Angie Boyle's Blog   My Journey of a Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplantation

Haven’t posted for a couple days, I apologize it has been fast and furious. Once you leave the hospital which is a mix of joy and of fear because now your on your own. Although you have the resources at your finger tips to call for questions and help it’s an ominous feeling.  The first few days out of the hospital it takes time to get medications and tube feedings down so there on a workable system. Preparation is time consuming, and takes up quite a bit of your day just as soon as you think your caught up it’s time to mix another medication or tube feed. We are still monitoring her blood sugars every 4 hours around the clock so bed time is at midnight then blood sugar check at 4 am with medications and then at 8 am which then starts the medications and tube feed replacement again. Each day there is Doctor appointments, lab tests, dietician, diabetic classes. Some can last an hour to 4 hours which is exhausting for Angie so it great when we get back to the room so she can rest. I find my self organizing her notebook rechecking to make sure I haven’t missed any medications or beginning to start new mixes of tube feed when were back. The last 2 days have really been a roller coaster we went from clear liquids to full liquids to today, real food WOW. We celebrated by eating a grilled Walleye (fish) and mashed potatoes, although it was only a few bites of each it was the beginning, a little nausea, but the nausea was well controlled. The doctor’s said that if eating went well then tube feeding would be reduced to only night’s,( wow) one less bag and back pack to carry. Her insulin will be reduced, which her blood sugars have been wonderful and they have been reducing her Lantus (long acting) daily. It’s taken time to get here but we are moving forward, a light at the end of the tunnel and as my daughter says,” and it’s not a train.” We also had the privilege to meet Ethan and his Mom and grandma and also another mom and Ben who has also had the same surgery Ethan is 6 weeks out of surgery, Ben 5 weeks and Angie 4 weeks, it was good to see them all together at the dinner table enjoying everyones company and the food. How blessed, we all felt to be together sharing the same journey and watching God’s blessing’s on all our lives. I can’t tell everyone what it mean’s to us for your support, and prayer’s. Thank’s so much!  Angie and Beth