Diagnosis in Disguise – Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition in which the pancreas doesn’t produce enough enzymes to help the body properly digest food. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Andrea, a Maryland resident, described her unexplained gastrointestinal pain as a 15. But despite her symptoms, it took her nearly two years to finally get diagnosed with EPI, as nearly every doctor she saw dismissed her issues.

Along with her husband Jonathan, Andrea shares how she was tenacious about finding out what was ailing her, and the methods she’s using today to provide some relief from her excruciating pain.

This episode also features in-depth commentary from renowned expert ​​Andres Gelrud, MD, Director, Pancreatic Disease Center, Miami Cancer Institute.

Major funding for Medical Stories is sponsored in part by AbbVie. This segment was not created or produced by AbbVie.