The FAP - Whipple Report

 I went into the Whipple Surgery , Nov 17, 2023, with the belief that I would be home in 7 days and recovered in 3 months. The surgery it’s self went okay they tell me, but 4 days later I developed a pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) leak, followed by hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) leak and there were delays in acting on these complications. It got so bad 2 of my close friends had to come in and talk to the medical team to find out why a CT scan ordered on Nov 24,2023 wasn’t done until Nov 26, 2023. By the time the CT scan was done things had gotten much worst and it was the start of a very long recovery . This when I started to notice it was very important for me to pay attention and advocate for my self and my health care. Nobody knows your body and how you feel better than your own self. Unfortunately I didn’t start making notes or taking pictures until I was discharged, Jan 5, 2024, after 50 days in the hospital. I was sent home with 2 drains and a very active leak that was coming out of a...

 WARNING , this post contains Medical Graphic Pictures below.  I can’t help wondering if Creon, a pancreatic enzyme, caused extra damage to internal tissue when it got into a gastrojejunostomy (GJ) stomach leak, then a enterocutaneous fistula ? I had the Whipple Surgery in Nov 2023, then a few days post surgery developed a pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) leak, followed by hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) leak, gastrojejunostomy (GJ), and a stubborn fistula. The gastrojejunostomy (GJ), the new connection between the stomach, and small bowel, didn’t show up on any CT scans, and wasn’t truly discovered till Mar 2024.  The reason I ask the above question is: I was discharged from the hospital in early Jan 2024, I still had fluid/ paste leaking out the fistula located in the middle of my incision. When I was discharged it seemed that the leak, and fistula were healing. Jan 6, 2024, Home Care Nurse noted: “ There are 2 small opening in the incision”. On Jan 18, 2024 I saw the medica...