Hi - Just a quick question. Has anybody been treated with pancreatic enzymes at all? I’ve got SIBO and was prescribed Rifaximin by my Gastroenterologist at the beginning of the year which unfortunately didn’t work, and when I saw him last Wednesday he’s going to try me with some more antibiotics, but he asked me to do a sample to check for pancreatic enzymes which I did yesterday and am therefore awaiting the results.
I just wondered if anybody had had tried them and had any luck at all? I’ve also got an underactive thyroid and menopausal which doesn’t help my digestive system.
Thank you.
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Rifaximin didn't work for me either. Could be methane overgrowth as result from underlying disease in my situation. Neomycin probably a better alternative. In the past I temporarily felt better when taking Augmentin or a tetracycline.
Thanks for that Meleber, that’s much appreciated. I’ve had an MRI scan of my bowel which came back clear so don’t think I’ve got any underlying causes. I’m positive mine was brought on by Omeprazole and Lansoprazole which I had to take because of an hiatus hernia which I thankfully don’t have now, from painkillers after having my daughter that made me constipated for 3 weeks and more than likely from going on the pill years ago. I’ll wait and see what my pancreatic test result is, although I’m positive I’m not producing enough, if any. I can’t tolerate fats, sugars or carbs - makes me really windy. He’s also prescribed some more antibiotics for my SIBO but I don’t know what they are yet as the GP has got to dispense them. I know I’ve got to take them for 6 weeks - 2 weeks on one, 2 weeks on another, then back to the first one for 2 weeks. Thanks again anyway.
Hi, I also had all the scans and they didn't reveal anything either. Scans even didn't find / show a Meckel's diverticulum although I had one! The diverticulum was eventually removed by laparoscopic surgery. So a scan cannot exclude everything and can even miss something.
Hydrogen was negative for me but I couldn't be tested for methane overgrowth (IMO). Methane overgrowth (dysbiosis) can be the result of mucoviscidosis, a genetic disease.
Thanks for your replies. You’ve reminded me of something actually about scans etc. It’s not digestion related, but my mum had ongoing issues and had a camera in her bladder to see what was going on and they couldn’t see anything. Afterwards she went to see the consultant and to cut a long story short, she stood her ground with him and he said he’d do the camera thing again and when he looked he said there was a problem. The original one was done by a member of his team so when he himself did it he spotted a white film on the lining of her bladder which turned out to be TB in her kidney.
Augmenting has clavulanic acid which will temporarily address the yeast infection in the deeper linings…something you can achieve with ACV or garlic pills.
Here’s my take on pancreatic issues….if your stools float…then one possibility is that your not breaking down or digesting the fats….this could be a lack of one of the enzymes in the pancreas.Have you tried using a digestive enzyme like Optima?Available on Amazon…I use one which includes Aloe Vera.
Gut microbiome is very important, and is easily thrown off balance by antibiotics used to treat IBS.
Remember loose junctions allow “leaky gut”…which also makes it easy to allow yeast infections to reside very deep in the linings of your gut.
Hard to eradicate, virtually impossible to detect all areas as it takes too long.Most investigations only look at surface issues which is why people get the all clear and still have issues.
So take control your self…change your diet and watch the problem go away.
(1)Remove all sugar and yeast…or reduce.Apple cider vinegar and garlic extract in pill form (allicin)help…spirulina/chlorella in short term.
(2)Start to use probiotics….green bananas…and a kefir/yoghurt free from sugar…
(3) Use Cranberry juice or pomegranate to “tighten” up the junctions…reverse leaky gut…. Proelyitic enzymes found in bromelain (pineapples are a good source) I use Quercetin complex with bromelain and Rutin (Nutravita) will break down fibrin and reduce inflammation.
Use kimchi sauerkraut…any fermented foods….persevere…
Avoid using manmade antibiotics to cure basic infections…use ACV..garlic extract…andrographis…olive leaf extract…all plant based non destructive on the gut.…this does not destroy good bacteria…just yeast …avoid omega 6 oils…switch to omega 3….this alone is a quick way to reduce inflammation in the gut.
Rebuild your gut microbiome…lots on YouTube about this.
Wow! Thanks for all your info! I’ll wait for my test results and take it from there, but I will say that unfortunately I haven’t been able to tolerate fats for years so my stools don’t show any film and they don’t float. Hopefully I won’t have to wait too long.
Hi, I take high doses of Creon pancreatic enzymes. I have IBS but I take the enzymes because I have had a distal pancreatectomy (2/3 of my pancreas removed) EXocrine pancreatic insufficiency shows itself with very smelly floating stools and oily film on the toilet water after having bowels open. It also causes nausea, cramps and diaorrhoea.I also have SIBO which rifaxamin clears up for a few months but then it’s back.
I have hypothyroidism as well and its know to cause sibo because it slows down the digestive system. I'm on a fb group and and a few of the members are hypo and have methane sibo. I'm currently taking a supplement that contains beef pancreas. Have you ever tried herbal antimicrobials? The only thing that has truly helped with methane sibo is rifaximin coupled with neomycin but the latter comes with a black box warning. Have you ever tried herbal antimicrobials? There is a study out of two supplement brands have results comparable to Rifaxamin. Biotics Research FC cidal and Dysbiocide and Metgagenic AR and BC .
Many ppl need to do a few rounds of either antibiotics or herbal antimicrobials to get rid if these buggers. Those that have stubborn cases benefit from adding a good biofilm film disrupter
Also, getting thyroid levels optimal helps improve overall digestive health
Hi Imaan, many thanks for your response. I actually saw a beef pancreas supplement yesterday and will be discussing that with my Naturopath on Monday. I’ve also tried herbal SIBO remedies, but they haven’t been successful although Candisan had a bit of an effect. I’ve heard of biofilm disrupters so may have to look into that a bit more. I’m also only just within range with my Thyroid and I know I’m not converting properly. Everything just takes so long to get sorted. Saw my Endocrinologist in March and my next appointment is 29 September, so basically 2 appointments a year. It’s so tempting to up my dose as I know I need to do it.
I'm sure you're on the thyroid forum as well and probably know as much as me or more so I wont get into giving any pointers that might be helpful for your thyroid. That's a long wait to see your endocrinologist. Do you have access to your bloodwork? Maybe you can discuss your levels with your family physician instead of waiting around. There are over 100, 000 members on the thyroid forum and most dont think favourably about endos. Most have been given sub par treatment, me included. Hope yours is a dime a dozen. My doc recommended that I take ox bile and I take a low dosage because it can cause diarrhea in higher amounts for some ppl. My doc also told me to get a good probiotic and digestive enzymes and they both are really helping me
Do you know what, both my doctor and endocrinologist have been good and not so good but I was literally just thinking the same as you in that my doctor would probably be the best bet now - I only really asked to see the endo because of conversion issues (and because I was really I’ll, but things have progressed since then), and I would get to see all of my blood work as I can see my records online from him, but not from the endo as he’s with the hospital.
Through this forum, I am on ox bile and it really does help, I take acidophilus and some digestive enzymes but I may have to increase them I think.
Thank you for all your advice, it’s much appreciated.
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