Still losing weight: Does timing of Creon help?
Husband is still losing weght....too much!!!! We got his Creon dialed in correctly....wondering if he took the Creon after he ate if this would help him gain weight. I think I read on here that it helped someone to do this?
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@shhill
Hi! I am new to this group as well, and I'm finding it very helpful to hear from others who have similar issues. My husband has pancreatic cancer and has had four months of chemo and the Whipple in January, and then two more months of chemo. His starting weight was approximately 182, and he has now dropped to 151. He was on Creon 24000 units for a few weeks, and the oncologist had him stop it so he could take a test to see if his pancreas was secreting enzymes. We went to the oncologist today and my husband is going back on Creon with 36,000 units. He will take two pills at each of three meals and one pill at each of two snacks each day. The oncologist said he should not expect to get back to the weight he was originally, but to have a goal of 165. I would encourage you to check and see if your husband should be taking a higher level of Creon and two pills with meals instead of just one pill. Also, I think it is very important for him to get lots of protein. I make my husband smoothies and load them up with protein foods such as yogurt, the protein drink, and protein powder. He eats a lot of cheese omelets for breakfast, and I found a recipe for protein blueberry muffins and one for protein pancakes. If he has a substantial breakfast, he seems to have a better day. I have become quite the nag, but I want him to eat five times a day like his doctor said he should do. He also is eating more potatoes and ice cream. Without the pancreatic enzymes, he won't be able to gain weight, so Creon will be necessary, probably for the rest of his life. I will let you know if he puts on weight after he's been on the increased units for a few weeks. His doctor said he should gain about one-half a pound per week with this higher dose of Creon. Hope our experience and others will help you in your journey. Knowing others care has really helped us. All the best!
I have not heard about taking Creon after eating. From everything I have read, you should take it before you eat!
@shhill, just checking in. How are you doing? How is your husband doing?