen!!!
Thank-you so much for your message. I'm glad my words were able to connect with you.
Please feel free to email me chelseakram@gmail.com to talk more! I'd love to connect as well. xo
Heather H
Pancreatic cancer sucks and so does the Whipple surgery! I had the whipple in 2011 at age 40...it is a hard surgery and I’m still fighting the after effects..they never gave me a epidural when I had mine only meds afterwards and thankfully my pain was somewhat controlled by it..I honestly think you never truly recover from the whipple surgery..but I’m gonna keep fighting and I’m glad to see others are too and younger women have gotten this disease and many don’t even suspect it could happen to them..god bless you all!
George
Hi from all the way in Australia.
My father underwent a whipples procedure on the 22nd November, a week after his 71st birthday. Thankgod he recovered quickly was out of ICU in 2 days and walking a couple of kms by day 3. Mind you he has always lead an active lifestyle and healthy diet which i think truly benefited him. Now it is about 6 weeks since having the op and he is getting some stomach cramps which at times are quite severe, and wanted to ask you if you can relate to it and if so will it disappear over time.
Are you also eating a specific diet?
Wishing you a long and happy life xo
chelseaxoandso
Hi there!
I'm happy to hear your father recovered quickly! I have had stomach cramps on and off...to be honest, for many patients it seems like "one thing after another" we're always dealing with. Since he's so recently out of surgery, I'm sure there's still a lot of settling/rearranging going on inside. It does get easier to manage many of the side effects of surgery over time. It really just takes some time to learn how our new systems works. I do find I get a lot more stomach pain if I eat food that's too high in fibre. I still avoid most raw vegetables/vegetables with skin. For the first several months after surgery, I really stuck with easily digested food...white bread, pasta, etc. To this day I still need to be very careful about things like salad, for example. I have found placing a hot pack on my stomach often helps with the pain.
Please let me know if there's anything else I could share that would be useful.
Wishing you and your father all the best!
Kara
Thank you for sharing this! I had my whipple on April 8th 2019. My epidural was accidentally pulled out by a nurse on day 2 post op trying to help me to the bathroom. I experienced the same indescribable pain and I did not honk I’d survive it. I also shifted my entire life perspective in the exact same way you did!
chelseaxoandso
Hi Kara!!! I'm so sorry to hear you went through that — that is so crazy about the nurse and the epidural! I really hope you're doing well now.
Carlos
I also went through a whipple surgery 5 years ago, my name is Carlos, I am 16 years old and I am from Peru
chelseaxoandso
Hi Carlos! Thank you for writing me. How are you doing now?
Lisa m
Hi, I had my whipple 2/14/19 for a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor on the head of my pancreas-at Upmc in Pittsburgh pa.it was done robotically so I have several puncture sites and a two inch left lower quadrant incision. I think I had every complication you could have and was read utter 3-4 times , off work 13 wks, hair also started falling out. It has been a year and in dec started to take creon. I really only take if a big meal for lunch and then two with dinner. That has helped with the horrible smelling gas and BM’s. I am also on Pepcid twice a day. My biggest problem or concern is I get severe mid sternal pain that comes out of no where and stops me in my tracks! I cannot breathe of talk - I have to hold my chest, it’s like a vice squeezing my esophagus/stomach. It last for about 1 min. At my one yr follow up my surgeon said they have heard this from patients and they can only say that it doesn’t seem like your body has 100% accepted its new set up. It is very scary and overwhelming..I still get sad a few days a week and I hate that I do!
Sohail
Hello,
I read your story and I am scared and shocked a person can go through so much and still survive. I myself have swollen pancreas. I can barely eat and drink water. Barely able to survive right now. I was wondering who your doctor was and where did you get your diagnosis and surgery. I am looking at getting second opinion on my case. I am currently in Karachi Pakistan. Please contact me via WhatsApp as I am freaking out without food and water.
+923433057090 I would really appreciate it. As you know time is of essense here. Please contact so that I may get second opinion.. time is very very very important.
chelseaxoandso
I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through! I don't use WhatsApp but I got my surgery at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Wishing you the best! The surgery is tough but it gets better!
Rebecca Yeboah
Thank you for writing this! I'll be having my Whipple surgery tomorrow morning and while I'm quite nervous about the recovery, this article actually did a lot to help inform me and that was pretty calming 🙂
So thank you.
chelseaxoandso
Sending you lots of good vibes for your surgery, Rebecca! Wishing you all the best. Please let me know how you're doing when you're up to it.
