My husband, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer November 1, 2025 and hopefully having a Whipple in the next month, has been on Creon since that time. It has allowed him to eat and digest food MUCH better. He takes one capsule at the beginning of a meal and one in the middle of the meal. His tumor is in the head of his pancreas and his billiary duct was clogged so he has a stent in place.
Hi @djfone - sorry to hear your husband is having trouble with food post his surgery. I have been using Creon for almost seven years now since having a total pancreatectomy in 2019. I use three 36,000 unit Creon capsules with meals and one for snacks and has really worked out well for me.
Sometimes I will take an extra one with a meal if it is a higher fat content but generally can eat anything I want as long as I watch my carb load since the resultant diabetes from the surgery. I will tell you that Creon is expensive but AbbVie, who makes Creon, offers support and discounts at https://www.creonhcp.com/patient-support if you would like to learn more about their offerings.
Hi @djfone - sorry to hear your husband is having trouble with food post his surgery. I have been using Creon for almost seven years now since having a total pancreatectomy in 2019. I use three 36,000 unit Creon capsules with meals and one for snacks and has really worked out well for me.
Sometimes I will take an extra one with a meal if it is a higher fat content but generally can eat anything I want as long as I watch my carb load since the resultant diabetes from the surgery. I will tell you that Creon is expensive but AbbVie, who makes Creon, offers support and discounts at https://www.creonhcp.com/patient-support if you would like to learn more about their offerings.
Thank you, Matt. This is very helpful. I started Creon 1 week ago and I am still trying to find the right dosage. (It's not working, so far.)
I'm working with my doctor to address this.
Thank you, Matt. This is very helpful. I started Creon 1 week ago and I am still trying to find the right dosage. (It's not working, so far.)
I'm working with my doctor to address this.
@marymichaels - it took me a little bit to get it dialed in so hang in there. I am sure your doctor has access to this and it helped me when I first started as it's a Creon dosing calculator - https://www.creonhcp.com/dosing-calculator
Happy to help if anyone needs any Creon advice - I've taken thousands of them! (not all at once)
I had The Whipple 6/25. Not long after, my doc prescribed ZenPep, 1 20,000 capsule with meals, and 1 10,000 with snacks, eating 3 smaller meals/day and then snacks in-between to get in more calories. I still was having problems putting any weight back on, and I was very skinny - from Chemo. My doc said to try Vital Nutrients (not prescription, can order from Amazon pharmacy - inexpensive) made the difference, I then slowly started to gain weight. I am still on both the ZenPep and Vital Nutrients, and wish I could be like some other people, who after The Whipple manage fine with no enzymes. But I think I may be on these forever. Everything is ‘working’ pretty good, I may at some point see what happens if I cut some of them out.
My husband, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer November 1, 2025 and hopefully having a Whipple in the next month, has been on Creon since that time. It has allowed him to eat and digest food MUCH better. He takes one capsule at the beginning of a meal and one in the middle of the meal. His tumor is in the head of his pancreas and his billiary duct was clogged so he has a stent in place.
@marymichaels - it took me a little bit to get it dialed in so hang in there. I am sure your doctor has access to this and it helped me when I first started as it's a Creon dosing calculator - https://www.creonhcp.com/dosing-calculator
Happy to help if anyone needs any Creon advice - I've taken thousands of them! (not all at once)
@tomrennie
Thanks for asking. The tumor was found on the head of the pancreas incidentally. We went to the ER for what we thought was gall bladder problems. After a lot of testing and biopsy it was determined it was pancreatic cancer. We were incredibly fortunate that it was stage 1 & no other spread seen. However the surgeon and oncologist highly recommended chemo incase of microscopic cancer cells. To be honest post Whipple has been rough, with abdominal pain & food tolerance. He's lost a lot of weight and especially now with the chemo. So trying digestive enzymes. Praying this will help.
