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Does Unhealthy Meal Cause Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?

Posted on Mon, 19 Dec 2016

Question: I don't mean to just keep asking questions (I honestly just didn't respond to the last conversation I was having timely)...

So I was told that I have EPI (so it's known, persistent pain in the upper right abdomen (particularly when sitting), occasional nausea, and the need to use the restroom within 20 minutes of eating). Im a 30 year old male, 5'8", 230 pounds.

My question is can eating a very unhealthy meal (which I know I shouldn't have), 2 chicken sandwiches and 2 sets of French fries, cause one with EPI to have nausea the next morning and throughout the day (it woke me up actually)?
I ask because of this symptom but also when I had dinner, the left side of my chest started hurting pretty bad, but when I've had that symptom, I've had my heart checked and it always came back normal. It was pretty frightening but I dont want to go to the doctor to be told that my heart is ok.
Is this also possible with EPI?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Please confirm if you mean Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency when you mention EPI. Yes, if that is the case you can indeed have multiple problems including nausea, gastritis and even pain due to pancreatitis. I do not think that the heart would be related but it is good to get excluded.

Let me know if you have any specific queries and I would be glad to help.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)

Yes, by EPI I means Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. The pain is the oddball of these symptoms because its persistent. When I had blood tests run recently, the only noticeable item was that my trypsin count was down. My doc said that that normally doesnt hurt in the abdomen so Im curious as to what else could cause these sypmtoms for over a year?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Lipase and amylase levels are important.

Detailed Answer:
Has the lipase and amylase levels been checked? If not, I would insist on getting them checked. Please share the reports thereafter.

Enzyme supplements could be used for EPI. The pain can last for over an year but other possible causes need to be ruled out first. An ultrasound of the whole abdomen may be done for the same.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Yes. All levels have been checked but only trypsin came back insufficient (report images attached). The odd thing about this is that it literally started after breakfast one day and hasnt gone away since. Ive seen my gastro doctor (I have a follow up in 2 weeks) in which he said that if the enzymes didnt work (which they havent been), then an mri would be an order. My question with all of this is if EPI can cause chest pain (around the heart area), and pain on the left side no less.

Just curious if either this long lasting symptom or this new chest one are life threatening

Thank you .

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be due to GERD

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for the inadvertent delay in my response.

Yes, EPI can cause chest pain. However, gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux is a more likely cause of chest pain (heartburn). I do not think it to be a life threatening chest condition. Nevertheless, it calls for medical attention.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (48 hours later)

Thank you doctor.
I went to a urgent care just to rule it out.
EKG came back fine.
My ultimate worry is that this upper abdominal pain (the possible EPI) is something life threatening. I dont imagine that having pain everytime eat is exactly a good sign. That, or EPI can cause this pain orbe this relentlessly ongoing.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the update. I do not think that it is something life threatening. I would insist you not to panic.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (29 hours later)

Good to know! It provides a mental relief. I do have one more question if thats alright... could epi or gerd cause pain/pressure in the center and right side of the chest (or would that most likely be something like a chest cold), given that my EKG was totally normal? Id rather as a doctor than the internet .

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Yes, EPI as well as GERD could give you chest/abdominal pain over as described. This would cause no changes in EKG.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (4 hours later)

Understood. I only ask because ive had this frontal chest pain/pressure before and an xray showed nothing (presuming it was viral). This pressure occurs over the entirety of my chest but i dont have any issues breathing or lightheadedness. Could in fact a virus produce this type of chest pain/pressure like before or not? I dont imagine that my pancreas/ongoing abdominal painis involved in this but i do not know.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Likely to be due to GERD

Detailed Answer:
A chest X ray is unlikely to show anything definite. I do not think that a virus is causing it. Rather, GERD is a more likely cause of the chest pain.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T