Starting enzymes...What to look for?

[KsMom]

We were just told that our 5 month old son's fecal elastase came back way below normal during his last labs. We started him on Creon a few days ago but I'm really not sure what type of symptoms or changes we should be expecting.
He's mostly breast fed with some formula supplementing, his stools have always been loose/ non formed. We have never noticed any "oiliness", he rarely seems to be gassy, and his weight/ height growth have always been excellent. We were really shocked when we found out how dramatically his numbers dropped because we haven't seen any changes.
I guess I'm just wondering if I should be looking for specific things to see if the dose and the type of enzymes are doing anything for him?
Also is it unusual that his pancreatic levels went from 381 down to 6 without seeing any symptoms or changes in him?

 

[KsMom]

We were just told that our 5 month old son's fecal elastase came back way below normal during his last labs. We started him on Creon a few days ago but I'm really not sure what type of symptoms or changes we should be expecting.
He's mostly breast fed with some formula supplementing, his stools have always been loose/ non formed. We have never noticed any "oiliness", he rarely seems to be gassy, and his weight/ height growth have always been excellent. We were really shocked when we found out how dramatically his numbers dropped because we haven't seen any changes.
I guess I'm just wondering if I should be looking for specific things to see if the dose and the type of enzymes are doing anything for him?
Also is it unusual that his pancreatic levels went from 381 down to 6 without seeing any symptoms or changes in him?

 

[KsMom]

We were just told that our 5 month old son's fecal elastase came back way below normal during his last labs. We started him on Creon a few days ago but I'm really not sure what type of symptoms or changes we should be expecting.
<br />He's mostly breast fed with some formula supplementing, his stools have always been loose/ non formed. We have never noticed any "oiliness", he rarely seems to be gassy, and his weight/ height growth have always been excellent. We were really shocked when we found out how dramatically his numbers dropped because we haven't seen any changes.
<br />I guess I'm just wondering if I should be looking for specific things to see if the dose and the type of enzymes are doing anything for him?
<br />Also is it unusual that his pancreatic levels went from 381 down to 6 without seeing any symptoms or changes in him?
<br />
<br />

 

[ehtansky21]

part of me thinks it might be a good idea to get a retest??? did they do the 72 hour fecal elastase test or just test one bowel movement???

you would see the bowels getting more solid with the enzymes...i think a sign of taking too much would be constipation

blessings,
missa

 

[ehtansky21]

part of me thinks it might be a good idea to get a retest??? did they do the 72 hour fecal elastase test or just test one bowel movement???

you would see the bowels getting more solid with the enzymes...i think a sign of taking too much would be constipation

blessings,
missa

 

[ehtansky21]

part of me thinks it might be a good idea to get a retest??? did they do the 72 hour fecal elastase test or just test one bowel movement???
<br />
<br />you would see the bowels getting more solid with the enzymes...i think a sign of taking too much would be constipation
<br />
<br />blessings,
<br />missa

 

[KsMom]

It was just a single stool sample...I hadn't heard of the 72 hour test. I'll have to ask them about that.
Thanks for the help and it looks like you have a great blog. I've been reading it to have some ideas for him when he starts eating solids.

 

[KsMom]

It was just a single stool sample...I hadn't heard of the 72 hour test. I'll have to ask them about that.
Thanks for the help and it looks like you have a great blog. I've been reading it to have some ideas for him when he starts eating solids.

 

[KsMom]

It was just a single stool sample...I hadn't heard of the 72 hour test. I'll have to ask them about that.
<br />Thanks for the help and it looks like you have a great blog. I've been reading it to have some ideas for him when he starts eating solids.
<br />

 

[ymikhale]

I agree with missa about retest.

It seems strange though that his elastase was 381 and his stools are always loose.

I know that in babies it is not unusual for the pancreatic status to flip. Sometimes they go from PI (low elastase) to PS (normal elastase) after taking enzymes b/c it sort of jump starts their pancreas. This is what happened to my dd: when she was born she was 60 was put on creon, a year later she was 450. We stopped creon and she has been fine.

I am not sure whether it holds the other way around.

 

[ymikhale]

I agree with missa about retest.

It seems strange though that his elastase was 381 and his stools are always loose.

I know that in babies it is not unusual for the pancreatic status to flip. Sometimes they go from PI (low elastase) to PS (normal elastase) after taking enzymes b/c it sort of jump starts their pancreas. This is what happened to my dd: when she was born she was 60 was put on creon, a year later she was 450. We stopped creon and she has been fine.

I am not sure whether it holds the other way around.

 

[ymikhale]

I agree with missa about retest.
<br />
<br />It seems strange though that his elastase was 381 and his stools are always loose.
<br />
<br />I know that in babies it is not unusual for the pancreatic status to flip. Sometimes they go from PI (low elastase) to PS (normal elastase) after taking enzymes b/c it sort of jump starts their pancreas. This is what happened to my dd: when she was born she was 60 was put on creon, a year later she was 450. We stopped creon and she has been fine.
<br />
<br />I am not sure whether it holds the other way around.