do i need enzymes?

[BaylorCrew07]

I'm currently not on any enzymes. I was diagnosed a few months ago and my doctor things I'm pancreatic sufficient, I think mainly because I have no trouble maintaining my weight (I am 5'6" and 145lbs). However, I"m starting to wonder.

Before being diagnosed I had SEVERE constipation (or bowel obstruction, I'm not sure what the difference is) that landed me in the ER a couple times. They gave me enemas and some stuff to drink, neither of which helped - but my stomach would just keep cramping to the point where I couldn't stand up; merely curl up on the floor; it was awful. I usually have a lot of bowel movements throughout the day, on average probably about 5 or more, which I think is more than normal. However, I do not have diarrhea, which I was reading is one of the symptoms. I go back and forth from having to go to the bathroom multiple times after eating, and just getting severe stomach pains and not being able to go for a few days. I'm going to talk to my doctor...but does anyone else experience this? could this be a sign that I do need enzymes?

Debra

 

[JazzysMom]

Are you taking in adequate amounts of water? I have found that even tho I have regular bowel movements I need to be very careful. It seems for me that those regular bowel movements arent sufficient for the amount of stool I have in me at any given time. When I was in the hospital in May I woke up with severe abdominal pain & vomiting. After doing abdominal xrays it showed I was full of sh--!. I always knew it (ha ha) The doctor was amazed that I didnt have problems sooner because of how full I was. My point is that since you are prone to constipation that in might be borderline dehydration contributing. Normally diahrea & problems maintaining weight is the key symptom to needing enzymes, but not always. I started with enzymes at diagnoss & stopped on my own in my teens with no real problems. After a hospital admit where they tested my stool, it was suggested that I start again. Even tho I wasnt having "diahrea" & was pretty much maintaining my weight, they thought I was still losing too much fat through my stool & would benefit from the enzymes so I went back on them. Has your stool been tested?

 

[BaylorCrew07]

I know I drink adequate amounts of water; I've even been told I drink too much! Probably like 8-10 water bottles a day at least. I have also never had my stool tested, so maybe I should ask my doctor about that. Thanks!

 

[anonymous]

HI,
I was also diagnosed late, at age 19 and am pancreatic sufficient. I am thin, but don't have any trouble maintaining my weight. I have had similar symptoms to what you describe, at times being very consipated. My doctors ran a fecal fat test (lots of fun that was!) to be sure, but my pancreas is definitely functional. My docs started me on Miralax which is not really a laxative, it just helps your body retain more water in the bowel, thus preventing constipation. My doc tells me that many pancreatic sufficient patients tend to have wicked constipation, it has something to do with the genetic defect that evolved to make us more immune to the GI plagues in early europe....something like that! You might want to talk to you doctors about it and see if they want to do a fecal fat or perhaps put you on Miralax. Good luck!

Kim
40 w/cf

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
did they test you for diabetes? If not, maybe you should ask them to do so, because when you are always thirsty, it can be a sign of diabetes.

Uli,43,Germany