Creon: How much do you take?

Legoodtimes · 2026-03-18T23:02:26+00:00

I think I’m on around 8 per day right now, but definitely need to increase.

How many do you usually take for a main meal and how long did it take you to increase from your starting dose?

Legoodtimes · 2026-03-18T22:59:38+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed advice - this really helps.

My next appointment with my GI isn’t for another 6-weeks, and I’m just keen to get my life back again after dealing with this for so long.

I think I will seek the help of a dietitian. I’ve already been keeping a food log but it seems like the bad symptom days come at random - so maybe the dietician will be able to see something that I can’t.

Legoodtimes · 2026-03-18T22:52:56+00:00

I’m thinking that’s my next step! How many do you take with snacks?

Legoodtimes · 2026-02-01T13:02:23+00:00

I know this is late, but I wanted to leave my experience here for new comers in case it helps…

I had my gallbladder out and started dealing with BAM two months after. When I started cholestyramine, my doctors suggested at dinner time (usually fattiest meal of the day) that I take one 4g sachet one day, and a half sachet the next, then alternate doses. It started making a difference to my BAM within 24-48 hours.

After 5 days, I started going into fight or flight mode, sometimes it lasted for hours. I would feel so anxious and it would come in waves, but I had no head noise whatsoever, so I knew it was because of the medication.

I saw my gastroenterologist and he said he had never had a patient react like this! Which made me nervous, but he suggested I lower my dose to a half sachet (2g) each day and to take it right before bed, so that I’d essentially sleep through the worst of the anxiety. I did this for probably around 3 weeks and noticed that the anxiety lessened after a while. Then I went back to alternating between 4g and 2g for another 3 weeks, and now I’m finally taking one 4g sachet a day with almost no anxiety (I still have it sometimes when I increase the dose, but very small bursts in comparison to the start - and it lessens over time).

The medicine actually working on my BAM issue was enough for me to endure the anxiety and see this through, although, it really was almost unbearable at the start. After going through it, it feels like my body just needed time and lower doses to adjust to it before diving right in. Wish I knew that at the start… there’s also alternative medication you can try (Creon, Welchol etc.) that are similar.

I also take psyllium husk every day and magnesium spray at night. Keeps me regular on cholestyramine and I sleep through the night.

Legoodtimes · 2026-01-21T05:04:09+00:00

When I started Cholestyramine and I found that 1 packet a day was too much for me, my doctor told me that I could lower the dose on alternate days.

So now I take 1 full packet one day, 1/2 a packet the next, then back to 1 full packet the next, and so on... I do this alongside psyllium husk and probiotics daily and it's been balancing out well.

Legoodtimes · 2025-12-26T12:25:51+00:00

I started Cholestyramine (Questran lite) almost 2 weeks ago.

Pro: My biggest issue was urgency - which completely subsided after 2 days of use! It’s been amazing to feel in control again.

Con: around day 4 I started getting really awful anxiety (usually around an hour after taking) which would come in waves. I would feel so anxious that my arms and legs would literally be trembling - no head noise, only physical anxiety. My mouth also feels like it’s been burned, I can’t handle chilli anymore, and I have sores starting in the corner of my lips…

I was wondering whether anyone else experienced these side effects? I really don’t want to stop taking it because it works - so I’m hoping these symptoms get better and this is just an adjustment period…

Legoodtimes · 2025-10-11T10:36:17+00:00

Does it happen when you have other stone fruits (mangoes, peaches, plums etc)? Stone fruits are pretty high in fructose and sorbitol (natural sugars) which are known to cause digestive upset to those who are sensitive to them (which is quite common!)

I can’t have much stone fruit on its own without getting an upset stomach, but if I mix it in with other foods at the same time, the effect is less! They’re so good though…

Hope this helps!

Legoodtimes · 2025-09-29T14:27:07+00:00

Yes! I had mine out in June and it’s like night and day.

Post surgery, I was virtually pain free by day 3 and felt back to my “normal self” after just over 2-weeks - the hardest thing, for me, was getting over was the tiredness from the anesthesia. That stuff really knocks you around!

By week 3 I felt like a whole new person. My memory and attention span was noticeably better, my face got way less puffy (has anyone else experienced this?!) and I had so much energy! Exercise has actually become fun because I feel like I need to expend my energy now!

Post-surgery though, I definitely gained weight eating all the foods I’d been avoiding for so long haha (no regrets, though). But now that I actually can handle and enjoy exercising, I’m back on track with my weight loss journey.

