Re: Re Acid reducers to

[Guest guest]

,

If you feel that people to look to me for their only opinion, I do

object to your comment, which was incorrect. You said:

>what I heard u stating is that everyone on pancreatic enzymes needs

an acid-reducer & that is just not true. So forgive me if that is not

what you said, but many on this board look to you for their only

opinion which can be dangerous.<

And my original comment to on acid reducers was:

>I take it, (Protonix), because I take Viokase enzyme supplements, and

they require an acid reducer prior to using them.<

Now, I don't know how you can twist that comment to say that " everyone

on pancreatic enzymes needs an acid reducer " , and I object to this. I

subsequently explained the difference between enteric coated enzymes

and those like Viokase that have no coating, and the reason why those

without a coating, (tablet vs. capsule), need to have acid suppression

medication prior to their use.

Protonix is not a " designer drug " , nor is it a new one. Admittedly, my

insulin, Lantus, is a relatively " new " drug, but it's insulin and I

have to have it to live. I could use one of the older insulins,

perhaps, but why change when I have successful enough results to have

an HbA1c of 5.4? As for the Protonix, I've been fortunate to have

experienced NO SIDE EFFECTS using this medication, and it has aided

with my digestive process. The first time I was given Viokase was

four years ago on a trip in Canada by an pancreatitis-ignorant doctor

in Canada. He admitted that he knew very little about pancreatitis,

but he was trying to help me with supplements because I had run out of

my pancreatic enzymes. So he gave me a script for Viokase and he

didn't prescribe an acid reducer with it. The results were horrible!!

I had considerable cramping and experienced stomach discomfort and

pain after each meal as long as I took it. Fortunately, my GI told me

why that happened once I returned from my trip and I went back to my

original enzymes.

I research and review all the manufacturer's material on ANY

medication, BEFORE I put it in my mouth. I never take a doctor's word

for it, and all my doctors know that I'm going to do this with

anything they prescibe. I'm not happy to be taking as much medication

as I have to, but the key word is, that I HAVE to. There isn't a

thing that I take that isn't required and necessary for my various

medical conditions. With chronic pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes,

osteoporis, low thyroid and high cholesterol, there are certain

medications that I have to take to help my conditions.

I'm delighted that you are successfully able to use natural

supplemental enzymes and encourage anyone that wishes to do this to do

so. My insurance won't pay for OTC enzymes, but are willing to pay

two or three as much for prescription meds, so that's why I don't try

the natural supplements, either. I'm not at all opposed to natural

supplements or natural food products. I take antioxidants purchased

from a health food store to help with my CP, even though my insurance

won't pay for them, but I can't substitute natural products for all my

conditions because they just aren't available for everything I have.

I use cinnamon capsules to help lower my blood sugar, but they can't

do it enough to substitute for insulin all together, so that's why a

presribed medication is necessary.

All I ask is that you read my replies more thoroughly before you put

words in my mouth that weren't there. At no time did I say that

everyone on enzymes has to take acid reducers. If you read the

messages thoroughly before you jump to a conclusion we could avoid

this kind of repetitive clarification. I spend considerable time

compiling my replies and any messages with advice, purposely to make

sure that they are clear and easy to understand.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

Southeastern Reg. Rep., PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.