CancerCompass message board discussion started by Furyus on 5/19/2006 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,5377,0.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ hi, my wife of 51 has pc.of 1/05 since surgery its been a long hard road for everyone. can't explain it to people cause they don't understand.after surgery she was told to eat anything she wanted. especialy if it would fatten her up.5mths after i called the dr. cause the gas pains were severe.they all prescribed gasx. every few weeks i called again, they would say this is all normal from the surgery. 9mths. later went back to gas dr. his magical cure is gasx after she told him where to stick the gasx he said see a nutritionist, she said diet is mandatory.after 3 wks on diet gas is still severe.my wife feels this has been all a waste of time. any help or info would be greatly appreciated. thank you Furyus Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT Pancreatic insufficiency is common in pancreatic cancer patients and may cause vague abdominal discomfort, pain, abdominal distention, excessive flatus (gas), belching, diarrhea, steatorrhea (fat indigestion) and weight loss. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy should be considered for these patients. It has been shown that a combination of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, nutritional counseling and biliary drainage can prevent weight loss in patients with unresectable cancer in the head of the pancreas with pancreatic duct obstruction. Reportedly about 25% of patients who have the Whipple procedure, the most commonly used operation for removing a pancreatic tumor, may suffer from malabsorption. Fat absorption usually cannot be restored to normal, but the goal should be to eliminate diarrhea, restore adequate nutrition and prevent weight loss. A dose of 30,000-40,000 units of lipase at each meal could achieve these results. Prescription pancreatic enzymes as well as several non-prescription pancreatic enzymes are available. The amounts of enzymes in each can have huge variations. The recommended type and dose of enzymes is individualized for each person. It is important to discuss with your physician the appropriate type and dose. Oncrx Mon, 22 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT What kind of doctor should we seek out, will an internist be sufficient> or a GI? Are these enzyimes easy to get used to? Kygorsk9i Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT The enzymes should not cause too much trouble as far as taking them goes. Have you asked your oncologist/surgeon about this? If they are not aware of this, I would think you could tell them what you want to try and they would write it. It seems that would be easier than finding another physician. Oncrx Thu, 25 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT