Last week, I saw Dr. Adler to follow-up on my pancreatic enzyme meds. Yes, I'm doing much better, but not as perfectly as I had hoped. Still have stomach aches, which I hate. They sap my strength. He gave me a few tips - cut out obvious white sugar sources, like cookies, candy, & cakes, and watch out for onions & peppers etc. There goes most of my diet! He also admitted that another side effect of the Whipple surgery (haven't I had to endure them all?) is that because part of my pancreas has been removed, the remaining part will eventually atrophy. Great. How long is "eventually"? He also said that, unfortunately, in "ten or fifteen years", I might develop diabetes, which the pancreas also helps to control. I should have shuddered at the thought of diabetes, but my ears and my heart were somersaulting at the hope of 10-15 years down the road! To see my girl married with babies, to see my grandchildren growing up & going on missions & graduating from college & marrying in the temple...these are dreams I cherish and want to experience. To be alive, even with diabetes, would be an awesome answer to prayers.
All in all, I am grateful for what I've learned over the past 3 years. I wish I didn't know what I know, but if I had to have this trial in my life, I'm thankful for knowledgable doctors and ongoing studies & trials & treatments that have brought me this far. This is a time of ground-breaking hope and scientific revelation which are blessing thousands of people everywhere. I am just one of many, but so happy to be one.
