Creon: 1 year post Ivor Lewis surgery... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Creon

Corrinesue1 profile image
23 Replies

1 year post Ivor Lewis surgery and have now been prescribed Creon - has anyone had any experience of this.

Thanks

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Corrinesue1
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23 Replies
Popsic profile image
Popsic

Hi Corrinesue1I've been taking Creon for a good few years, had no problems with it, it helped with the tummy but I still had to take loperamide and mebeverine, the last option was Acidophilus, so I tried that, I take 1 a day, highest strength and now I don't take Creon, loperamide or mebeverine. I'm amazed how well its worked.

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to Popsic

Hi think I will try acidophilus sound good thank you

Popsic profile image
Popsic in reply to Corrinesue1

Anything is worth a go, I was taking 3 creon with brekki , 3 with lunch and 4 with evening meal, plus 2 with each snack , could be up to 15 a day, as per AussiePeterInLondon, I was told it didn’t matter how many I took in a day. I started the acidophilus with the creon to begin with, then thought I’d just go for it , not looked back so far, just wish i could get off the Omeprazole, Good luck, keep us updated x

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Re: My reply to D1Carol. My lifesaver carries on I've never had regrets.

Hi,

I had my Ivor Lewis approx 6 years back and got prescribed Creon approx 6 months post op. It's made a huge difference in my toileting.

As per Popsic's comment I have been told that there's no issue taking quite a lot. On a normal day with normal diet I take 6 creon's with breakfast and dinner. I normally have a light lunch so don't need to take creon.

However, if I have anything containing lots of Cream, Cheese, Dairy, Sugar, etc then I take extra for example, we had home made pizza last night - not much cheese but I took 8 creons. I had a nurse practioner tell me that half of M&S Cheese Sandwich needed 6 or 8 by itself.

Creon has definitely been a positive thing for me !! I'd ask questions and I suspect it's variable according to each person... a bit of a trial and error exercise.

Definitely ask your specialist / nurse practioneer....

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to AussiePeterInLondon

Thanks I have only been taking one didn’t know you needed so many.

AussiePeterInLondon profile image
AussiePeterInLondon in reply to Corrinesue1

I started on two twice daily. it made a mild difference. But, about six months later went to my specialist, he had a nurse practioner with him. She was the one that told me to take more... it made a significant difference.

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to AussiePeterInLondon

Thanks will take more.

Mauser1905 profile image
Mauser1905 in reply to Corrinesue1

One crude method of trial and error.Try advice of numbers based on the strength of the capsules and observe the WC discharge after urine and stool. if the oil is noticed a lot then increase Creon for the said diet you had earlier. likewise you will eventually get hold on correct dose.

The froth in the WC is not oil but the oil (unprocessed fat) will linger in the surface of the water after first flush.

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to Mauser1905

Thank you - it does sound like trial and error!

Golf1910 profile image
Golf1910

I had a total gastrectomy 9 years ago and have been on Creon tablets most of that time as my pancreas doesnt produce the enzyms to digest the food. I was told to take 1 tablet for every 10g of fat, I try to use an app called Carbs & Cals that shows the fat content of foods and take the number of tablets appropriate. Not easy to do and have to admit I do struggle to take the right number and do forget. My prescription shows 9 a day 3 morning 3 lunch a nd 3 dinner but then told about the 10g fat or each tablet. Not sure how this would be for anyone who not had a total gastrectopmy though. !!

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to Golf1910

Hi - thank you - I have only been taking one tablet 300 gr so maybe that is not enough. I will look at that app but sounds complicated.

Golf1910 profile image
Golf1910 in reply to Corrinesue1

It is complicated and I find it hard to follow as should be taking a tablet every time I eat anything so I usually improvise and assesss what I need assuming I remember to take it? I am still here 9 years on so doing something right I guess.

kiddy profile image
kiddy

Hi I’ve been on creon 4years. 3 with food 2 with snacks not with fruit. It definately helps with food digestion and bowel movements.Good Luck

Debbie

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to kiddy

Thank youI - obviously need to take more.

Onebox21 profile image
Onebox21

AussiePeterInLondon, Golf1910, Creon is basically Amylase, Protease and Lipase. Here in Canada I can get digestive enzymes with the same ingredients over the counter. I would like to try this but don't want to go to a doctor for a prescription for the actual Creon. Do you know what amounts of each ingredient each one of your pills has?

Would appreciate your replies.

Mauser1905 profile image
Mauser1905 in reply to Onebox21

Here you go.

Mauser1905 profile image
Mauser1905 in reply to Mauser1905

One more

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to Mauser1905

Yes that’s the bottle I have but doesn’t give advice on dosage

Mauser1905 profile image
Mauser1905 in reply to Corrinesue1

Not the dose but the content was asked, that's why I posted the photos. Dose as prescribed by your Dr. And general suggestion in this forum.

Corrinesue1 profile image
Corrinesue1 in reply to Mauser1905

Yes that’s the same bottle

Onebox21 profile image
Onebox21 in reply to Mauser1905

That's great. Thank you very much.

Onebox21 profile image
Onebox21

I too was considering taking Creon and still am but in the over the counter version in form of digestive enzymes. Mauser1905 was kind enough to send me the label from his bottle of Creon. I had to convert from PhEur to USP units. Although the Lipase is the same, there is quite a difference in the Amylase and Protease. The attached Health Canada bulletin states the limits per single dose along with the conversion table. For the heavy users of Creon I would caution that the Lipase and Amylase might be exceeded in your daily usage according to Health Canada. There is no way the Protease would ever be exceeded. The bulletin includes credible references in UK, Europe and US.

I am now taking the product but am keeping an eye on the single recommended dose limit. It seems to be working for me.

webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-b...

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