6 weeks post Whipple Procedure and my friend can't put on weigh or stop vomitting

I had my Whipple's at the end of April, was discharged three weeks later, but then had to go back in again due to severe weight loss. As with your case, lots of vomiting. It's known as Delayed Gastic Emptying - the food isn't digested and so sits there until you throw it up. Given that situation not feeling much appetite isn't a surprise. 

From my experience:

DGE is horrible, but does pass -though timescales are unpredictable 

The oncologist should refer you to a nutritionist, or ask MacMillan, but get lists of easily digested food and graze like crazy until the bowels start working - avoid big meals, give those bowels a chance!

Get on Creon ASAP. As others have mentioned, it replaces enzymes the pancreas no longer produces enough of post-Whipple's. Not being on this is nuts.

I've now put on weight post-DGE with the help of Creon, and start six months of chemo on Wednesday in reasonably good heart. Good luck to us all!

Martin

I may be wrong but I don't think Creon is a drug. It is meant to supplement the enzymes that the pancreas is supposed to make, but doesn't any more. I think it comes from a pig's pancreas. My husband thanks the pig every time he swallows the capsules ( they were difficult to swallow at first but better now) . His weight has increased over a stone since he started taking them. You need them 'with food' so take a mouthful of food first before swallowing. The dietician advised 3 with meals and 2 with snacks. They won't work half an hour before food or after eating. They are a blessing. .(for people who don't eat pork products for religious and traditional reasons - I believe the leaders of these faiths have given their approval).

Best of luck

Tomos is right about the Creon. Bless those pigs!

Thank you Mapeda.  My friend is seeing his surgeon tomorrow - and there has been discussion of enzymes - so hopefully they'll sort him out.  He can sort of digest smoothies and soup - but not much else - it looks like he's wearing his grandads skin right now - poor thing - his skin hasn't had a chance to shrink along with the rest of him.

He has half a pancreas left so maybe the surgeon was thinking it could produce enough for him.  His bloods look good apparently.  

My friend starts his chemo next week - he's having some bloods tested on Wednesday to see if all is good for it to start.  I wish you luck with yours - it's a hard old road isn't it. 

How interesting Tomos - I didn't realise - but then again I hadn't thought that hard about enzymes - if I had I think I'd have realised - doh.  I'll let my friend know about swallowing and the mouthful of food, if they decide to go forward with Creon or another enzyme.

Thank you for the information.  Such a learning curve.

I was put on creon as soon as my pancreatic cancer was diagnosed just a low dose when my cancer was inoperable after chemo and chemo radiation it became operable I had my whipples in March this year I was in hospital for 16days with a feeding tube for 14 days then started on a soft diet with creon since then I have had a lot of bowel problems and my weight has been up and down but now stable since increasing the creon I now take between 4 and 6 with each meal and two or three with snacks they only work in the body for around 30mins so if meal lasts longer you will need to take more if I forget I quickly start to feel poorly again hope this helps . 

I have another problem now my phosphate levels are elevated does any else have this problem ? It's. Causing me some concerns due to only having one kidney which is at stage 3 kidney disease 

Morning Mapeda

Thank you so much for your post as my husband has been suffering terribly from DGE but didn't know it had an official name! He is on Creon and supplement drinks and has seen a nutritionist but nothing seems to stop it. He had another about yesterday after a gap of 12 days, whereas normally its roughly every 8 days, so we were particularly gutted as we thought we'd got it under control. If you have any tips or treatments you've had I'd really appreciate it as it's so debilitating when it happens as you know.

Thank you

Hi Keys, I don’t think there’s much that can be done in a medical sense TBH, the medics at the Addenbrooke’s just felt ‘it’ll take as long as it takes. However, i did take the time to search out all those high calorie snacks I like most and graze constantlay on them. It’s a method of cheering oneself up by eating whatever I wanted most, as well as helping avoid big meals. Crisps, nuts, biscuits, high sugar fruit (esp. grapes) puddings and deserts (without main Courses). Have it all to hand - “chasing calories” I used to call it.

Good luck to you and your husband, it is a tough road - but keep going!

Mx

PS: I complete my chemo on Dec 20th, after that it’s annual scans and fingers crossed! 

Morning Martin

Thanks so much for your reply, that was really helpful and have been stocking up on more snacks and treats! Strangely our specialist nurse hadn't heard of it, so I've been telling them all about it having done some subsequent research...

I really hope your last chemo goes well and that it means you can enjoy Christmas. All the very best

Dx

I would advise him to stay away from dairy completely. My husband is very early post op and couldn’t keep anything down at all. For the last 2 days no dairy except for scrambled egg and hasn’t brought anything back yet. I’m blending everything and especially vegetables which he’s had this evening and so far so good. Even the reflux seems a little better. Good luck to your friend