Attacks after a Whipple Procedure, Operation, Help

I had the Whipple Operation (Pancreaticoduodenectomy) done on May 12 2008 at the Concord Hospital because of a tumor on the head of my pancreas. The tumor was benign so no cancer *Thank God* and a month or so after I started having these attacks. I can eat anything I want no limits, Im not on any enzymes and only take Omeprazole 20 MG an antacid and Sertaline HCL 100 MG for depression. It started out with just a few at night but soon got the point where I was having 5 to 7 daily. I can explain how severe these are but I will say it feels like someone is ripping my guts out. I cant breath right and Im in my own world thinking its not going to end. After the attack I am totally drained and have to lay there for a while to get my wits and strength back.
Ive had several Cat Scans, they went down my throat with a camera and everything looks normal to my Doctors. Not one Doctor can tell me why these attacks happen, they keep telling me they have never heard of or dealt with these before (Im the only one) no explanation. Well after posting this video I guess Im not the only one am I.
Since this video was posted I am now on the Fentanyl Patch @ 50mcg/hr ever 48 hours and have not had one full blown attack since. I do get them but they are not so brutal, it still putts me down and I go into a bad one but nothing like before. I highly recommend the patch! If I had to choose between the Patch and the attacks, will thats a no brainer Ill take the patch.

Anyone out there experiencing the same attacks after a Whipple..

As of May 2010 I was diagnosed with pancreatitis spent a few days in the hospital and now on Pancreatic enzymes. I'm still getting the attacks from before, this is a completely different felling and has to do with the foods I eat...




Please help if you can
Thanks Steve...

PS Please go to Facebook and join the Post Whipple Pain Attacks Group click on link below..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/276500819031774/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Whipple
• operation
• attacks
• procedure
• nerve
• damage
• tumor
• pancreas
• cancer
• Spasms
• Pancreaticoduodenectomy
• Pancreatic
• Pancreatitis

[GrannyFromUSA]

I'm almost speechless. I had the whipple, then complications, ruptured spleen and then a total of 6 surgeries, 8 pints of blood, etc. in the hospital mostly on the respirator. Then I come home on pain meds, then off after a month or so. THEN THE PAIN I JUST SEEN IN THE VIDEO. Tks. for taping it. That's what it is! I feel as though I will die. I can't even get up. All I can do is roll w/the pain, scream, moan, yell etc. I hate it. I have NO ANSWERS EITHER! This lasts up to 4-5 min. then gone.

[harvetized]

@GrannyFromUSA

That's what happened to me as soon as I started taking less pain meds the attacks started... now I'm on the fentanyl and they are a lot less frequent... At least you know your not the only one, maybe show the video to your Dr. and tell him about the fentanyl... it works.... better than dealing with those attacks...

[GrannyFromUSA]

@harvetized

If the pains continue and become more frequent, I will not be able to live this way. Something will have to be done. I am able to tolerate a LOT of pain, but this whips me bad. I am going to send my doc the video. I've viewed some of the posts. GAS? Excuse me, I can't buy that. Walk around? I cannot make a move to do anything, my whole body goes into contortions with and during the pain. Walk around? I cannot do anything but what harvetized is doing. You are trapped with the pain

[harvetized]

@GrannyFromUSA

these quote say it the best...

"it has been compared to "wild dogs ripping your bowels apart while still arrive" my Whipple was in 2000...I only wish that the "dogs" return a lot less frequently...."

[reilly0411]

In 1997 I had the whipple surgery --I am now 61 yrs old-female--still continue to

have digestive problems--take Creon enzymes every time I eat something--lately

coffee & cream make me very sick --I can't seem to get a handle on what I can

digest & can't---looking for others who have had the whipple-----

[MrHollywoodCoe]

HAHAAAAHAHAH LMAO you got to take a shit

[4shanaharris]

I have take 2 diff. pills for my stomach called:

Omeprazole 40mg and Abdominal pain

[barbgldoen]

Had whipple surgery 2008. Have had these attacks for two years now. I have the best gastro doctor in the world. Prescribed Levsin .125 mg tablets that dissolve under your tongue at the onset of pain. Pain gone in a minute or two. Miracle drug!! Had to share this with everyone. Watch the STRESS and what you eat.

[TheWhippleSS]

Please join our group: Whipple Surgery Survivor Group on Facebook. We are all either whipple patients or family of whipple patients. We are trying to get Post Whipple Attack patients together so we can find an answer. Please join us and tell us your story.

[DIETMARHEU]

Sometimes the attacks are so strong that i go to hospital and stay there for 10 days to make a pain therapy with morphine intravenously. This happens averagely 1 till 2 times per year.

Thanks good i live in Germany where evryone has a help insurance. It is law here. So nobody has to be worried because of the cost of the medicine and the hospital staying.

And it´s no problem here to get a morphine prescription.

I wish you the best!

[DIETMARHEU]

Yes, this pain is hell on earth.

I had a Whipple operation in 2004. The head of the Pancreas and the gallbladder were removed.

2 Months later the pain attacks came back. The doctors said, it´s a high grade Chronic pancreatitis.

If i have a pain attack, i need up to 14 pills per 20 milligrams of morphine (SEVREDOL20) at one day. Normally this helps, so i have always a box of morphine pills at home. Of course, morphine has a lot of side effects but everything is better than this horror of pain.

[rayala333]

I just started a Whipple Surgery Survivors Facebook page. Please go to it and click the like button at the top. This page is devoted to all who have had the whipple, pancreatic cancer or other tumors that led them to have the Whipple. We need to unite on this and then bring it to the attention of researchers to find an answer.

Facebook: Whipple Surgery Survivor

[keithstartz]

wow I have stage 3 pancreatic cancer and had a major whipple, I always wonderd if other people had what I call pain attacks. Just like the vid, the screaming in agony and pain. Not as often as they use to be, but man the pain is like hyper ventilating and crying out screaming and dizzy from like passing out. I take two pain meds, 30mg morphine and dilaudid.

[kkbelvin]

I thought I was alone! Would not wish this on anyone! I had the Whipple in Nov. 2008 with complications, they accidently cut the portal vein, bled out, heart attack, internal bleeding, 32 transfusions, blood disorder, 70% of spleen removed & still have occlusion in portal vein, eating has gotten increasingly difficult and pain is daily, horrible after eating! God bless you for posting this! I didn't know there were others out there! Hopefully doctors will take notice. This is real!!