Re: Re;Depression

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/17/2003 1:37:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

Pag4024@... writes:

> I am to have the Puestow procedure. There is some problem with the

> procedure

> because my ducts have to be dilated.

Hi Page, I understand your depression. I have been right where you are now.

I also was told that I had to have a puestow surgery. I had to have stents

placed in my small duct to expand the duct for the puestow surgery. The doctor

placed a small stent in my duct at first and then every month or two I would

return to the hospital to have the stent increased in size. Finally he had

my duct expanded to a very large size with two size 5s in at once. The next

stent he planned on placing in my small duct was the metal stent instead of a

rubber or plastic stent. The metal stent is the stint of no return. Once he

puts the metal stent in the small duct he told me that I would have to go

forward with the surgery.

After the two number 5s I continued to have pain and had trouble eating. In

fact I couldn't eat. With the two 5 stints in my duct after the ercp to place

them the doctor talked with my husband. He told him that he wanted to go

thru with the surgery but I would continue to have pain. Since the pain didn't

stop with the duct open due to the stints being in the duct he knew that I

would continue to have pain even with the surgery. That was when I said enough.

No metal stint. I then researched the pancreatectomy and islet cell

transplant. I had my pancreas removed December 2000 and I don't regret it a

day. So I

guess I am telling you to beware if you still have pain and difficulty eating

when your duct is completely open with the stints. Also remember that last

stint and that stint was the metal stint, and the last stint of no return for

surgery (I don't know what they will use on you) is the one to refuse if you

are not doing better with the previous stints.

Page I know you are depressed and I know that you are very scared. I was

scared and depressed also. But I had to force myself to research the different

surgeries and decide which one would be the right one for me. I also asked the

surgeon that was going to do the puestow on me to give me names and telephone

numbers of other patients who had the puestow surgery so I could call them

and talk with them about the puestow surgery they had and how it worked for

them.

With my fear and depression I finally had to come to the place where I knew

that for me to live I had to force myself after I learned everything I could

learn about different options for me and then with that knowledge make a stand

and follow thru because I wasn't going anywhere but backward staying the way

that I was. It was very hard but I had to do it. Good luck to you Page and If

I can help you in any way I will be more than happy to. Maybe the puestow

will work well for you but for me it would have been a big mistake. Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Paige - You really sound incredibly sad, not that I blame you. Chronic

illness really takes a toll - just keeps going on and on... I do think that

there are things you still might be able to enjoy if you weren't so depressed.

Depression is so insidious - it keeps people from finding enjoyment in anything

in life, and we already have enough trouble with that due to our other problems

that are causing the depression in the first place. I hope you can find a good

therapist. I also wanted to mention that I went to an all day workshop for

doctors and liaison psychiatrists on " Medical Illness and Depression " . They

talked about how medical conditions alter the brain chemistry physiologically

and cause a biological depression. I don't know if you are on antidepressants,

or have been, but they can really help alot. Not a substitute for therapy, but

sometimes if people are depressed enough they need that lifted somewhat before

they can even take advantage of the therapy. There are some very good

antidepressants out there these days with little or no side effects. It might

be helpful for you to make at least one visit to a psychiatrist since they

specialize in those meds. Not trying to tell you what to do, just making a

suggestion. I really felt for you when I read your e-mail. Hang in there and I

really hope that things get much better for you. Take care - Anita

Re;Depression

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