Stomach Pain

[Jamie M]

Hi all,looking for some advice.I am now 18 months down the line from having my pancreas and spleen removed due to pancreatic cancer.I was left with the head of my pancreas in the hope that I wouldn’t become diabetic.I was diagnosed diabetic about a year ago and have been on insulin since then.Luckily I could still eat most of the foods I ate in the past just smaller portions.Over the last month I have had an extremely sore stomach after about an hour of my main meal so sore I had to go to a&e recently.I feel it’s severe indigestion as it only occurs after a meal.I have a light breakfast and lunch so it doesn’t come on then.I know there are a few people on here who have had similar illness to me and was wondering if they use creon.I feel It could help me as it replac enzymes the pancreas would normally make.Eggy G do you have any thoughts.Thanks in advance for any replies,Jamie.

 

[Robin]

Hi Jamie, if you want to alert @eggyg to your post, you put an @ before her name, like I've done, so she’s alerted now!' It sounds likely to me that you’d need Creon if your remaining bit of pancreas cant manage, (but I’m not an expert, I’ve just read posts from others over the years.)

 

[eggyg]

Hi Jamie.
I can’t believe they haven’t had you on Creon, I started on it before my op. Do you get corresponding diarrhoea when you have these attacks? Do you get very bloated? Sorry to be so blunt. It’s just to try and establish a possible cause. The only other thing I can think of is the size and/ or content of your meal. Is it fatty? Heavy? I can’t eat huge meals anymore, as much I would sometimes like to, as my op, which incidentally was exactly the same as yours, has left me with adhesions ( mine was 13.5 years ago) and my small intestine is now partially blocked. That leaves little room for big meals and believe it or not I can’t tolerate a lot of fibre. I’m not suggesting that this is the case with you, but the pain you described and the fact you attended A&E is concerning. Whatever the reason though, you most certainly should be taking Creon with every meal.
Also, I see you describe yourself as Type 2, you are actually Type 3c, damage and /or disease of the pancreas. Unfortunately, not many HCPs recognise this term. If you search on the forum for type 3c you will find lots of posts.

I hope you get to the bottom of your discomfort ( pardon the pun), but definitely get back to your GP or diabetes nurse and tell them you need Creon. Any other questions, fire away. Elaine.

 

[Jamie M]

Hi Jamie.
I can’t believe they haven’t had you on Creon, I started on it before my op. Do you get corresponding diarrhoea when you have these attacks? Do you get very bloated? Sorry to be so blunt. It’s just to try and establish a possible cause. The only other thing I can think of is the size and/ or content of your meal. Is it fatty? Heavy? I can’t eat huge meals anymore, as much I would sometimes like to, as my op, which incidentally was exactly the same as yours, has left me with adhesions ( mine was 13.5 years ago) and my small intestine is now partially blocked. That leaves little room for big meals and believe it or not I can’t tolerate a lot of fibre. I’m not suggesting that this is the case with you, but the pain you described and the fact you attended A&E is concerning. Whatever the reason though, you most certainly should be taking Creon with every meal.
Also, I see you describe yourself as Type 2, you are actually Type 3c, damage and /or disease of the pancreas. Unfortunately, not many HCPs recognise this term. If you search on the forum for type 3c you will find lots of posts.

I hope you get to the bottom of your discomfort ( pardon the pun), but definitely get back to your GP or diabetes nurse and tell them you need Creon. Any other questions, fire away. Elaine.

Thanks for replying eggyg No I don’t get diahorrea quite the opposite I get constipated although I do feel bloated.I did cut down my portion sizes and also don’t eat fatty food.I did know I wasn’t type 2 but like you say if you say you are 3c you get a blank look my gp had never heard of this.I spoke today my the oncologist nurse who phoned me back to say the oncologist had prescribed creon which I can pick up later today.Did you suffer any side effects from creon?

 

[eggyg]

Thanks for replying eggyg No I don’t get diahorrea quite the opposite I get constipated although I do feel bloated.I did cut down my portion sizes and also don’t eat fatty food.I did know I wasn’t type 2 but like you say if you say you are 3c you get a blank look my gp had never heard of this.I spoke today my the oncologist nurse who phoned me back to say the oncologist had prescribed creon which I can pick up later today.Did you suffer any side effects from creon?

I’ve been on them that long I’m not sure! I would start with the lowest dose, do you know what size you’re getting 10k or 25k? Whatever, just start with one with a meal, they say snacks too but I’ve never bothered with that and survived. See how it goes, I eat a couple of mouthfuls to get my digestive system going then pop the Creon in. It’s too early before you start eating and too late after you’ve finished! It’s taken me nearly 14 years to figure that out! Just to warn you, because no one will tell you this, Creon can play havoc with your blood glucose at times. So test a bit more than you maybe do. I hope it helps but if you you get those pains again, get checked out. It’s possible that the bit of pancreas you’ve got left might be grumbling a bit. Disclaimer. I have no medical expertise at all just experience. Take care. Elaine.