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Pancreatic Disorders | Last Active: 10 hours ago | Replies (81)Comment receiving replies
I was recently diagnosed with EPI after having digestive issues for the past several months. My score was 86 so that is considered severe EPI and I have just started taking Creon 36,000 dosage for a month and then my GI doctor will determine if it needs to be increased. Don’t know what the root of cause of this is since I never had pancreatitis, never smoked or drank excessive amounts of alcohol or had any of the other conditions mentioned for this diagnosis. I did have what I thought was food poisoning awhile ago so wondering if that might have caused the EPI. I also found out that I have pancreatic cysts and my GI doctor referred me to another GI for a endoscopic ultrasound. Since I never received a call back from that specialist, I called them to see why nothing has been scheduled, only to be told that my cysts are too small and don’t need this procedure at this time. All of this has made me anxious and stressed.
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@tkkell1 Everyone...if you have EPI... an Elastase below 100 is considered severe. The amount of Creon or Zenpep is determined by your ideal weight and your amount of food you consume per meal. Don't over eat per meal. EPI means you cannot digest solid food properly. I am a lean 180# and the Creon chart said max. 200,000 lipase units per meal. If you weigh less you take less. If you are obviously overweight it's not easy to figure out the amount of pills. Most Drs. prescribe a significantly less amount when you start. Which leaves you in limbo of never feeling a 100% well. It is best to eat 4 small meals vs. 3 big American meals. And have the Dr. prescribe enough pills. My Dr. does and I feel excellent. It's silly if you are taking one 36,000 pill for a meal. That's a small child dosage. They did the same with me in the beginning. G.I.Dr. had no clue. I had to go to the Creon site and show them. I then changed my G.I. Dr. who then agreed with me.