Long term expectations after TP-ICT

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/6/2003 9:26:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

jandcsmomma@... writes:

> What are the long term

> expectations following the surgery? I am only 26. I have had

> pancreatitis since around age 10. It has been chronic the last 5

> years. If I had the surgery, at this age, those islets would have to

> last me a long time.

Hi Keri, I had the TP/ICT December 8, 2000. I was told that a woman, a

patient of Dr. Sutherland's had her surgery in the 1970s and she is fine today.

Still not diabetic. For you to learn all that you want to know you should read

Dr. Sutherland's web site and call him and tell him your history and ask him

your questions. He is a very nice and a kind man so you won't feel

uncomfortable talking with him. I will give you the information that you need.

Are you diabetic yet? I assume that you know that for the surgery to have a

chance of keeping you from being diabetic you should go into surgery NOT

diabetic.

Dr. Sutherland operates out of the Fairview University Medical Center in

Minneapolis, MN.

They have been doing the surgery since the 1970s and have more experience

than other hospitals.

The Sutherland's telephone number is 1-

E-mail address DSuther@...

Web site <A HREF= " www.Diabetesinstitute.org " >www.Diabetesinstitute.org</A>

Look for AUTO ISLET CELL TRANSPLANT.

If I can help you anymore Keri just let me know. I will be happy to share my

experience with you. I will try to tell you what you want to know. If I

can't then there are others in the group who can jump in and answer your

questions. Shirley

[Guest guest]

Keri

I wanted to share our experience with this procedure. My son, Joey,

had his surgery 1 year ago at the age of 12. He had suffered with CP

for almost 8 years at that point. He had absolutely no quality of

life. He was surviving on TPN, a narcotic pain pump, hundreds of

days inpatient with line infections, surgeries and more procedures

and complications than you could imagine. He has spent the last year

eating whatever he wants, spending his first whole year at school,

riding bikes with his friends and just enjoying his life. I could

not say enough about this procedure. It literally saved our lives.

There is no doubt that it is a major decision. The surgery was long

and the recovery was difficult. But, nothing could compare with the

incredible outcome! If you have any specific questions, I would be

happy to let you know what our experience has been.

Suzanne Wool