Can exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occur overnight?
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hi am new here but looking for some help.. have been suffering abdominal pains for 6 months brought on by eating all foods. I have had a faecal elastase test in december with a 500 reading which is normal, another at 500 beginning of january, then another mid jan which had fallen to 200, then another in february that is almost zero- which says pancreas not making any enzymes. is it possible for pancreas to go from fully functioningg to producing no enzymes in such a short space of time. . I understood EPI couldnonly happen if pancreas severley damaged- but my MRCP and ultrasound both show pancreas is fine. ?? how can this be possible. before the pains started i was very healthly- exercised regularly, very helathy diet, no junk food or alcohol. i just cant see how i can have this condition if pancreas is fine? any thoughts greatfully received!
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Shortie79 anna22144
Posted
Normally the MRCP is the gold standard of tests (noninvasive) to look at the pancreas in a working condition. However, just like any test, it might not catch everything. In my experience EPI happens with chronic pancreatitis not over a couple months. What does your blood work show? You could have developed a stone that's blocking your duct and preventing your enzymes to flow (my enzymes don't flow due to two narrow ducts I was born with) or your duct could be narrowing. If you haven't already asked to see a pancreas specialist or a GI specialist who is educated in the pancreas (not all GI drs are educated in the pancreas) I recommend you look for one. Usually when you're not producing enzymes you need to take enzymes when eating. I don't know if you're suffering other symptoms like vomiting, excessive weight loss, acid reflux, itching, hair loss, debilitating pain but those are just a few of chronic pancreatits symptoms. Your age plays a factor too, if you're young (under 50) it's unlikely for you to develop CP unless you have a family history, cystic fibrosis or Pancreas Divisum (born with two ducts). Ask your doctors for genetic testing if you don't know the family history but the MRCP would have shown if you had two ducts. It also might not be your pancreas if you still have your gallbladder. Just FYI the pancreas is the hardest organ to diagnose due to its location, be patient for answers because it took over a year for me to get a diagnosis and I was born with the condition. Try not to stress yourself out as it doesn't help and will literally cause you pain.
anna22144 Shortie79
Posted
hi and thanks for your reply! i am 39 with no family history of any of the things you mentioned. in terms of other symptoms i have abdominal pain and bloating after eating which is worse towards the end of the day, and have lost a lot of weight from about 11 stone to 9 1/2 - but all the weight lose had happened when my reading was high, and its stabilised last few months. ive had bloods checked by a hepatologist so presume he has checked for all the standard liver pancreas gallbladder tests... i had urea, uric acid and HDL slightly lower than the normal ranges and bilirubin towards the top of the normal range (but still within) but everything else was well within the ranges. i did wonder whether it could be a stone blocking itfeels like that would make more sense- or a narrowing duct as you have said. i have been prescribed a high dosage of creon but its not making any difference to the pain, bloating which id have thought should happen straight away if that is the cause. And i am not gaining any weight- but it has only been a week on them. you make a hood point about the stress its hard to know how much it contributes to the pain but im sure you are right.
Shortie79 anna22144
Posted
Enzymes are different for everyone. I haven't noticed a difference with weight gain on my journey but when you have a pancreas condition you have to stick to a low fat/carb lifestyle. Tylenol helps me with my pancreas.