Pancreatitis digestive enzymes and diet questions

[Guest guest]

Do those of you who have had pancreatitis take digestive enzymes

regularly? Are they called Pancrelipase? And what did you eat when you

first started eating again?

Fred's gastro wanted him to wait til next Monday to eat because he

still had minor stomach discomfort this past Tuesday. But the discomfort

has been gone for 48 hours, probably due to the dr. upping his

Protonics. If he waits til Monday that will be 16 days with no food; he

subsists on the " Breeze " nutritional supplement. He's starting to get

hungry and is losing way too much weight and is very very weak. He lost

11 pounds this week alone - and that's on 3000 calories a day of this

stuff, with diarrhea pretty much under control..(He says he'd never gain

weight on " Breeze, " no matter how many boxes he drank.

The gastro's nurse (who we really don't trust because she tends to shoot

from the hip) said he could take digestive enzymes sold over the counter

and start eating TODAY. So I purchased digestive enzymes at Publix

called - now this is original - " Digestive Enzymes, " (2 per day) made by

Probio-Wellness. Fred recalled the gastro talking about some " 8 per day

enzyme pills. " So he's not willing to take the chance with the non rx

enzymes. We'll insist on speaking with the gastro tomorrow.

Would love anyone's insights and answers!

Wife of Fred, PSC 03/04, UC 03/06, Pancreatitis 10/07

[Guest guest]

, I take pangestyme - 3 with meals and 2 with snacks although I don't always remember it for the snacks. It is a prescription. I, like , do notice when I've had too much fat (just love onion rings but they don't always like me) but I always thought it was the liver's reaction to the fat. Since I've only had pancreatitis one time it just hadn't crossed my mind that maybe my pancreas doesn't like it either. I can't even imagine going 16 days without food. Does Fred have this much weight to spare? I'm about at my lowest weight now before it gets serious but I haven't been able to gain weight. Maybe after tx........ blessings, Barby - KS UC - 1965, ileostomy - 1972, BCIR (continent pouch) 1994, PSC - 1995, arthritis 2007, listed 9/18/07married 28

years , 5 sons, 2 daughters in law, 1 granddaughter born 6/06 and 2 golden retrievers

[Guest guest]

Thanks Barby-

I'm printing every reply out for Fred. It's all really helpful. A

month ago Fred weighed 202 (and on his 6' 4 1/2 " frame he looked

slim). Today he's 178. His eyes are starting to look sunken in! But he

says he's feeling better. Even had a burst of energy to write his

first email in about 2 1/2 weeks, but then had to go lie down.

And if you're reading this Fred (he has started to read the PSC digest

DAILY - pain is a great motivator he says, to get involved), don't

worry - I find skinny men with sunken eyes quite appealing.

I hope you do gain weight after your transplant Barby. And gain a full

life too!

And here's another survey question folks: how many males on this board

with PSC are over 6' tall?? Any tall (over 5'10 " ) females?

A Foot Shorter Wife of Fred, PSC 03/04, UC/03/06, Pancreatitis 10/07

>

> ,

> I take pangestyme - 3 with meals and 2 with snacks although I

don't always remember it for the snacks. It is a prescription. I,

like , do notice when I've had too much fat (just love onion

rings but they don't always like me) but I always thought it was the

liver's reaction to the fat. Since I've only had pancreatitis one

time it just hadn't crossed my mind that maybe my pancreas doesn't

like it either.

> I can't even imagine going 16 days without food. Does Fred

have this much weight to spare? I'm about at my lowest weight now

before it gets serious but I haven't been able to gain weight. Maybe

after tx........

>

> blessings,

> Barby - KS

>

>

> UC - 1965, ileostomy - 1972, BCIR (continent pouch) 1994, PSC -

1995, arthritis 2007, listed 9/18/07

> married 28 years , 5 sons, 2 daughters in law, 1 granddaughter born

6/06 and 2 golden retrievers

>

[Guest guest]

I don't remember any special dietary restrictions after my bouts of

pancreatitis in 1983 and 1988. As I recall, once the enzymes when down

I started on clear liquids then progressed rapidly to a regular diet.

No supplements were given to assist the digestive process.

I am 6' 2 1/2 " and prior to my recent transplants had been eating a

lot to try and put on a few reserve pounds in expectation of a loss

during the transplant, but really only maintaining my weight at 155. I

hit a low of 145 eleven days after tx while I still had a bit of

edema. After that gains exceeded water loss. Three and a half months

later I am up to 171. If Fred is not careful I'll soon weigh more than

he does.

Tim R, tx #3 7/7/07