It is, of course, impossible to offer a specific diagnosis on a patient that I have never examined. From your description, though, your husband could indeed have chronic pancreatitis. I assume that he has already been evaluated for diabetes, which can cause weight loss and fatigue (please see my recent discussion of the signs and symptoms of diabetes on my online health column).
"Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency" can result from chronic pancreatitis, as well. In this case, inadequate pancreatic digestive enzymes can result in fat malabsorption. The undigested fat in the diet can cause bloating, nausea, abdominal cramps, and the passage of loose, foul-smelling, greasy stools. This syndrome can usually be easily treated with a relatively lowfat diet and the use of pancreatic enzyme capsules (taken with meals). While stool fat evaluations can confirm the presence of fat malabsorption, you might ask your GI doctor to empirically prescribe a trial of pancreatic enzyme supplements (and ask your husband to go on a lowfat diet), and see if this reduces his symptoms.
Finally, one needs to be certain that there is no evidence of any tumor in the pancreas, as pancreatic cancer is more common in patients with chronic pancreatitis. If the proper type of CT scan was performed then, hopefully, this is not an issue with your husband.
Sincerely/ Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
http://doctorwascher.com
DISCLAIMER:
"Ask a Doctor" questions are answered by certified physicians and other medical professionals who volunteer
their time on eHealth Forum.
For more information about experts participating in the "Ask a Doctor" Network, please visit our
medical experts page.
You may also visit our Pancreas Disorders , for moderated patient to patient support and information.
The information provided on eHealth Forum is designed to improve, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician.
Personal consultation(s) with a qualified medical professional is the proper means for diagnosing any medical condition.
