Creon

[longestlurkerever]

Has anyone experience of being prescribed this? Dh has had IBS and fatigue for years now and has just been told he has low faecal elastase and his pancreas may not be producing enough digestive enzymes. He has to take Creon with every meal. Just wondering if it's worth pushing for more tests as to an underlying cause.

It's what people with Cystic Fibrosis have to take with meals as they are missing the correct enzymes.

Yes Dr Google suggested a link to that. I obviously don't think that's the cause as it's diagnosed in childhood isn't it, and he has never had any lung problems. Dr Google also suggested chronic pancreatitis or "other causes" but the real Dr has just said to take the creon and see if it helps (well he just has a letter from the consultant telling him to get the GP to prescribe. The GP has prescribed without comment). Obviously I hope it does help- this is the first of endless tests that has come back with an actual finding - but I'm a tiny bit worried we could me missing something serious. Just wondering if I am being paranoid.

While my condition was eventually diagnosed as endometriosis I took creon for a year or so. I found it helpful and got used to taking it with neals.

Yes I take it. I've got exocrine pancreatic insufficiency-pancreas has stopped producing enzymes which means I struggle to digest food, especially fat. For me it's part of a broader diagnosis of coeliac disease and an inflammatory bowel disease (lymphocytic colitis). I get lots of gurgling innards, bloating, trots, pain and often an urgency to use the loo even if my stools are solid (sorry, tmi). Lost 2 stone in the last year without dieting. Creon does help, but he should take it just before he starts eating, not during or afterwards. Beware though that it can be v difficult to get hold of due to manufacturing issues. Feel free to PM me if there's moe info I can help with - I've become a poo bore

Thanks everyone. Wages the leaflet says to space it throughout the meal - is that not right then? Sorry to hear you've been so ill. Your symptoms sound a bit like dh"s. He gets gut pain, diarrhoea, constipation, gurgles, sulphur burps, weight loss, and mental health stuff like anxiety and fatigue. Oh and occasionally he gets pain when he urinates (all of this is tmi sorry) and once had severe pain which may have been a gallstone. But he's been tested for endless things. They have just said post viral IBS and possible chronic fatigue until now.

Ah that's interesting OP, I was told by the dietician to take it at the beginning of the meal.
I've also been contemplating buying a radar key so I can get access to a loo when I need it, as waiting isn't an option and I've had lots of accidents.
I eventually got diagnosed with my diseases via blood tests, colonoscopy and the elasticity test, but it's very easy to be fobbed off with IBS and I was told pre-diagnosis that "it's all in your head" and "it's your age dear".

I should add that sometimes I think the Creon works and sometimes I think it doesn't, but guts are complicated!
Might also be worth him seeing a dietician-mine is excellent and I am currently experimenting with 30g fat or less per day to see if that helps.

Thank you. Perhaps it's worth him seeing a dietician again . He did see one but he's 🐝 signed off now as they had nothing else to suggest. He is on a limited diet - low formap, low fat, no gluten, caffeine or lactose. The letter from the hospital just talks about low fat so I am hoping if the Creon works he may be able to reintroduce some foods. The fatigue is his worst symptom atm though as long as he sticks to the diet, but it's a bit boring

You should definitely have a radar key. I think you self declare?

He was also given another drug called something like laziprole to help the Creon absorb. He's on sertraline too for the anxiety so rattles a bit.

I'll look that up - thanks.

I'm on a similar diet, it's v v dull, especially with low fibre too. He has my sympathies.
Found out recently that very cold foods such as iced water and sorbet (can't have ice cream due to dairy) also set me off, but dietician suggests that if you have compromised digestion then cold stuff can aggravate.

Is the drug lansoprazole? If so, I can't have it because it aggravates my colitis (I was taking it for something else and gastroenterologist said I should stop). Might be worth keeping an eye on that because it can induce the runs in some people, and if he's got problems to start with...
Off to look for a radar key now!

Thanks that's definitely worth knowing as something has triggered diarrhoea over the past couple of days.