The first time I was completely blindsided by a bad breakup was in 2010. A few weeks before my planned wedding I got a phone call that I never expected to receive. I was told that my dependable and completely reliable enzymes (Creon) were being removed from the market, never to be used again. This breakup came without warning and I was quickly forced to say goodbye to Creon and hello to Zenpep.
Eventually, I settled in with my new enzymes and soon realized that the new enzymes were an improvement from the old brand. For the past 7 years all has been well.
And then it happened again!
I called to refill my enzymes earlier this week only to hear the pharmacist explain the formulation to Zenpep has changed! What?! Noooo! Seriously, why do they mess with enzymes? I received my new Zenpep today. The Protease was reduced by 5,000 UPS units and Amylase was reduced by 25,000 UPS units! I have no idea what that means for my digestive system, but it isn't really a fun thing to experiment with. I am hoping this current break up will ultimately be for the better and if not, I hope I find a rebound enzyme soon.
Showing posts with label Enzymes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Enzymes. Show all posts
Friday, January 26, 2018
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Enzyme Trouble
I have been taking enzymes for 18 years now. (I was diagnosed at 14 which means I went 14 looong years without enzymes when I clearly needed them. I will save you the gory details of a CFers life without enzymes. Let's just say certain high fat foods like donuts or anything with cream sauce still makes me queasy because there are some things you can never fully erase from your memory. Gag, just thinking about it... never mind). After living without enzymes I am a master of taking enzymes. But there is one aspect to enzyme taking that I have never fully been able to figure out.... meals with multiple courses!
For our anniversary, my husband and I went out to eat. We had a three course meal (woot!) and I came prepared. I brought my enzyme timer cap which lets me know exactly how long it has been since I ingested my last enzyme. I know enzymes are good for about 30 minutes and so as every course arrived I checked my timer. If it has been 30 min I took a new dose. I adjusted depending on how fatty the course was and how long it had been since the last dose. Basically, I am trying to say, in a way too complicated way, is that I was prepared! And yet, as with every time I eat a multiple course meal the next day I felt like crap... literally!
So after this last experience where I really think I did everything right and yet my stomach still got fussy the next day I decided that I give up. The next multiple course meal I am asking the server to give us an extra big table and to just bring all the courses at once and we will have a feast instead.
For our anniversary, my husband and I went out to eat. We had a three course meal (woot!) and I came prepared. I brought my enzyme timer cap which lets me know exactly how long it has been since I ingested my last enzyme. I know enzymes are good for about 30 minutes and so as every course arrived I checked my timer. If it has been 30 min I took a new dose. I adjusted depending on how fatty the course was and how long it had been since the last dose. Basically, I am trying to say, in a way too complicated way, is that I was prepared! And yet, as with every time I eat a multiple course meal the next day I felt like crap... literally!
So after this last experience where I really think I did everything right and yet my stomach still got fussy the next day I decided that I give up. The next multiple course meal I am asking the server to give us an extra big table and to just bring all the courses at once and we will have a feast instead.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Forgetting Enzymes
CFers take enzymes every time food passes our lips. It is so engrained in our daily routine that we often take them without much thought. It is so routine that there are times we may wonder, "wait, did I take my enzymes already?" It happens to me more often now that I have a little one that distracts me during meal time, but let's be real, it happened often enough before kids. Recently, my dad found the perfect solution to this annoying problem at the local pharmacy.
His great find is a lid that goes on regular prescription bottles (the translucent orange kind) and keeps track of how much time has passed since the bottle was opened. So let's say you ate breakfast at 7am and you sit down for a snack at 10am, but you can't remember if you already took your enzymes. You can take a peak at the lid and if the bottle says 3 hours have passed since you opened it you know you better get swallowing. And if it says 1 minute, you are good (as long as you didn't accidentally place your napkin on top of your pile of enzymes by accident not that I have ever done this ehem).
The downside is they don't fit on the plastic Zenpep bottles, but if you have CF you probably have a few extra orange bottles on hand (or will once your next shipment of prescriptions arrives) that you can use. These were clearly from Rite Aid, but I assume most major pharmacies have the exact same product. Hopefully this will answer the age old CF question of, "Wait, did anyone see me take my enzymes?"
His great find is a lid that goes on regular prescription bottles (the translucent orange kind) and keeps track of how much time has passed since the bottle was opened. So let's say you ate breakfast at 7am and you sit down for a snack at 10am, but you can't remember if you already took your enzymes. You can take a peak at the lid and if the bottle says 3 hours have passed since you opened it you know you better get swallowing. And if it says 1 minute, you are good (as long as you didn't accidentally place your napkin on top of your pile of enzymes by accident not that I have ever done this ehem).
The downside is they don't fit on the plastic Zenpep bottles, but if you have CF you probably have a few extra orange bottles on hand (or will once your next shipment of prescriptions arrives) that you can use. These were clearly from Rite Aid, but I assume most major pharmacies have the exact same product. Hopefully this will answer the age old CF question of, "Wait, did anyone see me take my enzymes?"
