more questions for post TP-ICT patients

[Guest guest]

Hello again, allow me to prod you all again. I apologize, it seems

with this surgery looming, it takes over most of my conscious

thoughts. I will however push my luck and ask you all again for your

input.

I was wondering for those of you who had this surgery, how long was

it before you were aware of anything going on? That eve, the next

day? How long before you were able to sit up, walk? How did they

handle your diabetes immediately following surgery? What were you

told to expect as a time frame for islet cells to begin functioning?

My apologies if I am beating a dead horse, can't fight the thoughts,

so I decided to indulge them.

Wishing you all well, Keri

[Guest guest]

Hi,

To be honest I am not sure how much time had passed before I began

to become aware of my surrondings follow my total panc. My surgery

lasted 12.5 hours. I believe it may not have been that long because

I recall hearing the questions from my wife and parents to the

surgeon and I had the sensation of being wheeled into a room. I was

still heavily sedated at that point though, and could not open my

eyes. I was still intubated too.

Sitting up came probably 3 or 4 hours after being extubated. The bed

I was on while in the Surgical ICU was specially designed to move

into a sitting position.

I stood up the day I was transferred to the surgical floor. It was

pretty easy to stand. I was on an epidural and a pca so my pain was

mostly well under control.

My blood sugar was checked aggressively at first. I was given

insulin from the moment I was placed in the Surgical ICU. For all I

know they may have begun giving me insulin while I was in surgery,

and I suspect this.

I was told that everyone is different regarding when and to what

degree their transplanted islet cells start to function. I believe

they normally begin to work right away but have to ramp up for a few

days. While in the hospital recovering from the surgery my blood

glucose levels ranged from 90-180 so they must have been working

right away otherwise I suspect I would have had much higher readings.

Do not worry about beating a dead horse. This surgery holds so much

promise for you but it has it risks too. Everyone handles

anticipation differently. I tried to simply visual a positive end

result and recovery. I also asked my doctor for something mild to

help me sleep the last 4 days prior to surgery.

Blessings,

Bert

> Hello again, allow me to prod you all again. I apologize, it seems

> with this surgery looming, it takes over most of my conscious

> thoughts. I will however push my luck and ask you all again for

your

> input.

> I was wondering for those of you who had this surgery, how long

was

> it before you were aware of anything going on? That eve, the next

> day? How long before you were able to sit up, walk? How did they

> handle your diabetes immediately following surgery? What were you

> told to expect as a time frame for islet cells to begin

functioning?

> My apologies if I am beating a dead horse, can't fight the

thoughts,

> so I decided to indulge them.

> Wishing you all well, Keri