Onset of Malabsortion

[Rgee]

Hi, Just wanted to ask peoples experiences on how long it took after diagnosis that you noticed the malabsortion to start given that your bowel movements were normal beforehand

[deniseinmilden]

It was the crippling deficiency symptoms of lots of vitamins and minerals that made me look for the cause, rather than the other way around.

I'd had some degree of deficiency and responded to supplements for at least a couple of decades before it became very severe and I was barely able to function. It was compounded by SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), and I asked for a referral to a specific gastroenterologist, having noticed an improvement (fewer malabsorption symptoms) after a course of antibiotics.

It was nearly a year before I got a diagnosis and by this time I finally had steatorrhea. The tests for EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) done then showed I had minimal pancreatic enzyme production and I was put on Creon 25,000, a type of PERT (Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy). I was treated for SIBO too. This helped tremendously and I managed to start turning around some of the deficiency symptoms and becoming able to live again.

I had my first significant pancreatic flare about 6 months after starting the Creon and I have had flares about twice a year since but I am able to manage them at home with high fluid intake, painkillers and a combination of resting and walking..

Further treatment for SIBO has given me additional improvements.

[Jackie1947 in reply to deniseinmilden]

I'm in no man's land so far as enzymes as they contain bovine and I'm allergic to pork. So my treatment is immoduim and multi vitamins. I'm down to see a Gastroenterologist for the first time. I thought it was the IBS playing up until a CT scan showed otherwise. Hope there's some alternative treatment for me.

[Rgee in reply to deniseinmilden]

Hi Deniseinmilden, I really appreciate you responding to my post. Every little bit of info helps. I was so lost before this group. Thanks again

[mjo44 in reply to deniseinmilden]

Hi could you tell me where you got your sibo test & treatment from please

[deniseinmilden in reply to mjo44]

I wasn't given a definitive test but as I had all the predisposing factors and symptoms and had responded positively to antibiotics, when I saw the Drs at Addenbrookes they knew that was what the problem was so gave me the treatment for it and I got better.

[tomdickharry]

Mine was the other way around. I got a very severe infection with extreme diarrhoea which led to a diagnosis of malabsorption and pernicious anaemia.