Pancreatic Problems: Common But Often Missed

Recently, I had three patients from three different countries present with digestion problems but no diagnosis. Their doctors hadn’t been able to figure out what was causing the symptoms.

This is more common than you might think. The clients will present with poor appetite, weight loss, bloating, continual issues with food, and more and more food intolerances over time. Sometimes by the time they see me, they’re down to just a handful of foods like chicken and lettuce.

Invariably these clients have gone from one doctor to another. They’ve seen family doctors, specialists, chiropractors, shamans, and whoever else they could find.

One of my recent clients had seen twenty doctors, and still, her symptoms continued. She had lost a ton of weight, had no appetite, and terrible gut problems. This client was only able to tolerate four foods by the time she saw me. I ordered a comprehensive stool analysis (CSA), which showed a pancreatic elastase-1 (PE1) level of 85.

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PE1 is a marker of pancreatic digestive (exocrine) function. This enzyme is not degraded in the intestine, so it can be measured in the stool. The PE1 level indicates whether the digestive function of the pancreas is very poor, average, or good. The PE1 should be over 500. A PE1 level between 100 and 200 indicated very poor digestive function. A PE1 level below 100 is shockingly low. Pancreatic exocrine function that is that bad may even

require hospitalization. I have started this client on pancreatic glandular supplements and pancreatic enzymes.

Another one of my recent clients had a PE1 of 116. We looked at his stool test from years previous, and it turns out he had a low PE1 level at that time as well. It had been entirely missed by his doctors. I am helping this gentleman with supplementary pancreatic enzymes. He says the supplements have changed his whole world. His appetite is improving, he’s gaining weight, and his brain function is coming back.

If you have a gut problem that nobody can seem to solve, go get your PE1 level measured. If it’s low, correcting your pancreatic function can make a world of difference.

So, remember, not all gut symptoms stem from Candida or parasites. They may be the result of pancreatic dysfunction.

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