Kristin Gorman

My story began in 1998, after having my gallbladder removed. Within hours upon waking from the surgery, I had horrible pain and I spent the night vomiting. I was told it was "just gas" and to deal with it. However, soon the attacks began reoccurring every 3-4 months, and always in the middle of the night. At first I felt I must be catching every possible flu bug that was going around, but then I went to the doctor – then another, and another. They all said I had severe acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For some time I figured they were right, that is until the attacks landed me in the hospital. My liver function tests were high and so they told me that I probably had Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. After that I was referred to a specialist to have my first ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography). Once again I was told that nothing was wrong with me and that I had to deal with it, and, like before, they sent me home vomiting and in severe pain. This was the worse kind of déjà vu!

Nonetheless, I was still sure the Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction was an accurate diagnoses, but after ending up in the ER twice in the same week (in 2 different states!) I began my own research into what the heck was going on with my body and why I was having these "attacks" of pain. My search brought me to a couple of yahoo groups for chronic pancreatitis and a few medical websites for Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. I traveled to two different states in search of proper treatment for my Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and underwent numerous ERCPs. Everyone said my bile duct was scarred and narrowed and my pancreas was fine, but I knew something was wrong with me and so I saw one more doctor. This one did manometry to measure the pressure in my pancreas duct and we found out that my pancreas was not fine after all. At last, a possible solution to my ongoing problems!

At first, I underwent progressive stenting to try to open up the pancreas duct, only to find that after a couple of tries my duct was closing up even more. I was then given a choice to "live on pain meds" for the rest of my life or try tube feedings. The other option was to just "deal with it". My quality of life was horrible at this point so this wasn’t really an option. I was fasting (drinking only water) about every 3-4 days because the attacks were so bad, and I refused to go near an ER due to my past experiences. One doctor taught me to self-medicate at home and save a trip to the ER, which worked for awhile, but the attacks continued and soon were consuming every part of my life. My marriage was suffering and my children were taught how to "take care of mommy" in the middle of the night. I was living off strong narcotics and still having debilitating pain, so much so that I couldn't go anywhere alone. The suffering was so bad that I felt my life was going to end soon if I didn't do something; anything! That's when I found out about the TP/ICT surgery and Dr. David Sutherland.

I made an appointment to see Dr. Sutherland and to find out if I was a candidate for the surgery. Luckily, I was (!) and my surgery was on July 14, 2006. Actually, there were 3 surgeries, the TP/ICT then 2 additional surgeries for internal bleeding. For a couple of days I was kept in the ICU for respiratory support and then transferred to a regular room to complete my recovery. The total hospital stay was 3 weeks in which I had my pancreas, spleen, appendix, duodenum, and two feet of my colon removed. Whew! Then I went home on a large dose of narcotics, insulin, and miscellaneous medications. Actually I felt pretty good when I got home, because I no longer had that "pancreas" pain. Since then, I've weaned off the insulin and I now only take long acting insulin at night to keep my fasting blood sugars under 110. Besides that I eat pretty much whatever I want. Of course I have to take pancreas enzymes to eat food, and I am still detoxing off the narcotics (it's been a little over 1 year since I started to detox), but when I came home from the hospital I was taking 300mg of Oxycotin and I now I am on only 15mg of Oxycodone. Life is improving!

Yes, I'm pretty proud of myself and what I have accomplished since the surgeries. I’ve started my own pet-sitting business and it is going so well that I find myself exhausted at times - but from work - not my pancreas! I’m content and able to drive anywhere I want, eat whatever I want, and do whatever I want. I just keep an eye on my blood sugars and make sure that I don't get too over-heated (it seems to bother me more now). The plan is to be off all pain meds within the next few months, which I look forward to!

Words cannot express my gratitude to Dr. Sutherland and his staff of doctors who saved my life while in the hospital. Now I actually have a life and I'm enjoying every minute of it. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!!

Written by Kristin Gorman
TP/ICT patient 7-14-06

_{Posted: February 6, 2008}