1. < Digestive Health

Chronic Abdominal Bloating and Pain

Posted by geb @gloriaeb, Aug 17, 2015

I am a relatively healthy person with a problem "bloated belly". My belly gets bigger as the day goes on; doesn't matter if I eat, drink only water, my belly still gets more bloated. The bloat continues up the abdomen into the midriff area...I have to loosen bra or put on a bigger one. This happens everyday. Pretty good in the morning.

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PH8888 | @pamherman | Dec 17, 2021
In reply to @grannydee "I’ve been on Zenpep for 2 weeks now…so far the only reactions I have had is..." + (show)
@grannydee

I’ve been on Zenpep for 2 weeks now…so far the only reactions I have had is itchiness after taking it, which is aggravating but not enough to cause me to stop taking it.
I have found that I do experience discomfort if I consume pork as in a pork roast, however we don’t consume a lot of pork in our diet so it’s just something that I know to typically avoid.and yes I know Zenpep is derived from swine, but I don’t really know if that’s just my body or if that is a common issue. Either way, Zenpep is still the only solution that has worked for my EPI.

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Have your Dr. call in an order for hydroxyzine HCL 50 mg tablets. The only thing that stops the itching and it doesn’t make you tired. Works right away!

REPLY
PH8888 | @pamherman | Dec 17, 2021
In reply to @grannydee "I’ve been on Zenpep for 2 weeks now…so far the only reactions I have had is..." + (show)
@grannydee

I’ve been on Zenpep for 2 weeks now…so far the only reactions I have had is itchiness after taking it, which is aggravating but not enough to cause me to stop taking it.
I have found that I do experience discomfort if I consume pork as in a pork roast, however we don’t consume a lot of pork in our diet so it’s just something that I know to typically avoid.and yes I know Zenpep is derived from swine, but I don’t really know if that’s just my body or if that is a common issue. Either way, Zenpep is still the only solution that has worked for my EPI.

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I wrote a reply but it’s down after a couple other posts. A pill that you will never itch against.

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PH8888 | @pamherman | Dec 17, 2021
In reply to @tarmansbks "When Jim first went on creon post Whipple surgery in 2018, it was $40 at Kmart..." + (show)
@tarmansbks

When Jim first went on creon post Whipple surgery in 2018, it was $40 at Kmart for the prescription. When I went back for a refill the cost was in the hundreds. By the end of his "tour" with cancer and creon, we were in Medicare's catastrophic category for medications. It was a fortune. After Jim died I had three unopened bottles and researched what to do with them and found a website through the government in Wyoming which would accept unused and unopened medications. I think the 3 bottles were about $8000 worth of pills. I did get a nice acknowledgment letter from the department. I did call ahead to assure it was a legitimate program. Shame you had that expensive medication and it gave you grief and not support.

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My insurance covers it all. Optima

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PH8888 | @pamherman | Dec 17, 2021

Try pancreatic enzymes off of Amazon. Tell your Dr if it works and get Zenpep if you have to stay on enzymes. Also, Dexilent would help too.

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tarmansbks | @tarmansbks | Dec 17, 2021
In reply to @pamherman "I have tons of unopened CREON. I feel great on the Zenpep, it’s been a horrible..." + (show)
@pamherman

I have tons of unopened CREON. I feel great on the Zenpep, it’s been a horrible two years.

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Wyoming medication donation program has a website explaining how it works. I hated to waste the medication if someone with limited assets could benefit. Wyoming's legislature passed the program. Toll free 855-257-5041.

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1 reply
grannydee | @grannydee | Dec 17, 2021

Thanks to all that replied. This is the first time being able to discuss with anyone that has EPI, etc. it’s been lonely! I’ll certainly look into the suggestions about the itching. Congrats to anyone with good insurance!
I’m thankful for Medicare and the supplemental insurances, but believe me, I’ve had to be vigilant about every expense, I am currently waiting to hear from the prescription assistance program and hope to receive help with the Zenpep costs. No matter how you plan for retirement, NO ONE ever plans to have prescriptions that cost $14,400 a year!
I’ve worked all my life and I don’t expect anything for free, but the costs of Zenpep is way beyond the means of the majority of people that may need it. Especially since there are so many people that were misdiagnosed for so many years. I hope no one has to go through 30+ years of being told it was:
1. Too nervous 🙄
2. Eating the wrong foods (they assumed because I live in the south that all I did was lay around and eat fried chicken) … they actually said that to me.🤑
3. IBS-D😵‍💫
4. It’s all in your mind😳
Etc, etc, etc.
I had one Dr tell me to eat more oatmeal (it was plainly stated in my records that I am allergic to oatmeal). That’s how I knew she NEVER even looked at my records.
Anyone else? I don’t expect an medical professional to be my “bestie” but why in the world did they ever choose a profession that is centered around patient care and then get defensive and blame the patient when they are seeking help?
Akarumba…please!
Let’s spread the word, pancreatic issues are no joke and don’t get a lot of press apart from diabetes and cancer, but any pancreatic issue increases the risk of developing into a life altering condition. I guess I’ve turned into a pancreatic missionary 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🙃

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PH8888 | @pamherman | Dec 17, 2021
In reply to @tarmansbks "Wyoming medication donation program has a website explaining how it works. I hated to waste the..." + (show)
@tarmansbks

Wyoming medication donation program has a website explaining how it works. I hated to waste the medication if someone with limited assets could benefit. Wyoming's legislature passed the program. Toll free 855-257-5041.

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Thank you! I’ll call them.

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tarmansbks | @tarmansbks | Dec 17, 2021

It is a shame to waste medication and I wish there were more programs like Wyoming's. Thanks for answering and following up. It has been 18 months since I sent Jim's Creon supply so I hope they are still accepting. Appears so from the website. https://health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/medicationdonation/

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