Creon - am I taking too much or too little?

Posted by stillaround @stillaround, Sep 27 4:33pm

Hi - pancreatic cancer person here. (Surgery 14 years ago removed tail, recurrence on head a year ago, currently in remission after treatment including hi-dose radiation.) Started Creon several weeks ago. I THINK I am taking enough as I am finally putting weight on, stools are proper color etc. But I am quite bloated with distended belly and a bit constipated. If everything else is good could this mean I'm not taking enough? Or does constipation with normal stools mean I'm already taking too much?

I take 36,000 with my smallish calorie-dense meals, my weight is 108. The PERT calculator indicates I need closer to 48,000 at breakfast but other meals I'm in range.

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castell | @castell | Oct 12 3:27pm

I have been on Creon for nine years, and I still need to make frequent adjustments to the dose because it depends on what you eat.

My initial prescription was for three 24,000 capsules units at each meal, but I usually take one capsule. You know you didn't take enough when you get steatorrhea (loose stools, etc.) because of malabsorption of the fats you consume.

A few months ago I read an article in a national newspaper written by an endocrinologist: she advocates, and takes herself, psyllium multiple times a day. I think it helps, but apparently it can worsen pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. We are all different and trial and error seems inevitable with Creon.