Re: Enzymes--back to Suzy

[Guest guest]

Re: my comments:

> The enteric coated enzymes are products like Lipram, Ultrase and Creon.

They have a gel coating with a capsule formation with tiny microbeads inside.

This type of enzyme doesn't need any antiacids to be taken with it. If you're

taking one type or the other, you might try switching to the opposite type to

see if that works better for you.

Suzy wrote:

> I DIDN'T KNOW THIS!! I've been on Viokase for a few yrs. and have terrible

acid reflux in the morning when I get up. (snip) I just this week switched to

Lipram! (snip) I am now finding that I should take smaller meals more often,

rather than full ones. And, it seems if I eat read meat, the CP is much worse!

Suzy,

I've been out of town for the last week and only able to get online one or two

nights while I was gone, so have just now seen your post about the enzymes.

Yes, you should have been taking an antiacid with the Viokase all along, and

it's a shame, but many doctors just don't know this. I take Viokase-16's (5

with

each meal) now, too, after switching from Ultrase MT20's several months ago,

and I take 1 40 mg. Protonix each day to counteract the acid that's produced.

The Protonix, which is a proton pump inhibitor, is excellent for reflux, also.

You might talk to your doctor about prescribing this.

My doctor wanted me to take 2 Protonix each day, but the insurance company

refused to cover this, in fact we had to fight a battle with them just to get

them

to approve 1 per day at all. They wanted to allow for Rantidine (Zantac) only,

but that wasn't what my doctor thought would be most effective, so we fought

the battle and finally won.

Yes, too, to several smaller meals as opposed to three regular ones. It's much

easier if you can just eat several light mini-meals or large snacks...you'll

find

that your pain won't occur as often. I had to give this up when I became

diabetic and do miss it. It's too much of an obstacle now that I have diabetes

to do this, because it interferes with my dosing and the spacing I need

between meals to check my post pradial sugars. If I ate that frequently now I'd

never have a clear picture as to where my BG's really were!!!

Yes, that's a " no " to the red meat, too!! I gave up all red meat per my

doctor's

instructions three and a half years ago, and actually just had my first

hamburger (made with farm raised beef that has only 4% fat) a few months

ago! Boy, did that taste great!! I still haven't had any steaks or regular

beef or

lamb in 3 1/2 years, and actually feel slightly nausiated at the suggestion, but

I

do eat venison. The venison is so lean that it can have less fat than poultry

does, and this doesn't bother me at all.

I took Lipram for a while and found it worked well for me, as long as I took

enough with each meal. It's easier because with that you don't need to worry

about an antiacid. The only reason I switched to Viokase was because there

has been some research that indicated that Viokase works better at reducing

the pain, and I was eager to see if this was true. With the Protonix

beforehand, the Viokase has been working very well for me, and it's very rare

now that I have any pain after I eat.

I'm glad that the information was helpful for you.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep, PAI

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

opinion, and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical

professional.