Apr 17, 2024 update.

Originally posted on social media Apr 17, 2024.

"April 17th, 2024 is the 5 month Whipple Surgery anniversary, and marks 131 days, and counting, in hospital. I was home in Jan for 22 days, and a few hours on day passes has been my only break from the hospital.

Currently working on getting the small bowel working and digesting liquid nutrition via the nasojejunal(NJ) feeding tube. TPN IV nutrition is being scaled back as the NJ feeding is increased. The fistula(leak) from my stomach to the insecion is slowly healing. To by pass the leak the feeding tube goes through the stomach past the leak into my jejunum, part of the small bowel. Nothing to eat or drink for awhile longer because of the leak in the stomach.

There have been some rough days in the last few weeks where frustration and negative energy got to me. Progress seemed to be slowing down and my dream of getting home earlier was crushed.

With the support and help from family, friends, and the health care team I was able to get back to a more positive way of dealing with things.

I love the great people in my life. I am so thankful for all that you do for me, you are the reason I can do this"

Apr 4, 2024.

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Getting my strenght back after a Pancreaticoduodenectomy, The Whipple Surgery.

The Pancreaticoduodenectomy or "The Whipple" , Nov 2023, went okay they tell me, but after I developed a pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) leak, followed by hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) leak, gastrojejunostomy (GJ), and a stubborn fistula. The resulting complications , leaks, and fistula did so much extra damage to my body, and abdominal muscles, I lost most of my core strength, and flexibility. I was very discourage and worried my quality of life was going to change more because of the complications, than from the changes to my body from the surgery. I told my friends if I can walk, and eat everything else will be a bonus, I just wanted to get out of the hospital, and get on with my “new normal” life. I still have a golf ball size scar in the middle of my incision, from the fistula, the tissue is sunk in, and much thinner the the surrounding tissue. I am concerned about future problems, like hernias, but live a very active life so have to balance getting stronger, enjoying what I li...

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Feb 7, 2024 update.

Originally posted to social media Feb 7, 2024. I was readmitted on Jan 28, 2024 after developing a larger opening in the fistula, incision and more complications . "A mix of XRay, MRI, and CT scans, still trying to sort out the leak from my incision. They found the leak, Liver bile duct. They tried to insert a stent/ drain in to control the leak and let things heal, but weren't able to. A second attempt was booked but canceled as there is a blood clot in the left portal vein of the Liver, also air and the bile duct is in flamed. So plan is to hopefully repeat the stent/drain insertion in 3 weeks. Till then they will take me off fluids, food, and try shut down the digestive system see if the bile leak slows down and heals. Fingers cross 🤞." Feb 2, 2024. Jan 30, 2024.

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