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Weight gain with chronic pancreatitis

Posted by bowie24 @bowie24, Oct 30, 2024

I have been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. In the summer of 2023 I went through MRIs, CT scans and biopsies and this is my final diagnosis. I have calcifications in the pancreas head. I currently take.CREON with meals and I’m on a pain management regime and I’m doing well. Prior to my diagnosis I had lost a significant amount of weight. A year later with my treatments I find that I am gaining weight even though I eat extremely healthy two salads a day, low-fat dressing Dinner is usually grilled chicken breast with veggies, a turkey burger, or a pork chop with veggies. I limit all of my fats, have a high fiber diet and eat no red meat.I get close to 10,000 steps per day. Is it common to gain weight with this? Is it harder to lose weight? My annual bloodwork and physical is coming in January and I will certainly talk to my doctor about this. I would really like to keep my weight stable. I also might add that I am 54 and menopausal.

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palermo1 | @palermo1 | Oct 30, 2024

I have chronic pancreatitis, and when I got diagnosed in may of this year I lost lots of weight, I didn't need to lose weight, I was on over the counter enzymes, in July they put me on creon, and I have gained some of my weight back but still not where I was before I got diagnosed, I'm at least maintaining my Weight at 114, I'm 5'3 , I eat 3 times a day, and drink protein shakes every day, I think if it weren't for protein shakes I would not have gained weight, I would think if your gaining weight its probably because your getting the right nutrients and creon is working, good luck on your journey, hope you get your answers

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sb4ca | @sb4ca | Nov 2, 2024

Are you experiencing any diarrhea or notice stools that float or greasy? I asked because there's such a thing as bile acid malabsorption and that often causes weight gain.

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25loriesaad | @25loriesaad | Aug 3 2:05pm

I had my gallbladder removed in August 2021 and a stone had lodged in the pancreas making me pretty sick. I was in the hospital for 6 days. Afterwards, I lost about 10 pounds, bringing me down to about 174 lbs. (menopause weight of 35 ponds). Then around the end of the year, I started to gain weight very fast and even my PCP was concerned but never looked into what was going on. Over the course of four years, I have gained 80 lbs., and it won't come off. The doctors I had said I was eating the wrong foods and wasn't exercising enough. Well, that just about sent me into a shouting match with the Gastro doctor I had then. I have been trying to get into Mayo Phoenix/Scottsdale for the elevated lipases of 288 (July 14, 2025) but have been denied for the second time. My next step is to call Mayo in Rochester and to see if I can get a PCP there because I can't get that here either. That puts me out-of-network even though I am at 80/20 on my insurance. At least I am being seen in Cardiology in Scottsdale and just maybe, I can get them to nudge the Gastro department. I recently learned that chronic pancreatitis can also affect the cardiovascular system.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Aug 13 9:29am
In reply to @25loriesaad "I had my gallbladder removed in August 2021 and a stone had lodged in the pancreas..." + (show)
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I had my gallbladder removed in August 2021 and a stone had lodged in the pancreas making me pretty sick. I was in the hospital for 6 days. Afterwards, I lost about 10 pounds, bringing me down to about 174 lbs. (menopause weight of 35 ponds). Then around the end of the year, I started to gain weight very fast and even my PCP was concerned but never looked into what was going on. Over the course of four years, I have gained 80 lbs., and it won't come off. The doctors I had said I was eating the wrong foods and wasn't exercising enough. Well, that just about sent me into a shouting match with the Gastro doctor I had then. I have been trying to get into Mayo Phoenix/Scottsdale for the elevated lipases of 288 (July 14, 2025) but have been denied for the second time. My next step is to call Mayo in Rochester and to see if I can get a PCP there because I can't get that here either. That puts me out-of-network even though I am at 80/20 on my insurance. At least I am being seen in Cardiology in Scottsdale and just maybe, I can get them to nudge the Gastro department. I recently learned that chronic pancreatitis can also affect the cardiovascular system.

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Hi, @25loriesaad. I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing weight gain that won't come off and your efforts to get another opinion are not bearing fruit at this time.

I like your idea of trying to get your cardiologist to nudge the gastro department. If they could formally refer you, that would be great.

Other than weight gain, how are you feeling?

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25loriesaad | @25loriesaad | Aug 13 7:37pm

Hi @lisalucier,

Thank you for replying to my situation.

I'm trying to stay cool in the desert heat and hoping for some rain soon. The monsoon didn't appear this year so far.

I read a lot, mostly medical books like those from Mayo Clinic. I try to stay busy around the house so fatigue doesn't set in, but with fibromyalgia, it can come on pretty fast. I have to eat health to combat fatigue as well. I wish that would help with the weight, but it isn't working.

I take it one day at a time.

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25loriesaad | @25loriesaad | Sep 5 3:41pm

Good luck getting help. It seems like a condition no one cares about. I contacted the Rochester location today to see if I can be seen there since I can't in AZ. Waiting for denial #5

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