Kathleen Cowart

All of my life I knew something was seriously wrong with me. I used to get sharp abdominal pains that would leave me crying and doubled over in pain. Mom said I was 2 years old when the attacks started. I remember being in the hospital a lot and going from doctor to doctor trying to find out what was wrong with me. For many years no one knew the source of this pain.

When I turned 19, I started not feeling well on a daily basis. There were times it was much worse than others and the attacks would be more severe. In June 2004, things quickly went from bad to worse. I was so sick all the time. I would get too weak to stand. I was in the ER constantly. I was throwing up and had horrible pain. It felt as though someone had taken a baseball bat and beaten my torso. I was told I had pancreatitis.

In October 2005, I had my gallbladder removed. Within hours, I knew something was not right. Within 48 hours, I knew something was seriously wrong. My surgeon referred me to a gastroenterologist who diagnosed me with sphinctor of oddi dysfunction and pancreatitis. Numerous procedures later, my pancreatitis become chronic. My quality of life was, needless to say, challenging. I threw up several times a day and had chronic diarrhea. I could hardly eat. I had malabsorbtion. My flesh was gray and sometimes pasty white - I looked like a corpse. I hurt all the time. I had to live on narcotics. I knew I was going to die unless someone intervened. That’s when I met Dr. Sutherland. We discussed the Whipple procedure - removal of part of the pancreas (the head) versus a total pancreatectomy (TP) to relieve the pain with an islet cell autotransplant (IAT) to preserve insulin secretory capacity. Dr. Sutherland took great care to explain to me the Whipple may not relieve my pain but had the advantage of for sure preserving insulin secretion. He said if I chose the Whipple, I would remain a candidate for the TP-IAT in the future should I choose to do so. I chose the Whipple because I hoped it would relieve my pain and it decreased my chance of becoming diabetic. I really wanted to do everything I could to save my pancreas. I decided the Whipple procedure would be best option for me at that time. After surviving the Whipple, the attacks continued.

In October 2007, I returned to Dr. Sutherland for the completion pancreatomy and auto islet cell transplant. Much to my surprise, the procedure itself was an absolute breeze. As soon as I awoke from surgery I knew my pancreas had been removed. I felt instantly better. I spent only 5 days as an inpatient! In just 6 weeks I have been able to reduce my daily insulin down to a minimal amount. My blood sugar is actually better post ICT and for the first time in many years I am able to feel hypoglycemia! I am able to eat pretty much whatever I want without consequences. My blood pressure is stable and I can walk up stairs without getting winded. I have color back in my skin. I have more energy and stamina now. I can finally see a future. If I would have known then, what I know now, I would have done the ICT from the very beginning.

“Thank you” does not begin to describe the heartfelt gratitude I have for Dr. Sutherland and his team.

_{Posted: November 26, 2007}