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What is a Pancreaticoduodenectomy or "The Whipple" ?

 A Pancreaticoduodenectomy or "The Whipple" is an complex operation to treat tumors, polyps, and other conditions of the pancreas, duodenum, and bile ducts. It removes the head of the pancreas, bottom of the stomach ( the pylorus), the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), the gallbladder and the bile duct. 



 

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Ferritin and Iron levels.

 UPDATED July 2026, 2026 Happy to report that what I have done over the past 12 months has helped my Ferritin and Iron levels stay stable. Part of the on going follow up after my Whipple Surgery is having blood work done at 3 and 6 month intervals. Blood work done in Nov 2024, a year post Whipple, showed my iron levels to be in the normal range, but the Ferritin levels had started to drop. Both my primary Doctor and dietitian recommend me increasing my daily iron intake to see if that would help raise my Ferritin level . The duodenum is removed during the Whipple, and it plays a crucial role in iron absorption , so removing of this section of the small bowel reduces the body's ability to absorb iron. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body's cells and It's found in many cells, especially in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow . A low ferritin level after the Whipple is common and is often due to impaired iron absorption caused by the removal of the duodenum; ...
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What's it like Volunteering on a trail day.

 I decided to try and retire this year, not sure financially this was a good decision, but mental and physical I know I have to try and I know it will help keep me healthy. If I stay healhty and active I will stay out of the hospital I hope. A trail day is helping repair and maintain a multi use ( horse back, hiking, running and mountain biking) network of trails. I live in a beautiful part of the world, the foot hills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. There are several networks of trails and trail associations here, we are very lucky. I think my favorite trails to work on are the old classic trails in Kananaskis Country . Most of these trails haven't seen any attention in many years, so they are over grown and eroded. The trails are often in a remote wilderness area, so getting to them can often be an adventure, we hike, bike and use e bikes to get to locations. You have to be prepared to be there for several hours, with enough food, water and extra layers in case the weather chan...
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The number of polyps / adenomas Update.

    UPDATED June 25, 2026 The number of polyps / adenoma, in my remaining colon, rectum has dropped and there was nothing to bioposie in stomach this last follow up. Doctor still wants to continue with a 3 month follow on the remaining colon, rectum but move to 6 moth for the stomach. This is some what good news. I am still taking the PPI and haven't made any other changes so not sure why the number of adenomas has dropped. The Whipple re-configures the digestive tract, and creates a new connection between the stomach and the small intestine (jejunum). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed to patients after a Whipple to prevent ulcers and bleeding in the upper digestive tract . Do Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) cause an  increase the numbers of polyps with   Familial Adenomatous Polyposis , FAP ? There is a study,  Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science, that seems to suggest that using a Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for over 12 months is a signific...
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