Carl Beaulieu
Thank you so much for posting this article! I just had my whipple surgery. 44 years old. My epidural also didn’t work. I finally found someone who can understand the level of pain we went through. I cried for an hour after reading your article lol I feel like it left me with a psychological scar as well.
chelseaxoandso
Hi Carl! Thank you so much for reaching out! I'm glad you found this article but sorry that you can relate at the same time. I really hope you're doing well now!
Robin
Thank you for writing this article!! I’m 7 years post whipple! I’m now newly dealing with pancreatic insufficiency! IT SUCKS!! I’ve been waiting for months to get into a gastroenterologist! I’ve lost 20 pounds that I really couldn’t afford to lose. I’m 61 years old and look and feel much older.
I keep reminding myself that after what my body has been through (the whipple and chemo) that I can do this! But, some days I’m not so sure.
I wish you a long and healthy life!!
Stephanie
Thank you. I’m 27, just found out I have a big non cancerous but potential cancerous tumor on my pancreas and I need the whipple. My life feels like it took one huge turn and it’s all happening so fast. I am so petrified but I also know this has to be done. Reading your story helps me know that I’ll have to push through but scares me immensely. I thank you for the information. Anything you try to find about the surgery is cancer patients or older people and I feel like no one understands.
Carl
Hi! I was in the same situation with non cancerous tumour. Got my whipple January this year. If you have questions I will be happy to answer.
Carl 44 years old
Harry
I hope this is not duplicative - just wrote a reply that I think was lost. I cancelled my whipple today because of concerns raised by Chealsea's and others. I have non cancerous high grade dysplasia that my doctors tell me I am extremely lucky they found. They say I need a whipple and that most patients do not have the pain and short and long term problems others describe on the web. I am in my 70s and scared because of what former whipple patients report. I could roll the dice and not have the whipple and diminish my long term survival chances. I fear that having the operation will be very harsh in the short and long term and greatly diminish the quality of life. It would be very helpful if you could share the insights you have gained. Thank you for sharing!
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Harry! Wishing you all the very best, and a long happy, healthy life!
Becky
Hey Stephanie!
I feel like our situations are almost mirror images! I'm a 26 year old woman that found out earlier this year (yes 2020 sucks) that I had a benign, but pre-malignant tumor on my pancreas, and that it needed to be removed asap before it turned cancerous. I probably did the same line of research as you cause a lot of it lead me down a 'pancreatic cancer' route as well (and we all know the not-so-good news that leads to). But that's not what we have and those stories and results aren't ours. Actually in our case I'd argue we're somewhat fortunate that almost all we need is a timely and successful Whipple. Still, I understand it's pretty surreal news to hear so as someone who just went on the same rollercoaster I'm here to talk to as well!
Samantha
Hi Stephanie,
I had my Whipple surgery March of this year at 29. My surgeon told me I had time and so I kept postponing the surgery thinking my nerves would ease in time. They don’t, and it’s not reasonable to expect them to. It’s okay to be scared. It definitely feels lonely going through this, no one we know understands how hearing such news affects us, and then having to agree to a surgery not knowing how our lives/bodies will be altered afterwards.. but you will be okay. I also didn’t find anything online to prepare me, other than this blog. Recovery was difficult and my body needed to adjust afterwards but now, most days I don’t even think about it while going about my day. I hope this may alleviate some of your anxiety. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Renee
I had my Whipple on May 8 2020. I’m 58 years old, my epidural failed as well. Due to COVID-19 I was not able to have any family support in the hospital. It was very strange being dropped off for surgery alone. I know my husband and extended family were on pins and needles. I was able to call them several days later. The hospital staff kept them informed as much as possible. I did have some idea of what was ahead of me. I had a loop surgery in 1997. I’ve had biliary issues most of my life. It was not easy to say the least. I suffered from insomnia very bad. I don’t think I slept at all that whole week I was in the hospital. I experienced a lot of things, too many to write. My faith is what pulled me through. It is a difficult surgery. Recovery is slow. I’m still navigating this new anatomy. I’m 101 pounds. I know it will get better. I tell myself everyday that I have my illness, it does not have me. I believe that recovery is 90% mental and 10% physical. It is very important share your experience and try to maintain a positive attitude. I pray you all much success in your journey and continued recovery. God is good always. Peace and blessings.
