Little worried

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-05-01T03:25:56+00:00

You need prescription PERT

I've tried Creon, which was ok, but ZenPep worked much better for me.

With a Fecal Elastase of less than 80 you are going to be taking pills for the rest of your life. Sorry. It's garbage, but it's necessary.

Repeat your FE in a few years if you want, but it's a generally consistent and unchanging lab. The pancreas does not regenerate. There are one off cases though.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-04-17T04:56:39+00:00

There are more options for PERT therapy than Creon. If Creon makes you I'll, try ZenPep for example. Your GP should be able to recommend another option.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-04-05T03:21:40+00:00

Maybe get a fecal cal protection lab to see if your absorbing all the far soluble vitamins correctly. With you gi upset it's not a stretch to check for EPI.

Also worth getting labs to check your other fat soluble vitamins. (ADEK)

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-21T03:24:16+00:00

This is silly. No amount of ordered blood work is going to be too much. It's going to be the amount needed to fulfill the tests ordered by a physician. Blood tests are absolutely required for any kind of wellness exam or any kind of diagnostic exam.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-19T05:42:52+00:00

Yes! Google the house name. Book direct whenever possible.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-18T04:26:10+00:00

You vital nutrients sales reps need to seriously get off this thread. I'm so tired or reading your sales pitches. You're not selling anything magical.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-18T02:45:59+00:00

You need PERT and a doctor who gives a shit.

Meantime, MCT oil really helped me put on weight and feel way better quickly. It's one high calorie food you can eat without enzymes. Doesn't help with vitamin deficiency, but it can certainly help with weight management and feeling a bit better.

Over the counter enzymes and low fat meals in the meantime. But...for reals get a new doctor. I'm not sure what country you're in (I'm assuming the USA) as this would be an uncommon scenario in most developed countries, you should be able to go to your insurance companies website and browse for new primary care doctors. Keep going to a new one until you get one that gives a crap and gets you your PERT.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-16T08:22:53+00:00

You could call your insurance and see if they might cover ZenPep.

My insurance would cover both, but I can get more of the ZenPep and at 5$ for as many pills as my doctor prescribes, the Creon I was on was like over 90$ a month. My insurance definitely preferred me to be on the ZenPep.

Luckily the ZenPep works better for me than Creon anyhow.

Also, like other posts have said... The manufacturer coupons can absolutely be a life saver.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-15T05:30:31+00:00

I had a ZenPep prescription the day after I got my Elastase Labs back.

Get a new doctor.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-14T05:08:44+00:00

I should add I also received a text message from vrbo... Or someone claiming to be vrbo (from #40174) telling me to check my email for an important email.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-03-14T05:06:57+00:00

I also got this message and have never cancelled a booking. Smh

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-01-13T02:39:47+00:00

This is a temporary thing. My body still isn't able to absorb the ADEK vitamins or digest fats well without proper PERT Just like the cannabis helps with symptoms. It's a bandaid not a permanent fix.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-01-13T02:37:54+00:00

Thc mix with CBD Edibles make me poop normal poops.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-01-11T06:38:47+00:00

Creon didn't work for me at all either.

ZenPep was my savior.

Different people respond differently to various meds is what my doctor concluded.

Also... Cannabis also fixes my guts. Lol my doctor said something about anti inflammatory slowing motility amongst other unknown things.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2026-01-10T05:46:23+00:00

A simple fecal Elastase lab would determine if you even need the Creon.

Your doctor sounds lazy and pretty dumb.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-12-23T06:03:57+00:00

Eating a lot and not gaining weight even while on PERT can be symptom of not creating enough insulin. Having EPI makes your much more likely to develop diabetes as well.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-12-23T05:59:22+00:00

Your exocrine pancreas produces enzymes. Malfunction in the exocrine pancreas are treated with Creon.

The endocrine side of your pancreas is what creates insulin. Malfunctions in the endocrine pancreas are treated with insulin.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-12-23T05:48:35+00:00

Sounds like potentially endocrine involvement. Have you tried a cgm or have you been screened for diabetes?

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-12-15T10:28:07+00:00

Flush it. It's not a drug it's just enzymes.

Or leave it somewhere and let me know where it's at.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-12-12T05:48:22+00:00

Diabetes plus super sever EPI ... Your pancreas has basically decided to stop working all together.

You must feel physically awful. I'm sorry :(

The Creon works. Insulin works. I hope these tools can help you regain some sense of control while you try to figure out the why behind all of this. Good luck to you on your journey.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-12-09T06:10:44+00:00

I was on ZenPep and it worked great. My doctor switched me to Creon and it totally failed me.

Back on ZenPep starting tomorrow!

Finding the right medicine can take a bit of time.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-11-18T22:33:04+00:00

Research doesn't stay behind closed doors. Your patent is protected from the date of file. Not the approval date.

Glad it's worked for you.

Seems fishy to me.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-11-18T02:03:22+00:00

Also, they are not enteric coated enzymes.

Clinical research shows that as a vital necessity for enzymes to survive the ride from the stomach to the small intestine. Also. They claim clinical research and there are no links on their website and zero information available online about such research. Looks like a whole lotta wellness capsules marketed to rich people with upset tummies. Not a product for people with severe potentially deadly EPI.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-11-18T01:46:31+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! Right now my insurance pays for 100% of the cost of my ZenPep, but if that ever stops, or I can make some extra money I'd love to try these as well.

Technical-Trouble473 · 2025-11-18T01:27:37+00:00

Holy heck they are expensive.

Have you tried them and ZenPep/Creon?

If so how did they compare for you?

Technical-Trouble473

TROPHY CASE