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Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

BlogPatient Stories
March 24, 2021

My Experience with Pancreatic Enzymes (PERT)

I read Liz’s blog and her journey with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) resonated with my own experience. The one difference - since the diagnosis, seven years and counting - I continue to calibrate my enzyme dosage. Here is my experience with pancreatic enzymes. My first (diagnosed) acute pancreatitis attack happened in 1998 and I was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in 2013 following severe weight loss and multiple years living with digestive issues (such as dispersed and oily stools). When I began taking pancreatic enzymes in 2013 (without a formal diagnosis of EPI), I had no understanding of lipase, amylase or protease…
Sofia Garcia
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Patient Stories
March 24, 2021

Pancreatic Enzymes and Pancreatitis: My Experience

Road towards a pancreatitis diagnosis #Creoninthewild Hawaii My journey with pancreatitis started when I was about 10 years old. Throughout my years in school (elementary, middle and high school), I was misdiagnosed with a “sensitive stomach.” My pain was not taken seriously by doctors. I was sent to several counselors while I was in college because, despite my symptoms, doctors believed that the pain was in my head. I received prescriptions for chocolate as a way to ‘just calm down’ and let go of some stress. This was probably well-intentioned but clearly did not address the source of my intense…
Sofia Garcia
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March 24, 2021

Dosing Pancreatic Enzymes

Correct dosing of pancreatic enzymes is a big challenge for patients who suffer from EPI. We've heard from patients that once they receive they are told they have EPI, they are not guided or walked through what this means for them going forward. When are they supposed to take their pills? How do they know if they're on the right dose? In light of this, we've put together a video with Dr. Steven Freedman, a leading expert in pancreas disease and cystic fibrosis. This short, 5-minute guide will answer all the aforementioned questions and more. We hope that, after watching…
Sofia Garcia
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PERTs for Chronic Pancreatitis
Exocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyExocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyExocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyExocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyExocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyExocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyTopics
December 9, 2020

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency and Pancreatic Enzymes

What is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)?  EPI --when the pancreas does not secrete enough digestive enzymes-- is common in people with chronic pancreatitis. This is because as the pancreas gets scarred, the part of the pancreas that generates enzymes is destroyed and thus is unable to produce these enzymes that are essential in the digestive process. Leading causes of EPI:  Chronic pancreatitis: 15-30% prevalence Pancreatic restriction/older age: 15-40% prevalence Cystic fibrosis: 80-90% of CF patients All infants up to 6 months of age! What happens if you have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency or EPI? EPI causes 4 main problems: Carbohydrates are…
Sofia Garcia
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BlogBlogPatient Resources
March 25, 2019

EPI and Pancreatic Enzymes: Expert Doctor Answers Patient Questions

Dr. Steven Freedman of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School Dr. Steven Freedman, MD, Ph.D., a worldwide expert on pancreatic disease and cystic fibrosis, presented on Mission: Cure’s Pancreatitis Patient Webinar on Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT). EPI is one of the symptoms of pancreatitis. For a more comprehensive overview of EPI, please read this article.  Pancreatic enzymes are a confusing but critically important part of chronic pancreatitis treatment. If you missed the webinar, you can watch it here:  We had so many questions during the webinar that we could not get…
Linda Martin
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NewsPatient ResourcesTopicsWebinarsWebinars: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) & Pancreatic Enzymes
March 8, 2019

Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy – New Information for Pancreatitis Patients on Treating EPI

Busting the Myths about Pancreatic Enzymes for Pancreatitis and EPI Dr. Steven Freedman, MD, Ph.D., a worldwide expert on pancreatic disease and cystic fibrosis, presents Busting the Myths about Pancreatic Enzymes for Pancreatitis. In this webinar, the fifth in Mission: Cure’s Patient and Family Webinar Series, Dr. Freedman explains: What causes exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)? How is EPI diagnosed and treated? When should you take PERT and how do you calculate the correct dose? Is PERT helpful in treating the pain of chronic pancreatitis? How does PERT affect patients with diabetes? What new developments are in the pipeline to treat EPI? Dr.…
Megan Golden
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