A little bit confused - enzymes related

[nocode]

Hi. I was wondering if you could help by providing some advice and opinions.
Im not on enzymes for ages (a couple of years) since the blood/feces results accused that i didn't need them. I actually think i don't for a few reasons (I don't feel bad at all without them,my feces are normal and once a day , dont have stomach aches). The problem is that i am thin and not able to put on weight. It doesn't upset me too much , as long as i feel well i'm ok with that, it just confuses me. One would think i couldn't put on weight because i wasn't absorving fat but if aparently i don't need enzymes, can that be the reason anyway?
Your opinions will be appreciated.

 

[nocode]

Hi. I was wondering if you could help by providing some advice and opinions.
Im not on enzymes for ages (a couple of years) since the blood/feces results accused that i didn't need them. I actually think i don't for a few reasons (I don't feel bad at all without them,my feces are normal and once a day , dont have stomach aches). The problem is that i am thin and not able to put on weight. It doesn't upset me too much , as long as i feel well i'm ok with that, it just confuses me. One would think i couldn't put on weight because i wasn't absorving fat but if aparently i don't need enzymes, can that be the reason anyway?
Your opinions will be appreciated.

 

[JazzysMom]

In my teen years I took it upon myself to stop using enzymes. It started when I missed having them & I had to eat, but had no ill affects from it. Once in great while I would have belly problems, but nothing on a regular basis & tho I was able to maintiain my weight I was thin & never had room for a problem if I got sick. In my twenties my doctor (who was a new doctor in the group) asked why I dont take them etc & I told him. He did a stool culture & found that although I was holding my weight, I was still loosing a lot of fat in my stools & I would benefit tremendously if I went back on them so I did. I did see a difference. So basically just because you can get away with it doesnt mean you should!

 

[JazzysMom]

In my teen years I took it upon myself to stop using enzymes. It started when I missed having them & I had to eat, but had no ill affects from it. Once in great while I would have belly problems, but nothing on a regular basis & tho I was able to maintiain my weight I was thin & never had room for a problem if I got sick. In my twenties my doctor (who was a new doctor in the group) asked why I dont take them etc & I told him. He did a stool culture & found that although I was holding my weight, I was still loosing a lot of fat in my stools & I would benefit tremendously if I went back on them so I did. I did see a difference. So basically just because you can get away with it doesnt mean you should!

 

[anonymous]

Listen to your doctors and start eating more and working out. You will see a big difference. Start off slowly
Risa

 

[anonymous]

Listen to your doctors and start eating more and working out. You will see a big difference. Start off slowly
Risa

 

[debs2girls]

nocode, my daughter is not taking/has never taken enzymes...her dr said since her level was 500 it wasnt necessary...but she is not gaining weight very good, her stools are not even what you would call close to normal, so I am confused too...lol....I hope you get the help with this that you need.

 

[debs2girls]

nocode, my daughter is not taking/has never taken enzymes...her dr said since her level was 500 it wasnt necessary...but she is not gaining weight very good, her stools are not even what you would call close to normal, so I am confused too...lol....I hope you get the help with this that you need.

 

[anonymous]

Hi there
I too have been confused about why my stools appear normal and i never have stomach pains at all, but I don't put on weight either - i am on enzymes though. It seems to me that if the stools are well formed, not particularly smelly, don't float and are regular and not overly frequent (e.g. once a day) then you would assume you are digesting food properly and therefore if calories eaten is higher than energy output, it should result in weight gain - either we are still not digesting our food properly and not absorbing enough fat/protein even though are bowels appear to be very good, or there is some other aspect of CF that stops us gaining weight OR even though it appears we are digesting properly, we are not. I would say get a second opinion on wether or not you need to take enzymes and perhaps ask your doctor why he thinks you are not gaining weight. I would be very interested in the response you get. Keep us posted.

Kat (37 with CF, NZ)

 

[anonymous]

Hi there
I too have been confused about why my stools appear normal and i never have stomach pains at all, but I don't put on weight either - i am on enzymes though. It seems to me that if the stools are well formed, not particularly smelly, don't float and are regular and not overly frequent (e.g. once a day) then you would assume you are digesting food properly and therefore if calories eaten is higher than energy output, it should result in weight gain - either we are still not digesting our food properly and not absorbing enough fat/protein even though are bowels appear to be very good, or there is some other aspect of CF that stops us gaining weight OR even though it appears we are digesting properly, we are not. I would say get a second opinion on wether or not you need to take enzymes and perhaps ask your doctor why he thinks you are not gaining weight. I would be very interested in the response you get. Keep us posted.

Kat (37 with CF, NZ)

 

[nocode]

Ya, it is confusing alright.
Kat, what you said about us, CFers, maybe having something that just wont let us put on weight, apart from the feces being fatty or not is something that has occured to me as being the cause of it..Something i havent figured out yet though. And it has to be something else besides from our bodies having to fight infections,therefore, losing energy 'cause we dont have an infection all the time.
I'm having my next appointment on the 23rd of this month, so i'll definately ask them about this and then i'll let you know! Thanks a lot.

 

[nocode]

Ya, it is confusing alright.
Kat, what you said about us, CFers, maybe having something that just wont let us put on weight, apart from the feces being fatty or not is something that has occured to me as being the cause of it..Something i havent figured out yet though. And it has to be something else besides from our bodies having to fight infections,therefore, losing energy 'cause we dont have an infection all the time.
I'm having my next appointment on the 23rd of this month, so i'll definately ask them about this and then i'll let you know! Thanks a lot.