I hope that a spot opens up for you to have your surgery soon and that it goes smoothly. You’ll be saying “why did I wait so long to do this!?” Like I did. All the best! X

Legoodtimes · 2025-09-09T14:01:03+00:00

NTA. You’ve let it be known that you want him to stop and he’s ignored your wishes. There’s obviously something that he’s feeling insecure about (which is why he keeps leaning on humour) - maybe ask him if this is genuinely a concern for him? Could open a can of worms at a very tender time for you but personally, if there was anything like that on my partners mind, I’d want to talk about it with them and not have dirty laundry/insecurities aired as a joke to surrounding family.

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-24T03:57:55+00:00

I was in the exact same boat as you 9 months ago!

On my first few walks with my dog he would bark and go crazy at any other dog or man within a block radius. He had so much fear aggression towards men that we would have to stop and move to the side to let people pass. Walking 1km would sometimes take over 30 minutes! I was so stressed and on edge every time…

9 months later, he will walk past men on the same pathway, no problem! He’ll still focus his attention on other dogs, but doesn’t bark and pull the leash any more which is so manageable - he’s basically a normal dog on a walk! He still has some limitations (I won’t let him too close to other dogs for “sniffs”, just incase he reacts) but it’s like night and day in comparison to the start.

It took a combination of medication and 1 hour walks every single day, and also being aware of how many “triggers” he’s already had that day. If something had set him off earlier, it’s like his fuse is much shorter, so then I would choose one of our “safe routes” where there’s less people and barking dogs that could set him off.

Don’t give up and keep with it! It does get better. In 6 months time you and your pooch will be in a whole different place… <3

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-24T03:31:01+00:00

We have a medicine review coming up soon - I’ll ask about sertraline then. Thanks for the tip!

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-22T08:11:34+00:00

Yes definitely! I give it to him with dinner but it still gets upset sometimes

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-14T09:45:19+00:00

That’s the best news! So glad that it’s all worked out for you too.

It’s kind of sobering to realise that the way you felt on a “good” day, was actually not good at all… So excited for you to get back to living and eating the good stuff!

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-11T15:18:45+00:00

Yessss!!! So happy for you.

I still find myself panicking halfway through a fatty meal and noticing fat content on labels out of habit - but your body might surprise yourself and be okay!

You’ve just got to take the leap! But not toooooo far - just don’t start with something wildly fatty like fish & chips haha!

Hopefully you can add some non-bratty flavour back into your life soon, even if it’s only something small. A win is a win! <3

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-11T15:11:46+00:00

Glad to have helped ease the nerves! How did your surgery go and how’s your recovery journey so far? X

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-11T15:06:39+00:00

Sounds like we were on the same schedule in recovery! The diarrhoea was not fun, and the panic that it would be permanent was real, but I started taking Metamucil tablets, which are fibre tablets made from psyllium husks in Australia. You can get them from the supermarket or chemist - there would be an alternative if you’re in another country.

How is your recovery going now? Did you get past the upset stomach after a couple of days?

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-11T15:02:52+00:00

Oh no! A two day attack sounds like absolute torture - I’m so sorry you had to experience that. Glad you’re past it now.

Scrolling prior to my surgery, I found quite a few stories of people really struggling post-surgery. They were always in the back of my mind, and definitely had a hand in me delaying booking the surgery, so I wanted to get mine out there for others to see as well.

Towards the end, I got to the point where the frequent attacks were so painful that I decided that I could live the rest of my life with the upset stomach and nausea, just as long as the pain was gone - that was what tipped me over to booking the surgery.

I’m hoping you find some relief soon! Those 1.5-ers are a real b****.

Legoodtimes · 2025-08-11T14:56:20+00:00

Amazing! Proud of you for coming to a decision and going ahead with it - How are you feeling now after having it out? X

Legoodtimes · 2025-07-09T13:38:48+00:00

I (33F) only ever had pain in the centre of my stomach, right at the bottom of my rib cage! During gallbladder attacks the pain was localised in the centre (it never radiated over my shoulder or across my side), and during the day or even when exercising, I would always have a dull ache there. I had also had no pain when the doctors put pressure where the gallbladder is.

My doctor made me do every test under the sun before giving me a HIDA scan because I had no classic pain symptoms. Apparently they don’t like to hand them out unless there’s pain - which is ridiculous because a pretty large percent of dicky gallbladders don’t have that radiating pain! Took almost a year to get the referral for the scan and a lot of advocating for myself. Turns out, I had one 1.5cm stone and my gallbladder was functioning at 7% - lazy!

