- EPI Management
- What Is EPI?
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Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) may be managed, but it cannot be cured. EPI is treated by a combination of lifestyle changes and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).
Lifestyle changes
- Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol is known to damage your pancreas over time.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Eat healthy fats only and eat smaller, more frequent meals to aid digestion.
- Take vitamin supplements. However, do this only on the advice of a physician (fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K).
PERT
- This is a medication designed to take over the role of the pancreas by replacing the digestive enzymes that the pancreas is no longer producing. When taken with food, PERTs help break down the nutrients in food.
- The amount prescribed will vary from person to person. Dosages are based on your body weight and the fat intake in your diet. PERTs are only available by prescription.
- These treatments can help people with EPI eat and digest their food normally, allowing them to absorb nutrients and enjoy a better quality of life.
Here are common tips for managing EPI.
- Take the right amount of digestive enzymes at the beginning of a meal or snack. Work with your doctor and/or dietician.
- Eat small but frequent meals.
- Find what foods work for you. Try to stay away from spicy foods. Each individual needs to find what works best for them to maintain good balance.
- Eat food with minimal fluids. This will help retain food in the digestive system longer, thus increasing absorption. After you eat, wait about 20 to 30 minutes before drinking anything.
- Exercises, yoga and walking may be helpful.
Even with treatment, the body may still have trouble absorbing certain nutrients, causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In these cases, vitamin and mineral supplements may be needed. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you need supplements.
What is EPI?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a long-lasting medical condition that affects the pancreas. It usually upsets the way the body breaks down (digests) food and can cause gastrointestinal problems. The pancreas is an organ that makes proteins called enzymes. These enzymes help people digest food (most importantly fats) so that their body can break down and absorb nutrients. In EPI, the pancreas doesn’t make enough enzymes. This means your pancreas can’t break down the food. Causes of EPI may be chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, pancreatic duct obstruction due to a tumor, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and other conditions. Due to EPI, you may have the following symptoms.
- Diarrhea: EPI can cause undigested food to move too fast through the gastrointestinal system and this can lead to diarrhea.
- Losing weight: People with EPI can’t digest and absorb nutrients from the food they eat, so this can lead to weight loss.
- Steatorrhea: Because people with EPI aren’t able to absorb all of the fat that they eat, fat from their food is passed in their bowel movements. Bowel movements can look oily and greasy. Stools also float, have a foul smell and are hard to flush. Not all people with EPI have steatorrhea.
- Gas and bloating: Because people with EPI have trouble digesting food, they may feel gassy and bloated.
- Stomach pain: Gas and bloating from EPI can cause stomach pain.
- Other symptoms may include, tiredness, muscle cramps, bone pain and signs of vitamin deficiency.
Causes
- EPI normally occurs when there has been some kind of damage to the pancreas, which reduces its ability to produce the enzymes necessary for proper digestion.
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) can lead to EPI. Pancreatitis can be caused by alcohol, immune system disorders or inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
- Pancreatic surgery may also cause EPI.
- Diabetes may also lead to EPI.
Diagnostic tests: A gastroenterologist may recommend several tests to help diagnose EPI.
- Abdominal imaging tests (ultrasonography, computed tomography [CT] scan or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) may show pancreatic duct calcifications, dilatation in the ducts and peripancreatic fluid collection.
- There may be blood tests to determine vitamin and nutrient levels and to see how well your pancreas is processing foods.
- Additionally, the doctor may order a fecal test. There are two main types of fecal tests:
- A fecal elastase test: This measures the amount of elastase, an enzyme produced by the pancreas, in the stool. A deficiency of elastase could be an indicator of EPI.
- A fecal fat test: This requires eating a prescribed diet and collecting stool samples over three days. This test can help determine how much fat the body is not absorbing.
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See AnswerTop Is EPI Reversible Related Articles
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can have many causes that range from mild to severe. Some of these causes include bloating, gas, colitis, endometriosis, food poisoning, GERD, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ovarian cysts, abdominal adhesions, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gallbladder disease, liver disease, and cancers. Signs and symptoms of the more serious causes include dehydration, bloody or black tarry stools, severe abdominal pain, pain with no urination or painful urination. Treatment for abdominal pain depends upon the cause.
What's Causing Your Abdominal Pain?
In general, abdominal pain, which may be in the lower left or right of your abdomen, is a symptom of many possible conditions including appendicitis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, and others. It may accompany constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Find out the potential causes of pain in the abdomen and learn when you should see a doctor.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a change in the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Digestive Disorders: How to Stop Gas Pain
When gas gets stuck in your digestive system, you may feel pain or bloating. If changes in your diet or other habits don't fix it, you might need your doctor's help.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or EPI is a condition in which a person's pancreas can't produce or secrete certain enzymes into the gastrointestinal tract, which results in the inability to digest and absorb some minerals, vitamins, and fats from food. Symptoms of EPI include diarrhea, bloating, excessive gas, bone pain, and foul smelling bowel movements. Treatment for EPI is PERT therapy.
Intestinal Gas
Intestinal gas and painful bloating are common. Learn about what causes gas pain and how eliminating certain foods from your diet can help relieve symptoms.
Pancreas Picture
A fish-shaped spongy grayish-pink organ about 6 inches (15 cm) long that stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. See a picture of the Pancreas and learn more about the health topic.
Symptoms of Your Pancreas Not Working Properly
Signs that your pancreas is not working properly include pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back and worsens while eating and drinking. Learn about other signs of pancreas problems.
What Is the Function of the Pancreas in the Body?
A healthy pancreas produces substances that are required for digestion and the breakdown of food.