Friday, February 1, 2013
Zenpep Letdown
A few years ago when my doctors informed me that I could no longer take Ultrase since they would no longer be on the market I was horrified! I LOVED my enzymes with a passion. Probably because I went so long with malabsorption issues. I had to switch to Zenpep right around my wedding day which I wasn't too worried about until my nurse practitioner told me there may be an adjustment period. Now I was even more horrified. Flashbacks of pre-enzyme days were haunting me: lots of gas, bloating, frequent bathroom breaks. I didn't want to spend my wedding day or honeymoon with gastrointestinal issues.
Soon after I started Zenpep (and after the short adjustment window) I fell in love for the second time in my life. I went from thinking I had very little digestive issues to realizing that this, yes this was how nonCFers lived. My CF tummy days were non-existent, no matter what I ate gas was never an issue, and I even gained weight.
Fast forward a few years and I am starting to feel that my love affair with Zenpep is slowly dying. I am not sure if my pancreas has changed or somehow giving birth changed my body (the problems seemed to happen after I gave birth. Not sure if it is causation or just a correlation). I am finding that I am getting more CF tummy days, more stomach sensitivities, and longing for the honeymoon period with my enzymes. I am not experiencing true malabsorption issues so I am not convinced I need to increase my eznymes, but I am no longer living the non-CF tummy dream.
Soon after I started Zenpep (and after the short adjustment window) I fell in love for the second time in my life. I went from thinking I had very little digestive issues to realizing that this, yes this was how nonCFers lived. My CF tummy days were non-existent, no matter what I ate gas was never an issue, and I even gained weight.
Fast forward a few years and I am starting to feel that my love affair with Zenpep is slowly dying. I am not sure if my pancreas has changed or somehow giving birth changed my body (the problems seemed to happen after I gave birth. Not sure if it is causation or just a correlation). I am finding that I am getting more CF tummy days, more stomach sensitivities, and longing for the honeymoon period with my enzymes. I am not experiencing true malabsorption issues so I am not convinced I need to increase my eznymes, but I am no longer living the non-CF tummy dream.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Enzymes. Did I or Didn't I?
Enzymes are pretty much my best friend. Having lived 14 years without enzymes, I had lived with far too many stomach aches, gas, and bathroom breaks to ever skip my dose of enzymes. My roommates in college used to tease me because everything I owned was bombarded with enzymes. Enzymes were in my jewelry box among my earrings and necklaces, they were in my desk drawers with my pens and pencils and in the corners of my closet. Basically anywhere a bottle or bag or even loose enzymes could fit, they would be there. They would be in my pockets and would sometimes melt in the wash and become a hard mass that I never really could get rid of. I just wanted to have easy access to enzymes so that no matter when or where I decided to have a snack, I would be prepared.
As I have gotten older I have limited my enzymes to only all coats pockets, purses, pant pockets, and the kitchen. I realize how miserable life is without them so I never want to be caught with a meal and no enzymes.
Well, here is my predicament. I have been taking enzymes about 4-5 times a day for about 13 years. It obviously has become such a habit that I don't even notice taking them anymore. I do it so often and stealthily that most people I dine with don't even notice. BUT this amazing ability to pop enzymes without much thought and drawing very little attention to the act, causes one little problem. At times, I will have a mini panic mid meal. "Did I take my enzymes?!" I will shout out to anyone at the table and most of the time they will shrug, "I dunno?" "Are you SURE? Did you see me digging in my purse or throw a pill in my mouth?" Usually the response is a look of bewilderment and a very unsure, "No? Err I dunno." I then start to retrace my steps. Did I reach into my purse and unzip the pocket? Do I remember anything in my purse that will spark my memory? Sometimes simply looking in my purse or where the bottle of enzymes is located will spark my memory. At times when I was really distracted during the meal I just can't for the life of me remember!
Then the biggest predicament of all sets in. Do I take my regular dose and risk getting a blockage OR do I assume I took them and risk...well an afternoon with my dear old friend John. I wish there was a way, like testing blood sugar, to test enzyme levels. Well, there isn't so for now I will have to rely on my memory and harassing everyone at the dinner table for the times I forget. Does this ever happen to you?
As I have gotten older I have limited my enzymes to only all coats pockets, purses, pant pockets, and the kitchen. I realize how miserable life is without them so I never want to be caught with a meal and no enzymes.
Well, here is my predicament. I have been taking enzymes about 4-5 times a day for about 13 years. It obviously has become such a habit that I don't even notice taking them anymore. I do it so often and stealthily that most people I dine with don't even notice. BUT this amazing ability to pop enzymes without much thought and drawing very little attention to the act, causes one little problem. At times, I will have a mini panic mid meal. "Did I take my enzymes?!" I will shout out to anyone at the table and most of the time they will shrug, "I dunno?" "Are you SURE? Did you see me digging in my purse or throw a pill in my mouth?" Usually the response is a look of bewilderment and a very unsure, "No? Err I dunno." I then start to retrace my steps. Did I reach into my purse and unzip the pocket? Do I remember anything in my purse that will spark my memory? Sometimes simply looking in my purse or where the bottle of enzymes is located will spark my memory. At times when I was really distracted during the meal I just can't for the life of me remember!
