Is there anyone out there with Chronic Pancreatitis who had a Whipple?

I was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis in July 1999. I have had many pancreatitic episodes. The last one being May 2009. I have been through hell and back. I am still having a lot of problems with this disease. I was hospitalized in July 2009 for a week and had a J-G tube placed on Sept 14th and ended up being admitted again on Sept 15th due to complications from being so dehydrated. I am now faced with needing the Whipple procedure something I have not been wanting to have. My surgery date is Feb 4, 2010. I have lost 30 pounds but gained about 5 pounds back since having the feeding tube. My GI doctor wants my weight up to 120 before he will remove the feeding tube but I have been unable to get to that weight. Has anyone had this Whipple procedure for non-cancer reasons? I can't seem to find any information on pts who have had this who have not had pancreatitic cancer?

[pinky_fairy]

Hi.I know ur going threw alot of pain and I do feel ur pain I too suffered greatly with chronic pancreatitis and doctors tried everything they could to help me.I was in and out of the hospital.I kept losing wieght and my body just would not absorbe anything I ate.My life was coming to an end @95 lbs when i did weigh 160.No one new what to do and they also were going to use a feeding tub for me.I went threw many GI doc until they literally told me im sorry i dont know what else to do for you.Then I went to a regular family doc and explained everything to her and she looked at me and said why haven't they put you on pancreatic enzymes?I said i don't know.so she said try this medication and if it doesn't work I will put you inthe hospital.Now the pain is gone I eat what ever I want and i just live normally taking the pancrease pills evry day of my life and i could not be more thankful than that.Though i will for the rest of my life have to take these pills before i eat something but after the horrible pain i went through with that disease i dont care im so happy!Oh and now I weigh 175 and feel great!Please check into this please it might save ur life.Please ask ur doctor try it.It will take a little time for the medicine to work ok but please it is called pacrease mt 20 capsules.PLEASE!I know the pain is bad for u and I really want to try to help u in any way i can ok and I also will pray for u to feel better.So hang in there ok.

[wajmoliver]

Thank you for your comments. I too have been taking pancreatic enzymes for 4yrs now. They do help keep my pancreas at bay most of the time. But when I have these flare ups, they last for months. I just went to Boston on 12/16 to get a 2nd opinion regarding the Whipple procedure and was told pretty much the same as what Dr. Smith told me here. So I guess on Feb 4th, I will be having this surgery. I hear all these horror stories about the Whipple but I don't want to continue living my life with this pancreatitis and fading away to nothing. Thank you again for writing.