Erasmus University Conducting Pancreatic Enzyme Survey
Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, is studying the overall affects that pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy has on patients. This survey could help physicians, dietitians and social workers better assist patients with pancreatic disease, maintain and improve overall health. Surveys have been completed in Europe and now they are interested in gathering data from North America.
Below is a letter from Erasmus University discussing the survey in further detail. If you would like to take part in the survey there is a link that will guide you through the process. All surveys are completed anonymously and NO personal information is shared. We hope you will take part in this survey so that we can ultimately improve outcomes for patients with diseases of the pancreas.
Regarding: the study on the use of pancreatic enzyme-replacement therapy
To the members of The National Pancreas Foundation,
The department of Gastroenterology at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands conducts research into several different areas related to Stomach, Intestine and Liver diseases.
The department of Gastroenterology at the Erasmus University Medical Center receives many questions from patients regarding the use of pancreas enzyme-replacement drugs (such as Creon and ZenPep).
Often times, these drugs are prescribed by physicians for chronic pancreatitis (a chronic or recurrent inflammation of the pancreas), acute pancreatitis (a one-time inflammation of the pancreas, which has healed), malignant conditions of the pancreas (pancreatic carcinoma, pancreatic cancer) and Cystic Fibrosis (mucoviscidosis).
The pancreas plays an important role in the digestion and absorption of food by means of supplying digestive juices (enzymes) in the intestine. In the above-mentioned diseases, the pancreas is damaged to the extent that there is a shortage of pancreatic enzymes, resulting in steatorrhea (frequent, voluminous, grayish, foul-smelling feces, which stick to the toilet bowl).
Patients often experience abdominal symptoms and weight loss.
Additionally, the pancreas produces hormones. These hormones (including Insulin) ensure that the body is able to absorb the sugar in our food and release it when this is needed. If the pancreas is unable to perform this function, sugar disease (diabetes mellitus) occurs.
There is still a lot of uncertainty about the use of enzymes in patients concerning patient satisfaction, therapy compliance, the average number of pills prescribed by the physician and what the patient actually uses.
Therefore, a study on the use of pancreatic enzyme-replacement therapy was started recently at the Erasmus University Medical Center, under the supervision of professor Dr. M.J. Bruno. Due to the severity of this disease, it is of the utmost importance to be able to offer even better medical treatment for these conditions in the future.
On behalf of this study, we like to invite the members of The National Pancreas Foundation, who are familiar with these issues, to kindly participate in contributing their specific experiences by completing the questionnaire truthfully and to the best of your knowledge.
For this study it is very important that you complete this questionnaire as fully as possible.
Filling out the questionnaire will take about five to ten minutes of your time.
Please click on the following link to enter the questionnaire.
This questionnaire consists of four pages which will follow each other if you click on next.
www.surveymonkey.com/s/pancreaticenzyme
If you find that some questions on the questionnaire are not clear, please contact The National Pancreas Foundation (info@pancreasfoundation.org). This way, the EMC will be able to preserve the anonymous nature of the survey.
We thank you in advance for your participation.
With kind regards,
Dr. E.C.M. Sikkens, resident Erasmus MC
On behalf of,
Dr. M.J. Bruno, Gastroenterologist
Department of Gastroenterology
Erasmus Medisch Centrum [Erasmus Medical Center], Rotterdam
The Netherlands
In 1984 after a continuing cold a doctor gave me 1 shot a day for 3 days of penicillin in my butt and penicillin pills to take 4 times a day. Several days later I collapsed at work, and several more times over the next week. The original doctor told me I was “just tired ‘ from having the cold. Found out later that he had started having mini-strokes and actually killed a few patients before they realized and stopped him practicing. My mom a nurse saw one of the collapses and told me to see a different local dr that diagnosed me as “reactive hypoglycemis’, and my pancreas was swollen 4 times it’s normal size. He sent me to Madison Univ. Hosp. 2 wks later, to check for a tumor. No tumor and now the pancres was mis-shappen but not enlarged. A different dr locally told the one that diagnosed me he could teach me how to controll the dramatic drops in blood sugar I was having and he helped me for about 2 years to learn what to eat, when, medications, etc, not to take.(Anything that raised my adrenalin. ) Over the counter cold pills, throat lozenges, adrenalin in dental shot, now use carbocaineonly. Don’t take penicillin in case it was allergic reaction to shots. Controlled since 1984 till now, current doctor sent me to Loyola because my fasting sugars are raising, but my later after meal sugars are lower than fasting. Result from Loyola, because I refused to cause a below 50 drop in my blood sugar by having a die for the scan tha caused severe drop in 1984 or novacaine with the adrenalin in it that would drop me below 50, because I am now 62 years old and have had a major stroke 1/2 in from my brain stem, and fear that such a drop could give me another stroke possibly, Loyola Dr said that pancreas is normal shape now. and unless she saw a drop in blood sugar she could not confirm that I even has diabetes type 2 or reactive hypoglycemia. The lowest sugar I recorded in that month was a 77 when I for got to eat lunch, and a 189 fasting the day afterdrinkinthe quart of chalky liquid to have ct-scan. Conclusion is that pancreas was damaged in 1984 and keep doing what I am .
IS THERE ANYTHING LKIE ENZYMES< OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD HELP ME TO METABOLISE MORE EFFICIENTLY??????????????????????????????????????????????????? Thank you, Phyllis Elshofff. Look forward to hearing back from you………………………………………….