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Since there are just a few very old posts linking pancreas issues with chronic fatigue syndrome, I write this in the hope that what I have learnt over the last 4 years might help others with similar life changing issues. It is an avenue worth looking into in your quest to feel better. It helped me from being bedridden with no hope in sight to a functioning human being again.
EPI is just one possible path to CFS, but in part due to the difficulty in diagnosing it, flying under the radar of most doctors and sufferers. I really think that there are many people who go through years of initially slow declines, misery and even an early grave either by their body giving out or suicide, without ever getting their exocrine pancreas function diagnosed as a possible culprit.
Like many here on PhoenixRising, my situation had stumped a few dozen doctors with varying specialties after countless blood, urine, and stool tests, ECGs, Ultrasounds, X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Four doctors mentioned specifically that my pancreas was absolutely fine. One stated that my issues were not pathological, and another even suggested looking into Prozac and a psychiatrist! It has been a journey of six years of unhealth, five years without knowing a pain-free day, four years of non-stop malaise, over three years of being homebound, where frankly life itself was torture. For those of you here suffering from chronic fatigue, pain or illness, you have likely suffered far, far worse.
Pancreas Background
There are 2 major areas that this little organ, that I did not even know existed before my life ground to a halt, is crucial for:
1. Endocrine. The side which handles the management of blood sugar levels in the body. It is very much in the news due to the massive (pre-) diabetes rates.
2. Exocrine: The rarely mentioned, but just as important side which produces the enzymes necessary to break down proteins, fats and carbs into usable nutrients. Without these we would slowly starve to death. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to metabolism issues, mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Steps I Took to Get My Life Back
Since I wanted to find out what caused my health breakdown and how I could get better, I kept track of how I felt most days, including any symptoms, medical tests, food and supplementation experimentation, bodily insult lowering actions, as well as any interesting bits of information I gathered during my research.
Just a few examples of symptoms that were resolved in my case: malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, heart arrhythmia and premature ventricular contractions, asthma-like breathing issues, pre-diabetes, hypoglycemia, low testosterone, sleep disorders, neurotransmitter issues, paresthesia, silent reflux, small intestinal bacterial and Candida yeast overgrowth, coordination issues, eyesight issues, brain fog, memory, temporary stuttering and dyslexia issues, many layers and areas of constant pain, microbiome dysbiosis, easy bruising, slow wound and soft tissue healing, debilitating weakness and fatigue, secondary mitochondrial dysfunction, triglycerides, HDL, homocysteine, and HbA1C levels.
Much of what I found was very surprising to me, as I thought I was always living a very clean and healthy life. A large part of the healing process was removing as many bodily insults, many I was painfully unaware of before all this.
EPI is just one possible path to CFS, but in part due to the difficulty in diagnosing it, flying under the radar of most doctors and sufferers. I really think that there are many people who go through years of initially slow declines, misery and even an early grave either by their body giving out or suicide, without ever getting their exocrine pancreas function diagnosed as a possible culprit.
Like many here on PhoenixRising, my situation had stumped a few dozen doctors with varying specialties after countless blood, urine, and stool tests, ECGs, Ultrasounds, X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Four doctors mentioned specifically that my pancreas was absolutely fine. One stated that my issues were not pathological, and another even suggested looking into Prozac and a psychiatrist! It has been a journey of six years of unhealth, five years without knowing a pain-free day, four years of non-stop malaise, over three years of being homebound, where frankly life itself was torture. For those of you here suffering from chronic fatigue, pain or illness, you have likely suffered far, far worse.
Pancreas Background
There are 2 major areas that this little organ, that I did not even know existed before my life ground to a halt, is crucial for:
1. Endocrine. The side which handles the management of blood sugar levels in the body. It is very much in the news due to the massive (pre-) diabetes rates.
2. Exocrine: The rarely mentioned, but just as important side which produces the enzymes necessary to break down proteins, fats and carbs into usable nutrients. Without these we would slowly starve to death. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to metabolism issues, mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Steps I Took to Get My Life Back
Since I wanted to find out what caused my health breakdown and how I could get better, I kept track of how I felt most days, including any symptoms, medical tests, food and supplementation experimentation, bodily insult lowering actions, as well as any interesting bits of information I gathered during my research.
Just a few examples of symptoms that were resolved in my case: malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, heart arrhythmia and premature ventricular contractions, asthma-like breathing issues, pre-diabetes, hypoglycemia, low testosterone, sleep disorders, neurotransmitter issues, paresthesia, silent reflux, small intestinal bacterial and Candida yeast overgrowth, coordination issues, eyesight issues, brain fog, memory, temporary stuttering and dyslexia issues, many layers and areas of constant pain, microbiome dysbiosis, easy bruising, slow wound and soft tissue healing, debilitating weakness and fatigue, secondary mitochondrial dysfunction, triglycerides, HDL, homocysteine, and HbA1C levels.
Much of what I found was very surprising to me, as I thought I was always living a very clean and healthy life. A large part of the healing process was removing as many bodily insults, many I was painfully unaware of before all this.
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