Glad I Found this Site

[Ellie]

Hi everyone.

My husband was found to have PC 6 weeks ago. In fact, he only really knew AFTER his whipple's op. He had gone into our local hospital to have the camera into his stomach and the doctor damaged his bowel. He was then taken to XX Hospital in XX and whilst the surgeon was performing keyhole surgery to repair the bowel, our local hospital phoned through to say the biopsy taken had shown cancer, so they immediately opened him up and 8 hours later he woke up to hear he had had a major cancer operation.

He stayed in hospital for 3 weeks, contracting pneumonia in the last week, but seemed well when he was released. We were so relieved to know the cancer had been caught early and he should make a recovery. Then we were told they had found a few lymph nodes to which the cancer had spread, so he has to have chemo soon.

We have just had 2 weeks of big problems, though. He was very constipated and he suffered severe stomach pains - so bad that I had to get him to A&E. He was admitted and after an enema he was ok again. Same thing happened 5 days later - emergency doctor, enema, then relief. Last week, again after no bowel movements, back in severe pain. Back to A&E. Enough was enough, especially as every doctor, district & specialist nurse told us to try different things for his constipation. We were going round in circles and his pain was getting worse all the time. I managed to get him to our doctors and she immediately arranged for him to be re-admitted to Leeds, where he's been for the past 2 days.

As if to make it seem we were fussing over nothing, he had no problems - until yesterday when he had a sudden attack of pain in his abdomen. This can't have been constipation, as he had had several bowel movements (for the first time without an enema!). We need to know why he is getting this pain!

I am reading everything I can online and just found this site and some of your stories, which mentioned constipation and pain after a Whipples. Everything I had read suggested he would have diarrohea, but it's been the opposite. I can't say I am relieved to have read your stories, because it seems there could be other problems developing and I am so terribly sorry to hear of the sad loss of some family members through his illness. At least I can mention some of the things I've read on hear to his doctors, to see if they have checked for any of these things.

I am trying to be strong and think positive, especially as the surgeon said the op was a success, and my husband is eating well. Having severe pain from what may be constipation, or possibly not the correct does of enzymes, has caused more upset that the original operation. His chemo is having to be delayed now, until he is out of hospital again.

It is some comfort to share experiences and to read of some success stories on this forum. I hope my husband will be one of them.

Best wishes to all

Ellie

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[Ellie]

Hi again

I have since found another site - CancerCompass and discovered that these severe pains may not be due to constipation, although that was still a problem for my husband.

It seems many Whipple op patients get sudden, extremely severe pains - at times like having a heart attack - but there is no known reason for them. I was so relieved to read that other people had experienced this, otherwise it may have meant a more serious problem just for my husband. Does that sound selfish? I don't want him or anyone else suffering these pains, but it makes me less worried to know they are quite common.

The internet is an amazing place, to learn what you need to know, and to know that others are going through what you are. It does bring some small comfort. I also realise my husband is so lucky to have had his operation and to have a good chance of recovery. So many others don't get that. It seems so wrong that the survival rate for PC is still as low as it was 30 years ago and not enough progress has been made, compared to other types of cancer. We all need to support the PC charities and push for better research and treatment etc.

Ellie

[mel72]

Hi, glad to hear your husband has had whipples surgery and is doing well. My mum had this surgery last May but unfortunatly they did not get all the cancer and she died in January. I do remember after her surgery she did have stomach pains and she was prescibed Buscopan an anti spasmotic drug and it really helped her and she was able to eat alot better, maybe check with your doctor.My mums consultant always explained the effect Whipples has on the body is like being hit headlong by a truck, the body doesnt no the difference but the impact is the same it takes a long time to recover. Let me no if there are any problems you have, because I have come through this journey with my mum and through her experiences I want to help others. I also agree with you that we must raise awareness of this awful disease and try fundraising for research.

[Ellie]

Thank you for your reply, Mel. It is so good of you to still read the messages on this forum and take the time to help others, even after losing your mum. I am so very sorry that she didn't make it.

I will mention the drug to my husbands doctor. My husband came out of hospital yesterday and has been ok so far - no major stomach pains, just small ones. Hope it stays that way.

Thanks for your help.

Ellie

[Ellie]

Hi everyone

My husband was rushed back into hospital 3 weeks ago. Doctors operated and said his bowel had twisted, so they had to remove a big chunk of it. It seems this could have been happening since the whipples, so it could have been causing all the problems. He was in for 2 weeks recovering and has been home a week now and it seems that everything has now settled down. He certainly isn't getting any of the severe pain attacks anymore, just the odd twinge, which is nothing. He doesn't even need any regular painkillers, which is amazing!

I just don't know if the twisted bowel was missed when he kept going back into hospital, or whether it happened suddenly. It's so hard to get exact info from the doctors.

My big worry is that he has missed signing up for his chemo twice now and will have to wait a few more weeks, until he's built his strength up, before he can think about it. I can't believe the whipple's was the 'easy' bit - everything since has been harder to cope with!

If anyone else has severe abdominal pains after a whipples, please get checked out asap. My husband could have been left with a colostomy bag and possibly diabetic if they had had to remove any more of his bowel. Seems they operated in the nick of time!

Best wishes to all

Ellie

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