Protein Poll Follow-Up Question

Darlene brought up a good point in her response to my protein supplement poll (see below). She said she'd be interested to see my labs when I'm 4-5 years out if I continue to get all my protein through food as my surgeon recommends and I do not use supplements (a decision I have not yet reached either way). So here's my follow-up question: ? If you are a long-term post-op (3-5 years or more out) and you get all your protein from food, how does your labwork look in terms of your protein levels? ? Same question for those long-term posties who DO use protein shakes regularly--how are your protein levels looking in recent labwork? This will be the most reliable and meaningful evidence I can use to make my decision, I think, so I hope many of you will be willing to answer this one! Thanks again for your help. I do appreciate your responses (all of them) very much. ---- Leslie

P.S. Darlene says I need to ask you for your prealbumin and albumin levels....not just protein because the albumin is the storehouse for the protein.

Hey Leslie, I've been tracking my lab work, and have the results from labs every 3-4 months since I was 6 months post op. My protein levels have always been great, average is 7.1, lowest 6.4 and highest 7.4 .. pretty consistent. My albumin levels average 4.1, highest 4.5 and lowest 3.7. I have only recently started adding protein drinks to my diet. I don't do them consistently, but more lately than I did a year ago. My first 3 years post op I never used them, couldn't stand them. Prolly stems from the fact that my surgeon had me on CIB for the first 3 weeks post op and I hated it. Anyway, he always asked us to get our protein from food, so thats what I did, until I felt my body could use the protein boost. Hope this helps. Wendy

I'm over 4 years out from Open RNY surgery and my surgeon does not recommend protein shakes and he hasn't in the 31 years he has been doing this surgery. He has done over 3000 or them and never recommends shakes for his patients finding in his experience the long term results for HIS patiends is better when they use food as a protein source only. My lab results have always been good. My levels for everything are fine and except for my supplements I take - vitamins, B-12 and calcium I haven't needed anything else. My surgeon employs many of his post op patients as his office staff and nurses and they all are doing fine post op and they range from 1-16 years out of surgery. I personlly know a post op woman patient of his and she had her surgery 27 years ago. Still gets her B-12 shot monthly and all her protein from food. She's still doing well in her 70's and her labs are just fine. Some are very pro-protein shake but successful post ops in weight and labs don't have to get their protein from a drink - getting it from food is an acceptable source for many. Personally, I didn't have surgery so I could drink my meals, I still like to eat and prefer eating food. Just my opinion.

Leslie-- My nutritionist wants us to supplement protein only in the beginning--first six months or so. I do supplement protein still (two years PO). I usually have one-two shakes per day. All of my labs have been excellent. I am away right now so I don't have them with me, but I know that immediately after surgery my protein levels (actually I think it was albumin) were borderline. I am amazed at how people can get in all their required protein through food as I know whenever I slack off on my shakes I start losing my hair again. I always eat protein first so it is not like I am filling up with other things--it is just that I still can't eat that much solid protein. The one rule that I follow is to try and limit the calories on my protein shakes to about 120 calories per 20 grams of protein. I prefer less than that. That is one of the reasons why I don't use the carb countdown everyone raves about--just not enough bang for the calories. Hmm--don't know if I answered all the ?s as I forgot what they were .