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What are other survivors doing about pancreatic enzymes replacement?
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Aug 16 8:07pm | Replies (111)Comment receiving replies
@beachdog, such a crossroads. It sounds like both your wife and her oncologist are concerned about the toll pre-test fasting along with the travel and testing time will take an undue toll on your wife. Is the oncologist concerned about her weight and nutrient loss due to diarrhea? What is your main concern of her going straight to antibiotics in this case?
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From the reading that my wife and I have done, the SIBO testing determines the proper course of anti-biotics. If they get hydrogen vs methane readings there are different anti-biotics for each outcome. If going straight to drugs, it's 50/50 that the chosen drug is correct. We prefer knowing in advance that we're treating appropriately (also it would be great to know in advance if we're on the right track). It's entirely possible that the diarrhea isn't from SIBO and a month of drugs unnecessarily could just put us another 30 days behind in finding the right solution and of course, mega doses of anti-biotics have there own side effects.
It's been a battle to get her enough nutrition. She's gained only 4 pounds in 8 months and gets more calories per day than me. When she misses even a snack she'll be down 1/2 pound the next day.
We actually hope that it is SIBO because the test is non-intrusive. Everything else that the gastro has suggested involves anesthesia and endoscopy which would probably knock off her feeding schedule for an entire day.