Kaylee
Hi Renee, thank you so much for your comment. My Dad is the same age and coming home from the hospital tomorrow after his whipple. I was wondering about the foods you eat and how you managed your pain post surgery. He is struggling with a lot of pain and eating. Any tips, pointers, questions to ask his care team would be greatly appreciated! I’m going to be his primary care giver so I’m looking for any information I can get. What kinds of things helped you to recover better? Food wise, moving around the house, daily activities. What worked after coming home for you? What you wish you would’ve done if anything? Thank you!!!
Djordje
Hi Renee and Kaylee,
I am praying for you and your father Kaylee, may the lord give you all strength. My father underwent a whipples procedure about 14 months ago. He is 72 yrs of age and was out of icu within 2 days amd walking several kilometres a day. We did prepare by taking high doses of vitamin D (10 000 iu day) and 1000mg of vitamin C a day. He eats smaller meals but alittle more frequently. Eating mostly a protein diet will aid quicker recovery as will going for 30 min walks .
God bless and stay positive even through the tough days as im sure he will have plenty of them.
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Thank you so much Renee! I love what you said about recovery being 90% mental and 10% physical. That was/is so true for me too! Wishing you all the best as you continue to recover.
Sherri
I find it so odd that so many of us had failed epidurals! Mine, too, didn’t work properly- only worked on one side of my body. I have my second post-Whipple scan next month (can’t believe it has been 2 years now since surgery) and hoping for another cancer-free scan. Just wanted to add that I never have felt the same since my Whipple, but day by day it does get better. You will find your new normal. Best of health to us all in this New Year!
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Thank you for sharing, Sherri! It really is so odd how many of us that happens to... Wishing you the very best!
Kaylee
Hi Chelsea, thank you so much for your article. I asked another commenter this question but I wanted to ask you as well and say thank you for sharing! My Dad is coming home from the hospital tomorrow after his whipple. I was wondering about the foods you ate post surgery and how you managed your pain post surgery. He is struggling with a lot of pain and eating. Any tips, pointers, questions to ask his care team would be greatly appreciated! I’m going to be his primary care giver so I’m looking for any information I can get. What kinds of things helped you to recover better? Food wise, moving around the house, daily activities. What worked after coming home for you? What you wish you would’ve done if anything? Thank you!!!
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Kaylee! How is your dad doing? I hope well! I know how tough those first days/weeks home can be.
Here are a few things that come to mind that helped me:
Sticking to a really strict pain medicine schedule.
Sleeping propped up (I couldn't lay flat on my back or my side for a few months).
An electric heating pad...it's so great for aches and pains all over!
As for foods, I stuck with really plain things...I recall being especially fond of a plain cheese sandwich on white bread! Or boxed mac and cheese (I love Annie's) with hardly any butter. I avoided cruciferous foods like broccoli like the plague. Actually I avoided pretty much all vegetables, particularly raw ones. Mild soups were great, he may even find drinking broth is useful.
My mom was my primary caregiver and she used to "make" me get up and do a few laps around her house a couple times a day. It was never fun and I would get tired really easily, but it's incredibly important to keep moving! Even a goal like 100 steps every three hours or something could help.
Is he taking pancreatic enzymes? Most people end up taking them after Whipple, it's something worth talking to his team about if not.
I can't think of anything I wish I would have done. I did my best to keep a good attitude as much as I could, and as silly as it sounds, I really think it helps. More than anything, it's time he needs! Everything gets easier over time. And if it doesn't get easier, it at least gets easier to manage. At this point, everything is new and he'll be getting to know his body again.
Let me know if there's anything I missed or you'd like to talk about more. Wishing the very best for you and your dad!
Laverne
Hi. I really didnt know how to post a comment so I hope this works. Your story was hard to hear but the truth is what I need. Scheduled for my wipple march 16 2021. So nervous but think it's the only way to extend my life & I have to do it. My sister said she wouldn't do it & opt for quality of life with palitave care. But I say I have to try. I'm 68 but great health otherwise. Thank you for sharing ur story. It helped me somehow. Also hoping my epidural works. Presurgery is very stressful. I hope we can stay in touch. You write beautifully. My name is Laverne
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Laverne! Thank you for your message! Sending you a great big hug. It is going to be tough but you will do great. I still get to do pretty much everything I did before surgery and my quality of life is very good! It just takes some adjustments and time. Wishing you the very best. Please let me know how you're doing after your surgery when you're up to it.
