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Does anyone have chronic diarrhea?
My husband was diagnosed with acinar cell pancreatic cancer of the head Oct 11 2024 he started with diarrhea prior to diagnosis May 2024 with c diff since then to loose stools have not gone away Tried creon Zenpep now protonix with viokase
Makes no difference they tested him for sibo and he was positive waiting for insurance to approve expensive antibiotic Takes Imodium lomotil and tincture of opium day 4-8 has 11-12 liquid stools talked to gastro today and he said 100 percent his pancreatic cancer but why isn’t enzymes working tried increasing dose does nothing Just wondering if others have this problem thanks
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Yikes. I don't believe I have pancreatic cancer????
Hi, @emstorm - no, absolutely not; totally recognized that you have a different abdominal cancer than pancreatic.
However, the members here in this discussion on chronic diarrhea in the Mayo Clinic Connect Pancreatic Support group have talked about similar issues as you mentioned and may have some great ideas for you.
How's it going for you today?
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1 ReactionChronic diarrhea for my hubby. Had 6 colonoscopies and endoscopy nothing. What stool test can we do. Looking for an in depth one that checks everything thank you
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1 Reaction@wdw Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. When you say nothing, do you mean that he hasn't been diagnosed with anything? Have you tried anything over the counter like imodium?
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1 Reaction@tomrennie he’s been diagnosed PC battling 2.5 years. Tried Imodium it doesn’t work. Oh on the nothing. Meant nothing showed up on the scopes or biopsy they took to figure out the cause. I don’t know what stool testing that was done in the past. But something has to be causing it. Was wondering if there’s a more comprehensive stool test that can be done. Or suggestions. Been like this for 4-5 months
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1 ReactionI've had various forms of diarrhea for the past two years. I had a Whipple in March, 2025 to remove a pancreatic tumor (T-1, borderline resectable) , and I've been on chemo for most of the time since, owing to elevated CA 19-9 markers. And two months ago, I underwent four sessions of radiation therapy targeting a small liver lesion. I've been tested for infection, etc., with no positive results. This is the most debilitating part of my condition. I'm now searching for a gastroenterologist with experience in treating cancer patients who've had a Whipple, and then a nutritionist, as well. But I'd welcome the suggestions of all in this forum.
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1 Reaction@nbcesq please let me know if you find anyone. I’m on the west coast
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1 Reaction@cwilliams34 So no cause for the diarrhea was found from recent scopes and biopy? That's unfortunate. It's not fun living that way especially for 4-5 months. I am unaware of a comprehensive stool test. Hopefully someone else might have a suggestion?
@nbcesq That's a hard way to live. Sorry to hear that. Does your Whipple surgeon have any gastroenterologist or nutritionist recommendations? In my experience, it helps to have healthcare folks that have played on the same team before.