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Creon - am I taking too much or too little?
Hi - pancreatic cancer person here. (Surgery 14 years ago removed tail, recurrence on head a year ago, currently in remission after treatment including hi-dose radiation.) Started Creon several weeks ago. I THINK I am taking enough as I am finally putting weight on, stools are proper color etc. But I am quite bloated with distended belly and a bit constipated. If everything else is good could this mean I'm not taking enough? Or does constipation with normal stools mean I'm already taking too much?
I take 36,000 with my smallish calorie-dense meals, my weight is 108. The PERT calculator indicates I need closer to 48,000 at breakfast but other meals I'm in range.
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@bzabeli thanks! It’s is def trial an error. But even what I eat something with fat I still go, one nite I had lasagne and I didn’t have to run to bathroom. Can’t figure that one out lol Am I taking it right, take a bite take a pill then 2and one I take on 2and bite. Maybe I take the second one too soon? I’m only 85lbs right now so I guess that makes dosing hard
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May I ask what your diagnoses was ? Did metastasis/spread when you were or in the last 5 years? Really going through it with my dad right now it’s spread to his liver pretty bad.
@donnelly28 I have pancreatic cancer stage 3b. Had it since last June. It’s still contained in pancreas as far as I know. Just had a cat scan so I will see.
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one trying to figure out how much Creon to take when eating. I’m almost 2 years out from my Whipple surgery and have been on Creon almost that whole time. I find taking Beano also helps, especially when eating broccoli, as Beano is an enzyme, too. It truly is trial and error with Creon.
@donnelly28
Diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in January 2021. Went through chemo, radiation, and then surgery in September 2021. Clear at the time but metastasized in lungs diagnosed in January 2024. Been under chemo since.
Best wishes to your father. Pretty tough if spread to his liver.
@valerina30 Maybe look here to figure dosage: pertcalculator. org. Take one bite of food, then enzymes. Typically 2 with meals, one with snacks. But depends on your dosage and prescription. You may need more pills depending on that and your elastase test result.
@artistrose thxs. Yes I am starting out at low dose because of weight. I’m on 25000 an take 2. I never actually had that enzyme test. Is it a blood test?
@valerina30 The fecal elastase test is a “stool” test. It is ordered by a doctor and done by a lab. It’s purpose is to test your stool for pancreatic insufficiency. Depending on the number you get for pancreatic insufficiency, depends on how much Creon (or other brand enzyme) you need. After the test my doctor prescribed me 2-24,000 units of Creon per meal. However, my EPI number is in the moderate, not severe range. Those in severe range would have higher doses. Your weight also figures into the calculation.Either a GI doctor or dietician should be able to help you. Hope this helps.