Functional dyspepsia: Any tips on starting Creon and diet?

Thank you hugs. It’s been a difficult digestion journeyafter infusions for cancer! Any specific recommendations on what kind of food works best with Creon

Welcome, @mlampenfeld. There are many members talking about Creon and functional dypepsia. You may be interested in these related discussions:

- Functional dyspepsia: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-dyspepsia-early-fullness-possible-outflow-obstruction/
- Creon - am I taking too much or too little?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/creon-am-i-taking-too-much-or-too-little/

@stageivsurvivor, offers some tips on dosing Creon (pancrelipase) as well as a calculator in this comment: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1042180/

@mlampenfeld, may I ask what type of cancer you're dealing with?

@mlampenfeld Creon which is one of five Rx brands of pancrealipase which is a mixture of three essential digestive enzymes-amylase to digest simple carbohydrates (monosaccharides and disaccharides), lipase to digest fats and protease to digest proteins.cOt’s purpose is to digest food.

In cancers such as pancreatic where the production and secretion of the digestive enzymes are severely impaired-most notably in those having a Whipple resection involving resection of the gall bladder, it leaves patients with no reserve of bile salts. In this situation, clinicians, G.I. specialists, N.P’s/P.A.’s and Registered Dietitians will suggest a diet of non-fat and low fat foods. Fried, greasy foods are best avoided or in limited amounts and with the adequate taking of pancrealipase to digest the fats.

Creon does not work on high fiber vegetables and legumes. These are oligosaccharides requiring the enzyme alpha-d-galactosidase to break them down. It is not blended into any pancrealipase, so to digest things like corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, asparagus and all varieties of beans, the OTC product BEANO is the enzyme alpha-d-galactosidase. It will digest high fiber foods avoiding gas and bloating.

Since going on Creon over four years ago, I don’t have any restrictions on what foods I eat. I generally watch my fats since I no longer have a gall bladder after Whipple surgery. Based on what I am eating regarding fried foods, I know how much additional Creon to take so there is no impact on my GI tract.