Signs and Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Signs and Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
When you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), your body will let you know. Your pancreas doesn’t make the enzymes you need to digest food, so you won’t get enough important vitamins and nutrients from your diet. That can lead to a few classic signals of the condition.
You might feel or notice:
Ruptured Spleen
The spleen is a delicate, fist-sized organ under your left rib cage near your stomach. It contains special white blood cells that destroy bacteria and help your body fight infections. The spleen also makes red blood cells and helps remove, or filter, old ones from the body's circulation.A layer of tissue entirely covers the spleen in a capsule-like fashion, except where veins and arteries enter the organ. This tissue, called the splenic capsule, helps protect the spleen from direct injury.
Read the Ruptured Spleen article > >
You might not have all of these symptoms, but you should let your doctor know what you’ve been feeling.
Besides its outward symptoms, EPI also affects your body in ways you can’t always see or feel.
When you don’t absorb fat and other nutrients from food well, your body can be low on vitamins A, D, E and K. Without them, you could become less able to see at night or in low light, a condition called night blindness. You could also get bone diseases, such as osteopenia (low bone mass). EPI can also lead to anemia, in which your blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells.
In severe cases, you might have bones that break easily, muscle spasms or cramps, and seizures. Not getting enough vitamins and nutrients from food due to EPI can also cause problems with walking and balance, and weakness or numbness in your hands and feet.
If you have EPI, your doctor can recommend treatments that can help, along with other ways you can improve your digestion. If you’re not getting better, tell your doctor.
You might feel or notice:
Recommended Related to Digestive Disorders
Ruptured Spleen
The spleen is a delicate, fist-sized organ under your left rib cage near your stomach. It contains special white blood cells that destroy bacteria and help your body fight infections. The spleen also makes red blood cells and helps remove, or filter, old ones from the body's circulation.A layer of tissue entirely covers the spleen in a capsule-like fashion, except where veins and arteries enter the organ. This tissue, called the splenic capsule, helps protect the spleen from direct injury.
Read the Ruptured Spleen article > >
- You’re losing weight without trying. It’s a common symptom of EPI.
- Greasy, foul-smelling stools that float or are tough to flush. It’s a sign your body isn’t absorbing fat from your diet like it should.
- Diarrhea.
- Stomach cramps. You might be bloated, too.
- Bad-smelling gas. When you don’t absorb food well, bacteria can grow in your intestine and release smelly gases.
- Swelling in your lower legs.
- Skin that’s pale, bruises easily, or gets rashes.
You might not have all of these symptoms, but you should let your doctor know what you’ve been feeling.
More Clues
Besides its outward symptoms, EPI also affects your body in ways you can’t always see or feel.
When you don’t absorb fat and other nutrients from food well, your body can be low on vitamins A, D, E and K. Without them, you could become less able to see at night or in low light, a condition called night blindness. You could also get bone diseases, such as osteopenia (low bone mass). EPI can also lead to anemia, in which your blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells.
In severe cases, you might have bones that break easily, muscle spasms or cramps, and seizures. Not getting enough vitamins and nutrients from food due to EPI can also cause problems with walking and balance, and weakness or numbness in your hands and feet.
Gut Advice
If you have EPI, your doctor can recommend treatments that can help, along with other ways you can improve your digestion. If you’re not getting better, tell your doctor.
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