Acceptable EPI Foods

The typical recommendation is to eat a low fat diet and smaller, more frequent meals to make this condition more manageable. I was diagnosed with EPI along with Collagenous Colitis in the Fall of 2023 and take Creon for the EPI. I don't know how the dosing for Zenpep works, but with Creon I take two capsules with each meal: one with the first bite and the second about halfway through my meal. Creon (along with the Budesonide I continue to take for the colitis) has been a total game-changer and I am able to live a mostly normal life - although I do have to be careful about what I eat.

I was put on Creon for EPI and NOTHING for collangeous colitis. Was told my colitis was minimal. Diet is hard especially if you eat lasagna or any type of casserole. I like a glass of wine every once in a while. What do you do about that?

Oh, wow - you're the first person I've come across who has the same combination of diseases I have! I continue to drink a glass of red wine on weekends but only with meals, and with no apparent ill effects. I have found that I feel better if I avoid gluten and tomato sauce, and raw veggies other than lettuce are really difficult for me. Try gluten-free noodles - they're more expensive but taste almost as good as wheat-based noodles. Good gluten free bread is hard to find so I started making my own using a recipe for Artisan Bread on the King Arthur Flour website. They have a gluten-free bread flour that contains deglutenized wheat starch and the taste is very good. Beans are a challenge, too. I digest them better if I soak dried beans for at least 24 hours before cooking them, and then limit how much I eat. When you were diagnosed with collagenous colitis, did your doctor do a Fecal Caprotectin test on a stool sample? That measures how much inflammation you have and if the result was low enough may be why you were told your colitis is "minimal" and not prescribed any medication. When I do indulge in something that will likely set off my colitis, I'll take an Immodium at bedtime to avoid diarrhea.

Yes my GI doctor did the stool calprotectin test which came back at 365 and should be under 50. He also did the pancreatic elastase test which should be greater than 200 snd mine was 52,thus the diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency. I found the doctors no help with diet. Had to pay myself for a dietitian who put me on a 1400 calorie diet, and suppose to eat only 30 grams of fat, 35 degrees of fiber, snd 68 grams of Protein. I am not overweight. Use to be 128pounds snd am 5’9” tall. Have lost weight, now at 118, but holding steadying.
I do fine with breakfast and lunch but find dinner difficult if you eat good like lasagna and casseroles. Going back to dietician in two weeks.