Does anyone take Pancrease, digestive enzymes?

Posted by harper7745 @harper7745, Aug 23, 2019

Does anyone take Pancrease and how do you do with it? Is it a life long enzyme therapy

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@astaingegerdm

@mutter3 - I’m sorry you still feel sick! I don’t know if you are close to Mayo or not. You could call again, but if you have a local internist let them know how you feel. I’m sure you had a hospital doctor who discharged you. Check your discharge instructions. After hours you probably won’t get hold of your Mayo doctor, but there is always someone covering.
Please talk to someone tonight to see if this is expected. Let us know what happens!

Jump to this post

Thank you!! Talked to my doctor at Mayo and she got me the meds I needed. Feeling a bit better. She said I will be weak for a couple of weeks. Stay on low fat diet and keep taking my enzymes. I see her next month. Mayo has been AMAZING!!!!!!!

REPLY
@mutter3

Thank you!! Talked to my doctor at Mayo and she got me the meds I needed. Feeling a bit better. She said I will be weak for a couple of weeks. Stay on low fat diet and keep taking my enzymes. I see her next month. Mayo has been AMAZING!!!!!!!

Jump to this post

@mutter3 - What a relief to get to talk to your Mayo doctor and have your situation explained. I agree- Mayo is great!!

REPLY

I take Creon for severe pancreatic atrophy. Mine is a life long treatment as my pancreas is dead. Creon is derived from the enzymes of pigs. I'm still trying to get used to it after almost a month. At first I thought it was causing constipation but without it I have horrible, foul smelling gas. I went back to taking it with every meal. I try to eat as low fat as possible. I'm still constipated but working on that issue. My digestion is very slow. I had two episodes this month of bowels emptying. That's not good and makes me feel awful. As I said it's something I need to learn to live with. I never know when I pass gas if it's only going to be that. Nor do I want to visit anyone because I stink up the bathroom and need my flushable wipes and febreze. But my family is supportive and the doctors did multiple biopsies and also had a procedure to clean the sludge and stones out of my gallbladder. It's a lot. I go day by day and hour by hour. I'm very fatigued. It's hard to manage my household and shopping. I'm trying to eat things that digest easily. I'm finding out things like watermelon don't agree. So I had to go to a less fiber diet.

REPLY

I take CREON with every meal. Had pancreas enzyme reading of 129 and it should be between 200 and 400, to be considered normal. I have atrophied pancreas as well. It is important that you include fat vitamins in your diet, D,A, K, K2, E. I now take with a teaspoon of olive oil after eating, since oil absorption is also an issue for us. Visiting the doctor today because had a micronutrient test and all these vitamin levels, and a few others are borderline or low. Since the atrophy causes nutrient absorption and food digestion issues, I am asking if I should double up on the recommended dosage on the dosing instructions, since those instructions are for a person without my issues. Eat mostly cooked vegetables, low fat cheese, yogurt. Peanut butter and lots of avocado help with calorie intake, so I don't lose a lot of weight. Basically, a low carb diet, which isn't conducive to gaining weight. Tuna and chicken are for protein, since pork and beef won't digest. Good luck. This is trial and error and I have been at it for a year now and pretty much have an eating plan that works for me, although it isn't very exciting!

REPLY

Forgot to add, add magnesium to your diet and that will help with bathroom issues and should make you more regular. I take mine along with calcium.

REPLY
@msmelnik

I take Creon for severe pancreatic atrophy. Mine is a life long treatment as my pancreas is dead. Creon is derived from the enzymes of pigs. I'm still trying to get used to it after almost a month. At first I thought it was causing constipation but without it I have horrible, foul smelling gas. I went back to taking it with every meal. I try to eat as low fat as possible. I'm still constipated but working on that issue. My digestion is very slow. I had two episodes this month of bowels emptying. That's not good and makes me feel awful. As I said it's something I need to learn to live with. I never know when I pass gas if it's only going to be that. Nor do I want to visit anyone because I stink up the bathroom and need my flushable wipes and febreze. But my family is supportive and the doctors did multiple biopsies and also had a procedure to clean the sludge and stones out of my gallbladder. It's a lot. I go day by day and hour by hour. I'm very fatigued. It's hard to manage my household and shopping. I'm trying to eat things that digest easily. I'm finding out things like watermelon don't agree. So I had to go to a less fiber diet.

Jump to this post

I just started taking Creon 3 weeks ago. I think my doctor was shocked when after multiple testing my score came back at 53. I was suffering for weeks with diarrhea and uncontrollable bowels. I also have gastropareris. Planning meals is difficult but I can’t get an appointment with a dietitian until late June. I am also tired all the time and I know I don’t drink enough water. I am seeing my gastro next week and will ask about taking vitamins. I basically eat grilled chicken, rice and avocado every day. It’s going to be a long road ahead! Good luck!

REPLY
@penelope52

I take CREON with every meal. Had pancreas enzyme reading of 129 and it should be between 200 and 400, to be considered normal. I have atrophied pancreas as well. It is important that you include fat vitamins in your diet, D,A, K, K2, E. I now take with a teaspoon of olive oil after eating, since oil absorption is also an issue for us. Visiting the doctor today because had a micronutrient test and all these vitamin levels, and a few others are borderline or low. Since the atrophy causes nutrient absorption and food digestion issues, I am asking if I should double up on the recommended dosage on the dosing instructions, since those instructions are for a person without my issues. Eat mostly cooked vegetables, low fat cheese, yogurt. Peanut butter and lots of avocado help with calorie intake, so I don't lose a lot of weight. Basically, a low carb diet, which isn't conducive to gaining weight. Tuna and chicken are for protein, since pork and beef won't digest. Good luck. This is trial and error and I have been at it for a year now and pretty much have an eating plan that works for me, although it isn't very exciting!

Jump to this post

Yes I agree. same food every day. Chicken, yogurt, banana, cantaloupe, rice and potatoes. No more chocolate or goodies. But I do get sherbet as it's non fat and seems to agree with me. It's a treat. Good luck. I can't make sugar cookies for my grandson as I'll eat some too. I need to use stevia. Non sweetned cranberry juice too. More water for sure.

REPLY
@penelope52

Forgot to add, add magnesium to your diet and that will help with bathroom issues and should make you more regular. I take mine along with calcium.

Jump to this post

I agree. My doctor said to add magnesium.

REPLY

I wish you the best. We should count our blessings, as this is manageable.

REPLY
@penelope52

I wish you the best. We should count our blessings, as this is manageable.

Jump to this post

Yep!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.