Laverne
Well here it is a year after the surgery. Did 6 mths chemo which was very rough. Lost 40 lbs. Finished that in Oct. and have gained back 15lbs so far. My 1st 3 mth scan was good. 2nd scans are next week . Fingers crossed. But since chemo ended I feel totally normal. Even during chemo i would take a cruise, then have a treatment, recover that week then take another cruise. Did so much to lift my spirit. First trip i needed a wheel chair due to laying around for 5 mths. The second day of the trip i said enough of this &got up & forced myself to walk. Shortly after i was taking the stairs. It was like being reborn out of the darkness of chemo. (ate tons of food which began my much needed weight gain) So this is my current status... Hope all is well with you and yours.👍💕👍
Rana
Hi Laverne! I’m 48 and my Whipple March 16. I’m doing very well. How are things for you?
Cathy Noonan
Hi Chelsea ,
I am 60 years old and just got diagnosed with stage 1 bilary duct cancer my timor is right outside of my pancreas . I will be having a Whipple probably in the next couple weeks before it spreads . Most of the pictures I’ve seen the incision is sideways and not up and down . I don’t even know yet what mine will be . I will now ask them the chance that the epidural will fail . I’m sorry yours did and hope to God mine doesn’t . Thank you for the insight . Mental yes !!! I can do this 😊
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Cathy! Yes, sometimes they're sideway and sometimes vertical, I think some of it has to do with the surgeon's preference and also the location of the tumor. You definitely CAN do this! Wishing you all the best!
Laverne
I sure hope u do well. My surgery is on March 16 not long after yours so I know how u were feeling presurgery. I'd love to know how ur doing if ur up to it. All my best to you. Laverne
Laverne
I sure hope u do well. My surgery is on March 16 not long after yours so I know how u were feeling presurgery. I'd love to know how ur doing if ur up to it. All my best to you. Laverne
Al Eddy
I was diagnosed with stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer in August 2020. Just finished up with the chemo, and now getting ready for the 30 days of radiation before the whipple. I should be getting my whipple around May 2021. Im a 57yr old male in relatively good health. I initially weighed 248lbs. and dropped to as low as 178lbs during chemo. I am now maintaining at around 200lbs. Im so glad I found your post, as most "other" whipple related after surgery posts only mention the "good" stuff. Im glad to read some "real" comments from real people with real solutions to the many questions a lot of us have. Im glad your whipple was a success and look forward to joining the "success" ranks myself soon! May God bless you all and watch over you during your recoveries.
Krystal Meacham
Reading this article was seriously 99% the same experience I had but slightly different method of surgery. In 2011 I had a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy for a 2.5cm neuroendocrine tumour on the tail of my pancreas. I was 27, the epidural failed, I wanted to die because I couldn’t continue in pain and it was the lowest time I had ever ever been in. I had 14 lymph nodes taken but only 1 was malignant. I was in remission for 10yrs and the NET has just returned on my stomach this time and I’m about to go through this surgery all over again.
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Krystal, I am sending you so much love and strength! You've got this – you've done it before so you know you can do it! Thinking of you, please keep me updated on how you're doing when you can XO.
Harry
Thank you Chelsea for sharing and to everyone else.This is the most informative site on the whipple procedure with real experiences that I've found. It is very helpful. I just cancelled my whipple and have to decide if I want to go ahead with it - this site offers a lot of thoughtful information.
Sam Maz
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you for this post. I found it really helpful to understand what the patient will go through and how to be realistic about the procedure. My husband, 29, was recently diagnosed with a Neuroendocrine tumor and will have the Whipple procedure done on March 31, 2021. I was wondering what advice you would give to those who are the sold caretakers of the patient. I’m trying to be as prepared and helpful as possible (while being 5 months pregnant and taking care of a 2 year old). I just want to make sure I’m doing everything right to comfort him and make sure his recovery goes smoothly.
Also, how long did it take before you felt mostly back to “normal” in terms of your ability to function on a daily basis?
Thank you!