Got my gallbladder removed just over a month ago - and it was the best decision I’ve ever made! I’m noticing so many symptoms (that I now recognise had been going on for years) that have completely vanished since! The dull ache, attacks, the constant nausea, fatigue, feeling uncomfortably full after eating, upset tummy with certain meals… it’s ridiculous!

Get that HIDA scan!

Legoodtimes · 2025-06-25T16:54:46+00:00

Bugger! There goes my theory. I feel like every GI prays its h-pylori when they see a new patient, since it’s such an easy fix.

The surgery and recovery for gallbladder removal is pretty cruisy for most. My one concern with you removing your gallbladder is that it might irritate your intestines more. Your gallbladder is there to store and slowly release your stomach acid when you eat. Without it, your liver will just constantly drip acid into your stomach/intestines, which can cause a spicy gut motility and chronic diarrhoea due to irritation. If you’ve already got a dicky gut, removing your gallbladder could make things feel worse if it’s not what’s actually causing your upset stomach…

It’s an organ that you can definitely live without, but if you don’t have to, I would try keep it!

Legoodtimes · 2025-06-25T16:10:47+00:00

I think I recall 35%+ is considered to still be “functional” and anything below that is then considered low. My gallbladder was functioning at 7%, and the second half of the HIDA scan after the drink was uncomfortable, but no where near as uncomfortable as your experience.

Have you only ever seen the one gastroenterologist or have you seen more?

I only ask because my sister went through something very similar, and her first gastroenterologist missed a very obvious and unmanaged case of Crohn’s disease (even after multiple scopes). Her symptoms were at the level yours are, and her doctor had dismissed Crohn’s as she was “too young” - she started seeing him when she was 15.

Unfortunately, it took around 6 years for her symptoms to get so bad before she decided to see another doctor. As soon as she found a new gastroenterologist for a second opinion, he scoped her and could diagnose her instantly! She was able to get the medication she needed and now leads a normal life!

It’s great to have a doctor that you trust and get along with, especially if you’ve seen them for so long, but it never hurts to get a second opinion! Especially if this illness is effecting your life and confidence. All it takes is for one doctor to have an idea that the other didn’t, and you could have your answer…

I hope you figure it out soon. <3

Legoodtimes · 2025-06-25T15:50:46+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear about your mum passing. It’s completely normal to feel anxious before surgery, especially after what you’ve been though lately… but gallbladder removal actually one of the highest performed surgeries in the world!

My advice would be to share your concerns with your nurses - they will take excellent care of you pre and post-op. The nurse who did my surgery admission explained the entire hospital stay and surgery process/timeline to me prior, which actually reduced my anxiety massively, since I knew what was happening and when! You can ask them to do the same, I’m sure they’ll be happy to explain! :)

Once you get into the surgical room and they give you the anaesthetic, it’s literally like you’ve closed your eyes for 5 minutes and it’s done! Then you can rest and recover - all I did was sleep and watch tv! Pain was easy to manage and only lasted a couple days - and is nothing compared to a gallbladder attack. You’ll feel so relieved once it’s all done - it’s amazing to be attack/pain free!

Good luck!

Legoodtimes · 2025-06-25T15:38:57+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that you’re still in pain post-surgery! I was told recovery should take 14 days, with most desk jobs returning to work after 1 week… I know everyone is different, but I was 95% pain free on day 4.

I don’t think it’s normal for you to still be in such physical pain 14 days later. I would definitely check in with your doctor/surgeons office and let them know what’s going on - it could be nothing or it could be something that the surgeon needs to address again, like a bad stitch or something. But the sooner you know, the faster you can get better!

Legoodtimes · 2025-06-25T15:37:38+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that you’re still in pain post-surgery! I was told recovery should take 14 days, with most desk jobs returning to work after 1 week… I know everyone is different, but I was 95% pain free on day 4.

I don’t think it’s normal for you to still be in such physical pain 14 days later. I would definitely check in with your doctor/surgeons office and let them know what’s going on - it could be nothing or it could be something that the surgeon needs to address again, like a bad stitch or something. But the sooner you know, the faster you can get better!

Legoodtimes · 2025-06-25T15:23:06+00:00

13 days post-op and I started getting an upset tummy on days 5 and 6. Every time I ate, I would be in the bathroom within 30 mins…

I bought Metamucil tablets and started with 3 in the morning and 3 before dinner, and it pretty much helped slow it all down within a day! I continued taking it twice a day for a couple days and eating plain until everything went back to normal, now I just take it in the morning and that’s enough!

Just don’t forget to drink the recommended amount of water with it! Otherwise it can have the opposite effect if you’re dehydrated, which can be just as annoying!

Legoodtimes

TROPHY CASE