If you are on Medicare (supplement), do you mind if I ask which insurance carrier you have? The drug insurer I use charges me $663.00 per month and that's after I pay an initial $1,500.00 for first prescription. I would love $368. Thanks

I was miss diagnosed by a doctor for EPI . I was recently treated for a SIBO and this was the reason why my gut was low enzymes. Apparently my pancreas is working fine. Now I no longer need to take CREON. So what do I do with this medication ?? I have almost 500 pills of 36000 unit capsules. Can I donate them to a charity/hospital ?? I would hate to dispose of something that is so valuable to others?

I had the MRCP MRI and it has been read by 2 Radiologists and a GI Endoscopic Specialists and they all of different opinions. One says I have a cyst on my pancreas. One says I have Chronic pancreatitis, which I don’t have any of the symptoms. They all don’t think I need EUS, but requested it as I am so afraid of Pancreatic Cancer. I also have dilated bile ducts and one person said ampullary Stenosis. Wanted a stint so that I don’t have to take
Enzymes, but then heard you have to have new stints every 3-4 months. Is there no good solution? Can’t afford the Creon. AbbVie is so slow to get back to me about help with the cost.

I take Thorne Pancreatic Enzymes dietary supplement which was recommended by my Nutritionist. She also recommended Visbiome GI Care high potency probiotic which I also take. I don't have a diagnosis yet, still working on it. I had a colonoscopy last week and everything was normal. I wish they had taken a tissue sample. Now I am trying to get in for an office visit with the GI. My symptoms are frequently runny stools and bowel urgency. I have adopted the low FODMAP diet and that seems to be helping.

Thanks for the prayers. They have now decided that I have chronic pancreatitis, which I am skeptical about as the radiologists all said that my pancreas looked fine. I have no symptoms of this disease, but they tell me some people don’t. They say that they see scarring. Other than my gut issues I consider myself to be a very healthy 70 year old. I take care of my 93 year old mother and my husband who has multiple serious conditions. I eat healthy and have 1 drink per day in the evening. I do have IBS and a tortuous redundant colon, and now EPI. Wish I felt more comfortable with this diagnosis. But I will say that AbbVie finally came thru with helping me with my Creon!!

Wondering if my husband and I should go to Mayo Clinic for second opinion on our diagnosis.

Thanks for the reply. I sent this to my gastro for input. I don't know if Lipase is Lipase, is Lipase. I'm very curious why this would be $80 and Creon costs me $640, with insurance. Fingers crossed, all Lipase is equal and this will work for me. thank you, thank you.

I looked at those and the difference is that amounts of the three enzymes are expressed differently. The Vital nutrients is written in HUTS and the Creon is in USP Units. 1 HUT =6.5 USP Units. I am currently trying Micraziym also from Amazon. AbbVie is going to help me with the Creon. But it is going to be 10 days before I get them so, am trying these instead.

Does anyone with EPI have the enzyme pills suddenly stop working? My texts showed zero Lipase and for a while two pills before a meal and sometimes one during a meal prevented diarrhea. Now they’ve stopped working. Do any of you take more pills with each meal and if so up to how many?

I would look forward to receiving the meds.

I just checked my bottle of Vital nutrients pancreatic enzymes and the lipase dose is 35,500 USP units. It’s 180 capsules and 2 a day, 1 with lunch and dinner, seems adequate for me but I know others may need more. My elastase test result was 58 (>200 normal) if that helps anyone. I get mine from Amazon but I think drugstores and grocery stores have this too. It’s currently 74.90 for 180. There are several products so be sure to look at the back of label to check dosage. There’s also a 5%discount if you subscribe and save.