@tomrennie
Thanks for asking. The tumor was found on the head of the pancreas incidentally. We went to the ER for what we thought was gall bladder problems. After a lot of testing and biopsy it was determined it was pancreatic cancer. We were incredibly fortunate that it was stage 1 & no other spread seen. However the surgeon and oncologist highly recommended chemo incase of microscopic cancer cells. To be honest post Whipple has been rough, with abdominal pain & food tolerance. He's lost a lot of weight and especially now with the chemo. So trying digestive enzymes. Praying this will help.
@djfone Sorry to hear that about your husband. Most folks on here have had to resort to digestive enzymes post Whipple. Fortunately, @matt2024 has shared his experience. Thank you Matt. The chemo is probably contributing to your husband's discomfort. What chemo is he on?
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My husband, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer November 1, 2025 and hopefully having a Whipple in the next month, has been on Creon since that time. It has allowed him to eat and digest food MUCH better. He takes one capsule at the beginning of a meal and one in the middle of the meal. His tumor is in the head of his pancreas and his billiary duct was clogged so he has a stent in place.
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5 ReactionsHi @djfone - sorry to hear your husband is having trouble with food post his surgery. I have been using Creon for almost seven years now since having a total pancreatectomy in 2019. I use three 36,000 unit Creon capsules with meals and one for snacks and has really worked out well for me.
Sometimes I will take an extra one with a meal if it is a higher fat content but generally can eat anything I want as long as I watch my carb load since the resultant diabetes from the surgery. I will tell you that Creon is expensive but AbbVie, who makes Creon, offers support and discounts at https://www.creonhcp.com/patient-support if you would like to learn more about their offerings.
Take care,
- Matt
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6 ReactionsMatt thanks so much for your input. This is really encouraging.
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4 Reactions@matt2024
Thank you, Matt. This is very helpful. I started Creon 1 week ago and I am still trying to find the right dosage. (It's not working, so far.)
I'm working with my doctor to address this.
-Mary
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4 Reactions@marymichaels - it took me a little bit to get it dialed in so hang in there. I am sure your doctor has access to this and it helped me when I first started as it's a Creon dosing calculator - https://www.creonhcp.com/dosing-calculator
Happy to help if anyone needs any Creon advice - I've taken thousands of them! (not all at once)
🙂
- Matt
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Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsI had The Whipple 6/25. Not long after, my doc prescribed ZenPep, 1 20,000 capsule with meals, and 1 10,000 with snacks, eating 3 smaller meals/day and then snacks in-between to get in more calories. I still was having problems putting any weight back on, and I was very skinny - from Chemo. My doc said to try Vital Nutrients (not prescription, can order from Amazon pharmacy - inexpensive) made the difference, I then slowly started to gain weight. I am still on both the ZenPep and Vital Nutrients, and wish I could be like some other people, who after The Whipple manage fine with no enzymes. But I think I may be on these forever. Everything is ‘working’ pretty good, I may at some point see what happens if I cut some of them out.
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5 Reactions@zacheth2 Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. How is your husband feeling? Is he on any other treatment leading up to his Whipple?
@matt2024
Matt thanks so very much for the info, especially since we are just starting on this journey! Appreciate you!
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2 Reactions@tomrennie
Thanks for asking. The tumor was found on the head of the pancreas incidentally. We went to the ER for what we thought was gall bladder problems. After a lot of testing and biopsy it was determined it was pancreatic cancer. We were incredibly fortunate that it was stage 1 & no other spread seen. However the surgeon and oncologist highly recommended chemo incase of microscopic cancer cells. To be honest post Whipple has been rough, with abdominal pain & food tolerance. He's lost a lot of weight and especially now with the chemo. So trying digestive enzymes. Praying this will help.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@djfone Sorry to hear that about your husband. Most folks on here have had to resort to digestive enzymes post Whipple. Fortunately, @matt2024 has shared his experience. Thank you Matt. The chemo is probably contributing to your husband's discomfort. What chemo is he on?
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