Then the biggest predicament of all sets in. Do I take my regular dose and risk getting a blockage OR do I assume I took them and risk...well an afternoon with my dear old friend John. I wish there was a way, like testing blood sugar, to test enzyme levels. Well, there isn't so for now I will have to rely on my memory and harassing everyone at the dinner table for the times I forget. Does this ever happen to you?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Enzymes
Any CFer that is pancreatic insufficiency knows nobody in their right mind would give enzymes a bad review. I do believe it is important to review them though because of an event that happened about 8 months ago.
As someone with a late diagnosis, but not a late onset of symptoms I know how miserable life can be without enzymes. I wasn't diagnoses until I was a teen (LONG story), but had all the symptoms growing up. I grew up spending much more time of the John than necessary and getting really bad stomach aches. I am also forever scarred away from certain high fat foods such as any cream sauce, donuts, and anything cheesy. Eww the thought of those foods makes me cringe because of the high fat content they would reek havoc on my gut growing up and so I avoided them at all costs. My stomach knots at the thought of eating those foods even though now my enzymes can easily digest these foods. But I digress.
Back to my review of enzymes! For 12 years I used Creon MT20 enzymes to help digest my food. It was amazing how much better I felt and how much less time I spent on the John! I grew a significant amount after enzymes and lost the emaciated look. I was fine 80% of the time, but every few months I would get bathroom issues. I was never sure why because I am 100% compliant with enzymes. I was never sure the trigger, but once my gut was off I would have issues for about a week. NOT fun!!
Fast forward to earlier last year. Creon was pulled off the market and I was switched to Zenpep. The first 2 months were a nightmare and not having a fun time! I was hoping and wishing that Creon would get FDA approved and come back to put me out of my misery. Then after a few months something amazing happened! My stomach issues went away and I felt better than ever. I have been using Zenpep for 8 months now and have had NO stomach issues or random bad days.
All CFers that need Enzymes require different amounts of Lipase, Amylase, and Protease. Enzymes are not one size fits all. So I am not in anyway saying Zenpep is a superior enzyme. The point is that because we are all different you should never settle for an enzyme that isn't doing a GREAT job. I didn't know any better and compared to no enzymes I felt great with Creon. The ratio of enzymes in Creon worked well for me, but it wasn't exactly right. If you are having gut issues then maybe you need a new enzyme OR a different ratio of your current enzyme.
As always, be your own advocate and stand up for your health. Your Dr does not have to live with the stomach aches or the frequent trips to the bathroom, but he/she will work with you if you are unhappy with a current med/enzyme. Don't settle for just okay because we deserve much more than just okay.
As someone with a late diagnosis, but not a late onset of symptoms I know how miserable life can be without enzymes. I wasn't diagnoses until I was a teen (LONG story), but had all the symptoms growing up. I grew up spending much more time of the John than necessary and getting really bad stomach aches. I am also forever scarred away from certain high fat foods such as any cream sauce, donuts, and anything cheesy. Eww the thought of those foods makes me cringe because of the high fat content they would reek havoc on my gut growing up and so I avoided them at all costs. My stomach knots at the thought of eating those foods even though now my enzymes can easily digest these foods. But I digress.
Back to my review of enzymes! For 12 years I used Creon MT20 enzymes to help digest my food. It was amazing how much better I felt and how much less time I spent on the John! I grew a significant amount after enzymes and lost the emaciated look. I was fine 80% of the time, but every few months I would get bathroom issues. I was never sure why because I am 100% compliant with enzymes. I was never sure the trigger, but once my gut was off I would have issues for about a week. NOT fun!!
Fast forward to earlier last year. Creon was pulled off the market and I was switched to Zenpep. The first 2 months were a nightmare and not having a fun time! I was hoping and wishing that Creon would get FDA approved and come back to put me out of my misery. Then after a few months something amazing happened! My stomach issues went away and I felt better than ever. I have been using Zenpep for 8 months now and have had NO stomach issues or random bad days.
All CFers that need Enzymes require different amounts of Lipase, Amylase, and Protease. Enzymes are not one size fits all. So I am not in anyway saying Zenpep is a superior enzyme. The point is that because we are all different you should never settle for an enzyme that isn't doing a GREAT job. I didn't know any better and compared to no enzymes I felt great with Creon. The ratio of enzymes in Creon worked well for me, but it wasn't exactly right. If you are having gut issues then maybe you need a new enzyme OR a different ratio of your current enzyme.
As always, be your own advocate and stand up for your health. Your Dr does not have to live with the stomach aches or the frequent trips to the bathroom, but he/she will work with you if you are unhappy with a current med/enzyme. Don't settle for just okay because we deserve much more than just okay.
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