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Sam! Sending so much love to you and your family. As for being a caregiver for your husband, I recommend getting your home set up in advance before he comes home as much as possible. If you have a lot of stairs in your home, he might want to sleep on the main floor for a bit. He probably won't want to be walking much, but as his caregiver, I think it's SO important to encourage him to get some steps in each day, even just walking around the house. My mom did that for me after surgery and I think it's a really important part of the recovery. I recommend having lots of soft, easy to digest food on hand for him. Things like white bread, soup, mashed potatoes, pasta. It was also helpful for my mom to track my pain meds and other meds for me so I didn't miss anything. Otherwise, just loving and supporting him as I'm sure you already do! I would say by about six weeks post op. I felt confident doing most things by myself again around the house. I drove about 2.5 months after surgery. It's so different for everyone though, and each day will be different too. Your husband is young which is a great advantage! There will be an adjustment period, but things will get better. Wishing you all the very best! Please let me know how you're all doing and how his surgery goes. I will be thinking of you all on the 31st.
Sam Maz
Hi! I just wanted to update you and those who come to this blog to look for info. My husband had the Whipple procedure done on March 31, 2021. It is now 26 days post surgery and he’s doing GREAT! He has reached a point where he’s able to do most things with ease (other than lifting more than 10 lbs until mid May). He only needed narcotics one time after coming home and managed his pain with Tylenol and Motrin. It was a 4 day stay in the hospital and he has had no infections or complications post-surgery. I am absolutely amazed at how well his progress has gone and I’m so glad I was prepared for every situation and had this blog to refer to! This is a very scary surgery but hopefully this gives someone a little peace in the midst of chaos.
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
That is such wonderful news! Thank you for updating us, I am so happy to hear he's doing well. XO
dayna
Hi Sam! Not sure if you will see this but I am scheduled to have a Whipple procedure in about a month and would love to chat with you further. I'm SO glad to hear your husband is doing so well! Dayna.Orlean@gmail.com
maddy
hi, i’m sixteen and i was diagnosed with the same type of tumour as you. seven weeks ago, i had a whipper procedure. my epidural failed, they tried nine times. to this day, i’m still in the hospital due to a series of complications. ur story is really inspiring and real. this has been like the worst experience of my life and i feel like no one could ever understand what i’m going through. my body constantly hurts and i’m always nauseous and weak. my wound is open and gross. it’s difficult not to feel like my body is ruined, broken. your story gave me comfort, knowing i’m not the only one having to recover from, well, this literal hell. thank you. it’s been a few years since you’ve posted this.. how are you now? are you in pain? will i always be in pain?
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Maddy! I am thinking of you so much and I'm so sorry you're going through this. Your body is not ruined or broken and things WILL get better! Now I'm 4.5 years out and I'm doing really well. I live pretty much a totally normal life, just deal with some nausea and a few other issues, but nothing that stops me from living a great life. I am not in pain! There are days when there is pain and nausea but it's not all the time, it gets so much better. Please feel free to email me chelseakram@gmail.com if you want to talk more. Sending you tons of love! XO
Sara
Hi Chelsea, I need to get a Whipple but I don't know when yet. I am so scared about it. I emailed you, I will appreciate if you get back to me. Thank you
marcy monte
Hi Chelsea, Oh my this is amazing. I just found out last night my 71 year old Wonderful Hubby will have the Whipple in 4 days...how can i prepare the house? Should I rent a hospital bed for him to move up and down easier? I'm on those same foods as I'm a colitis gal! Love the walking coaching . He is at OHSU in Oregon and the team moved him up even in the wake of ______ COVID patients (non vaccers ) so just wonder about the bed and comfort? Sincerely,
Marcy Monte
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Marcy!! Wishing your husband a smooth recovery! If it's easy for you to rent a hospital bed it would be nice to have, but certainly wasn't necessary for me. It might depend on how his mobility before the surgery is too. I slept propped up for several weeks as it was very uncomfortable to lay flat. So lots of comfy pillows will be nice! I also loved using my hot water bottle/heating pad on my stomach. I'd also recommend he takes his own pillow to the hospital and a cozy robe/slippers!
Elena
Hi, i just had my whipple and was wondering if you remember how did you transition from IV feeding to drinking and eating. After how many days post surgery and what were you allowed to drink/eat. Also how long until you were discharged? Thank you, lots of love xoxo
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Hi Elena! I hope you're doing okay...sending you lots of love! I think I started having popsicles and some stuff like that after about five days. Then I slowly started eating things like white bread, potatoes, soup and other things that are easy to digest. I didn't have much of an appetite for a while. I was in the hospital for two weeks.
