Connect
← Return to Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Discussion
Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: 20 hours ago | Replies (1417)Comment receiving replies
Checking in.
@marvinjsturing how are you feeling post radiation?
@beachdog, any luck in finding a Creon alternative that works for your wife? How is she managing to get enough nutrition?
@sunshine041594, how is your husband doing?
@thally5299, how's your mom? She's finished chemo now, right? How are the side effects?
Replies to "Checking in. @marvinjsturing how are you feeling post radiation? @beachdog, any luck in finding a Creon..."
Hi Colleen, Thank you for asking. My mom has done quite a bit and is still on Gem/Abrax (almost done with this). Her issue is that she did Fulfirinox before her Whipple in Sept 2019, then started on it again after Whipple. Her CA-A 19 kept going up (nothing on scans) so changed to Gem/Abrax. Her CA-A 19 kept going up (nothing on CT or PET scans). Took her for second opinion...they recommended radiation on pancreas. We did that and now are finishing up her Gem/Abrax cycles. Her CA-A 19 is in the 2000s and nothing shows on MRI, CT Scan or PET scan. We'll see now end of May, she'll be done with this chemo and have another scan. God willing nothing shows and her tumor markers start going down. Overall, she's feeling better than ever, so that's a great thing. It's been a little over a year since her diagnosis and it's been a very difficult road, so the fact that she feels better is great news 🙂 One day at a time. Thank you!
@colleenyoung My wife brought me into ER Saturday night with nausea a and chills. The did several blood tests including a blood culture, gave me meds for the nausea and sent me home. Sunday after lunch the hospital called and said I had an E. coli blood infection. They told me I had to come back to be admitted the hospital. They ran numerous tests and can't find the source of the infection. They put in a tunnel cath this morning and are talking about giving me antibiotics daily for 2 weeks. If they can get everything arranged, I will be going home this afternoon
Connect
@colleenyoung my wife has gotten a lower dose Creon. 12k units instead of the 36k units. The capsules are smaller and she can swallow them. Previously was mixing the Creon with applesauce which was probably making the Creon ineffective since it's actually designed to slow release in the intestines not be immediately taken into the stomach. So far she can tolerate 1-2 12k capsules with each eating. The local gastroenterologist also prescribed a different enzyme, zenpep. Haven't filled the prescription yet since she's started using the Creon.
We also finally had a session with a dietician (why in the world it took the oncology staff 2 months to make the referral is a whole other story). The dietician was helpful with suggestions on supplementing to increase protein without using whey and pea powders which she also reacts to.