Gina - about your protein levels

Did you say that you dont ever get into the 7s, that you typically stay in the 6s?

Or did I just make that stuff up? And of course, the question then is - why could I not make up more exciting things about you than that?  :}

And by the by, the HCL and digestive enzymes did not create a situation where I adequately processed the protein and kept it stored, in a month my protein went down from 6.8 to 6.6, so - too bad about that, so back to shakes.

But - If I increase to 4 shakes a day and still never see 7 - you are saying that this is also the situation for you? 

Thanks!

Anyone else is welcome to chime in if you like!  I just hadnt make up anything about yall's protein so I couldnt call yall out on my protein fantasies :}

Do you know what your protein was pre-op? It's quite possible that this is just your normal. In my case, my hair falls out so I know it's not normal. But I have no other symptoms of any problem that would normally be related to low protein either. Both my PCP and my surgeon keep telling me not to worry about it.

2 months preop it was 7.  At the 1 year labs it was 5, at 1 year and 9 months (after 9 months of adding 3 shakes a day) it was 6.8, then a month before these 2 year labs, I dropped back to 1 shake a day and started supplementing the HCL and enzymes with each protein meal and had a drop from 6.8 to 6.6 in the month.

And with the hair, I seem to be in a premenopausal weird hormone place (just started on HRT patches) and so, I have hair loss, but couldnt tell you if its normal shedding, hormonal, or protein ! 

I dont really have any other symptoms either, but its definitely different than preop, and most definitely was brought up by the 3 shakes a day.

I was kind of excited about the possibility of not being tied to the shakes, but whatevs, if they are necessary to even say in the low range, then that's what I need to do! 

I just somehow *thought* Gina said she never could/did ? reach VL's goal of solid 7, and I figure if anybody drinks shakes, its Gina!  :}

Pre-op mine was 6.9. BUT that was only tested 2 weeks before surgery. So I don't really know what my normal range was. That could have been a high point for me or a low point or mid point. Without a solid history, it's hard to know.

I know my doctors say not to worry about it but I can't help it. :-D

You are right that it is hard to know without a solid history.  My labs the year before surgery didnt pull protein, and of course, I didnt know to ask.

I am with you on the not helping to worry.  Its all fine and not a big deal until *insert thing that happens here*

Yep, you remember right. My protein labs hang in the upper 6's but I guess they always have. Pre-op they were 6.5 and the highest they've been post-op is 6.7. My dietitian says she really only pays attention to albumin and prealbumin, and one other I can't remember at the moment, which she says is a better indicator of protein nutrition. My albumin is in the 4's where it should be and my prealbumin is above the top of the range by a little bit. She says I'm healthy as a horse and keep doing my 100-120 grams of protein in shakes if that's what's working for me.

--gina

Right on.  Thank you!