Lynda
You are a gifted writer and I want to thank you for sharing your story. I know it has been several years since you wrote this, but in some ways it hits close to home for me being that I have a 27-year-old daughter (your age at the time of the post?) and nearly 3 years ago my husband became a Whipple Warrior. It is both a life-saving and life-changing operation.
The rest of your life story is yet to be written and the best chapters are still to come.
Laverne
Well here it is a year after the surgery. Did 6 mths chemo which was very rough. Lost 40 lbs. Finished that in Oct. and have gained back 15lbs so far. My 1st 3 mth scan was good. 2nd scans are next week . Fingers crossed. But since chemo ended I feel totally normal. Even during chemo i would take a cruise, then have a treatment, recover that week then take another cruise. Did so much to lift my spirit. First trip i needed a wheel chair due to laying around for 5 mths. The second day of the trip i said enough of this &got up & forced myself to walk. Shortly after i was taking the stairs. It was like being reborn out of the darkness of chemo. (ate tons of food which began my much needed weight gain) So this is my current status... Hope all is well with you and yours.👍💕👍
Maddie
Hiii,
I just had my Whipple for the same type of tumour a few months ago. I was wondering how you’ve been doing since your surgery? If I’m not being too impolite, would you mind sharing if you had any health issues since surgery, do you need to take enzymes or any other pills? Was there any other intervention necessary since your surgery? I’ve joined a group on facebook called whipple warriors and I saw so many complications that others were having after this surgery… that I got myself scared 😮💨
Lots of hugs too you 🤗
SJ
I’m grateful I found this today. I can relate to it and I feel validated.
My 78 y/o stepmother is pancreatic-cancer free after her Whipple. She’s also a lymphoma survivor.
I’ve lived my adult life from age 22 to 34 with chronic pain and illness. I’m 44 now. After a steady 10-year remission, I’m experiencing frightening and painful new persistent symptoms.
I understand the fear, pain, and despair that Chelsea describes. And what it’s like to almost apologetically prove how dark it can be.
I’m grateful for her encouragement and that she seems to be ok her way to wellness.
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Thank you so much for your message! I am sending you well wishes and wishing you and your stepmother the very best.
Katie
I am currently waiting for my whipple surgery. I’m 21 and I found out about having a large pseudo-papillary tumour in January. Still waiting for a date !! I could never find much about This specific tumour and peoples experiences with it. So thank you for writing this and for being so strong !! ❤️
Claudia Deandrade
I hope you have recovered well from your whipple. I was also 27 years when I had mine done, for the same reasons. I am very grateful and excited to say I am 37 years old now. And only someone that has gone trough it can possibly understand!!!!
I would love to connect with you!!!
Siobhan
WoW !
What an incredibly strong woman you are! My father had the whipple in March and unfortunately we lost him to PC in September.
He was and still in the strongest man I know but seeing him after the whipple scared me - it scared him and definitely left a scar he should not of had to bare.
I hope life is good to you now you absolutely worrier!
Sofia
Wow, you are so strong and so inspiring. I just got diagnosed with an insulinoma and I’m getting a whipple in a month. I am 24 years old, thank you for opening up, it helped a lot. Really nervous, but this article is giving me so much power to get through it. I hope we can get in touch via email. Thank you again ❤️
Paula
Thank you Chelsea for sharing your story and to everyone who added comments. I am scheduled to have my Whipple procedure next Monday 3/13/2023. Although your experience(s) was very difficult and hearing about the hard times is a bit frightening it also helps me be prepared. It may be tough but I know I will get through it!
Thank you!!<3
Jack
Dear survivors
My mother is also diagnosed tumor in head of pancreas 4 cm and when I hear such i weep to much time tear never stopped and my mother is also weeping and panic
And also datted for surgery
Please tell me life time effects of surger
Can we live normal
Or pancreasworks same as before
Please guide me iam too much frightened
Mest666
greatest negative advertisement of Whipple surgery
complete madness, such treatment of bening tumor
much worse than death
Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food
Pardon???
Robert Shuman
Pretty much a spot on description of what my wife just went through. Big challenge is the new life of a diabetic AND the upcoming chemo.