Malabsorbtion Problems?

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thelizardqueen

New member
Ok - so sort of an embarrasing topic to bring up for myself, but here goes. All responses would be appreciated. My CF is worse when it comes to my digestive system. I've always had problems with malabsorbtion growing up, and since being on the enzymes I've been on, have been doing fine. Since I was 11 I've been on Creon 25 - 5 pills per meal. Lately however I don't think that they've been working for me, and am concerned that I may have to switch brands all together or even change the amount I am taking. For the past month now I've been having problems with going #2 (yeah, this is hard for me to talk about openly<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">). I don't have cramps, so I know its not diahrea (sp?), but I get these wierd gurgglings in my stomach, and everytime I go to the washroom its either straight liquid, or its like shredded wheat that's been sitting in milk for a couple of days (hope you understand). I'm wondering - how would I know that I'm having malabsorbtion problems? What specifically should I be looking for? I'm really concerened that this is affecting my weight, as for the past couple of weeks I've been sitting at 120 with no more weight gain - and I know its possible for me to get to 132.

I do have a check up appt on the 27th with my CF doc, and will follow up with him, but in the mean time I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing could very well be problems with my enzymes. Any idea would be helpful. And please, for my embarrasement - no wisecracks or jokes.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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anonymous

New member
Well, I´ve written that before: one needs different amounts of enzymes for every meal, depending on the contained amount of fat.
The other thing is in my experience, that getting older one may need more enzyms. I did take one Kreon 10000 for meals for years and had no difficulties to keep my weight with that. I did not want to gain weight at that time, because I was feeling comfortable with it and didn´t mind some digestive problems for that. Now I do take one Kreon 10000 for each 7 gramm of fat ( at least I try to) and also for small snacks like a piece of cheese or a small chocolate bar ( I did not take any for those snacks some years ago) and still have some difficulties to keep my weight.

Uli,43,Germany
 
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Ruby

Guest
Hi Liz,

I hate this topic too and get so embarassed talking to the doctor about it, but I have had the just liquid thing before. When I explained it to the nurse she sent me for an xray of the abdomen and it showed that there was a blockage. She said that it's caused when you are blocked up and the liquid sort of spills over and it's the only thing coming out. That said if you mean just pure oil liquid thats different and is a malabsorbtion problem for which if I have it I have to increase my enzymes - Creon 10000. For the blockage problem I had to drink six sachets of movical for a week till it totally cleared me out and then start from the beginning monitoring the enzymes. Also with the blockage I had a lot of gurggling and it was weird cos I wasn't bloated or crampy which is what I would imagine would happen.

For malabsorbtion you would be getting just pure oil like thick olive oil and it stains the bowl ( sorry for the grossness but that's my best explanation.!) Hope this helps.

Ruth
 
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thelizardqueen

New member
Well I'm not getting the typical CF oil - or as Sean like's to refere to it as "CF booty blow out". Its like diahrea, but I have no cramps or bloating, just liquid or close to liquid. I'm just worried that all my nutrients are going out with the stuff I'm letting out, which may be why I've stopped gaining weight.

Ruth - you've got me curious about the blockage, I'm not sure I'm understanding what you're talking about - blockage of what exactly?
 
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Ruby

Guest
Hee Hee, CF booty blow out, very funny - nightmare on the underwear! I meant a blockage in your intestines on the xray it showed up as a chalky coloured build up in the larger intestine, it was that the food wasn't being digested properly and was compacting and sticking inside the intestines meaning that nothing could get out except some liquid. I think if you imagine a pipe thats clogged up and you poured in some chunky vegetable soup the chunks would all add to the clog at the top and the liquid would sort of seep down and come out the other end.

Have had the shredded wheat thing but not sure what it is. I know some people have to take a sachet of movical every day to keep from getting blocked up, on the pack it says that it's for constapation and faecel compaction.

Ruth
 
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wanderlost

New member
Maybe try even just a metamucil or citrucil first? Increasing your fiber might help both bulk up and push out whatever's in there. I did have a blockage as a small child and my stomach (intestines, I guess actually) really really hurt. I don't know other's experiences with that, but I know I was MISEARBLE and throwing up also (we originally thought I had a bad stomach flu - but this happened during my 'I don't take enzymes and my parents don't know it stage,' and was actually caused by malabsorption). I have heard pople say that they needed something stronger like the Golitely for blockages - but hopefully you aren't at that stage yet. Increasing enzymes would be my next suggestion. I take the same amount with every meal, but I have had to steadily increase my dosage over the years. Maybe your old age is catching up with ya? <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
Keep us posted, as embarrassing as it can be, I'd like to hear what the verdict is.
 
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Scarlett81

New member
I'm kinda facing a similar thing right now Liz. Goodness this is such a nasty topic! Here goes.....so for a year or so I've had more tummy bloating. Then the past few months I feel like I have to really push to go to the bathroom. And sometimes I actually bleed down there from trying so hard to go.
I went to a gastroenterologist. I had my 1st appointment last week and he said it could be that I just need to switch my enzyme brand. He also said I could have an ulcer in my stomach or intestine. But he said the best way to find out is to have a colonoscopy and endoscopy done. For anyone who doesn't know-they just take a camera tube and look up and down at everything.
I'll be having that soon. My whole life, as long as I took my enzymes I never had digestive trouble. So I don't want to start. I hope I get my answer too.
 
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thelizardqueen

New member
Well, good to know I'm not the only one that's experienced this. I'm definitly going to ask my doc for an x-ray to see if maybe there is a blockage. Its just the wierdest thing because I don't have the oil, I have minimal cramping, and I'm going all the time and its always liquid for the most part. I'm hoping that its just something that an increase in enzymes can fix. That being said - I've had this problem for the past few weeks, and in that same time span I've started 2 new meds: azithromycin and ranitidine (for acid reflux/heartburn). I'm wondering if this could be a side effect, but its severe enough to worry me.
 
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thelizardqueen

New member
Trust me Amy - I'm drinking A PLENTY of water! I've got a couple of cases of that new Aquafina flavored water. I'm drinking that stuff like its going out of style.
 
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