eggyg
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
I’ve just realised the date. On 26th June 2001, I was rushed into hospital after suffering bad pains in my back, middle and chest area. I’d already been to A&E just a few days previously with the same and was told it was heartburn. I was absolutely certain it wasn’t and made an appointment for the doctor. I never got to that appointment. After a few tests I was told I had pancreatitis caused by gallstones. I didn’t know I had gallstones. Six weeks later I was home from hospital, three stone lighter and minus my gallbladder and plus some pancreatic drains, which they eventually took out. I needed these as I had pancreatic pseudo cysts and they had to be drained. I felt rotten if truth be told. I was young( ish) at 41 with three daughters still at home, the youngest was only eight. Had never been ill before and thought I was fit and healthy.
Fast forward 6 years and on holiday in Majorca, got a very familiar pain, very scary when you’re a long way from home. Went straight to GPs on my return. Sent for ultrasound scan where they found an enlarged spleen and something not quite right with my pancreas. MRI next, pancreatic cysts found, endoscope next but wasn’t good enough so went to a specialist team in another hospital for an ultrasound endoscopy. Tumour the size of an apple on my pancreas. Four weeks later, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy performed. Pre cancerous tumour diagnosed, thank goodness. Three weeks in hospital, four months off work.
13.5 years after my op, I’m obviously diabetic, Type 3c, treat the same as a Type 1, had to shield as I haven’t a spleen so more susceptible to infection. But in all honesty, I’ve never been as fit in my life. Walk for miles, climb fells, run after my five grandchildren and now happily retired, in normal times we’d have been driving around Europe living life to the full. My diabetes is well controlled and I eat pretty healthily as I have other issues connected to having surgery.
I can’t believe it’s 20 years since it all started, and I’m still here to mither you lot on a daily basis!
Live your best life, that’s my motto, as you don’t know what’s around the corner.
Fast forward 6 years and on holiday in Majorca, got a very familiar pain, very scary when you’re a long way from home. Went straight to GPs on my return. Sent for ultrasound scan where they found an enlarged spleen and something not quite right with my pancreas. MRI next, pancreatic cysts found, endoscope next but wasn’t good enough so went to a specialist team in another hospital for an ultrasound endoscopy. Tumour the size of an apple on my pancreas. Four weeks later, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy performed. Pre cancerous tumour diagnosed, thank goodness. Three weeks in hospital, four months off work.
13.5 years after my op, I’m obviously diabetic, Type 3c, treat the same as a Type 1, had to shield as I haven’t a spleen so more susceptible to infection. But in all honesty, I’ve never been as fit in my life. Walk for miles, climb fells, run after my five grandchildren and now happily retired, in normal times we’d have been driving around Europe living life to the full. My diabetes is well controlled and I eat pretty healthily as I have other issues connected to having surgery.
I can’t believe it’s 20 years since it all started, and I’m still here to mither you lot on a daily basis!
Live your best life, that’s my motto, as you don’t know what’s around the corner.
