When is surgery (or even a total pancreatectomy) the answer?
Hi
BP from Sacramento California asks this question in a recent email – something many who have had pancreatitis as long as he has often ask themselves. If you have any thoughts on this please leave a post.
In the meantime, thanks to BP for sharing your thoughts and concerns.
Regards and best of health to all
Jenny
FROM BP:
I have had idiopathic chronic pancreatitis for more than twenty years and for twenty years prior I had occasional attacks of sharp pain that had been variously misdiagnosed, but was likely my pancreas. Three months ago I had an attack which generated not only pain under the sternum, but also on the back right side of my rib cage which has never resolved. I was unable to return to eating anything without taking enzymes. It seems the pain on my rib cage is gradually increasing and often after eating even a nearly fat free meal with small portions I have pain on the front of the chest which will usually resolve by taking another enzyme capsule.
I had an MRI/MRCP dye contrast which shows a badly atrophied body and tail of the pancreas and two pseudo cysts (fluid)approximately 3/4 inch diameter and about 1 and 1/4 inch long. They both touch the duct which appears totally normal. I had the gall bladder removed 2 1/2 years ago because I was passing stones. My pancreas is apparently not producing much of anything to assist in digestion and is only giving me pain.
I am 66 years old, am not diabetic yet, have aggressive coronary artery disease, but at the moment no angina and take no medications for the heart.
I have investigated the possibility of a total pancreatectomy with islet cell transplant in the liver at the University of Cincinnati Pancreas Disease Center. I am not sure I can get medicare or insurance to approve the procedure, but it looks like a possible way out of my pain without becoming diabetic.
What are the negative consequences of such a surgery? Is it a possible solution to remedy the pain? Another pancreas sufferer said that she was told a total pancreatectomy would result in phantom pancreas pain. Is that true? Thanks for taking my questions.
Dear BP,
Since my surgery where the surgeon removed 75% of my pancreas, I have had a unique feeling, not exactly painful but by no means comfortable. If it’s phatom pain I’m not sure. One of my friends told me she thought it was more likely my insides adjusting to the absence of this organ. I did watch a TV show that actual confirmed that this does happen. I have a friend who has had his kidney removed and advised there were no issues. The only reason I bring this up is because since I no longer have my appendix, gallbladder nor my tonsils I have not had any phantom pain, but these are parts that really don’t do much and the Pancreas does. Obviously each individual is different, so I would imagine it’s a possibility.
I wish you the best of luck. One way or another I hope they find some way to relieve your pain whether thru surgery or another way.
CB
I was told surgery for pancreatitis is not possible ,that no-one can survive w/o that organ