Question: Hi,

I have had abdominal pain and a change in bowel habits for a few months, for which I've seen an gastroenterologist recently. I submitted a fecal sample, and apparently the results showed I had pancreatic insufficiency; I was called by the doctor's assistant who told me to come by the office and pick up some samples of Zenpep because I would need to take pancreatic enzymes going forward.

I haven't heard from the doctor yet, but I'm looking for some additional information before my follow-up appointment.
From what I've read, EPI is caused by chronic pancreatitis (I don't think I've ever had pancreatitis), cystic fibrosis, or pancreatic cancer.
I'm a 36 year old male, and I've never been hospitalized. I'm physically fit, active, and lift weights daily. Given the absence of pancreatitis history, now I'm worried I have CF or pancreatic cancer. I did have labs including Lipase and Amylase drawn about a month ago, and everything was normal. How should I address this with my doctor? Are there any other conditions that would have caused my fecal sample to demonstrate pancreatic insufficiency? What tests should I be requesting?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

I have passed sticky and oily stools for a while. It goes in a weird cycle; I am constipated for days with tiny oily and sticky pellet like stool with marbling that looks like fat or mucus, and then I’ll pass some formed mushy stool that seems to be pale, brown,and soft. Then the cycle starts again with the constipation.

No diabetes.

I have not had any diagnostic imaging tests; only labs that were normal and the fecal stool test that resulted in pancreatic enzyme replacement treatment. I have a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy scheduled for 12/8.

I also have constant gnawing abdominal pain in the epigastric/sub sternum region. It’s not too bad but it’s annoying.