Protein level labs update (for labs)

Allright, last year a year out, my labs for protein were 1 point below normal. 

I tested on Friday and supplementing with 3 shakes a day so, minimum of at least 65 of bioavailable grams of protein - I am 0.8 above low normal, 6 being low normal, my labs being 6.8.

So!  We have that.  In the normal range is good, in the 7s would be better, so yeehaa.  One more protein shake, here I come.  I will have my yearly done in May and see what's the what then with the additional shake, or 3ish egg whites to each of the 3 shakes I already have.  I will have to do a cost ratio analysis kind of thing to see which option is most cost effective.

The CMP drawn did not have prealbumin values, although my albumin was higher on this set of labs than on my 1 year labs.  I will have them draw prealbumin on my 2 year labs and will start tracking that too.

Thanks for help and thoughts on things, my friends!
____________

Yesterday on the mb someone was saying they were a DS person and had dumping AND reactive hypoglycemia.  I mentioned my protein absorption issues.

Then dude says to me Post Date: 3/9/11 11:25 am
The one thing Common between the RNY, DS and sleeve is that the portion of the stomach that was responsible for churning food to help it break down is no longer in use and in the case of the DS and sleeve is removed.

I will qualify this with AS EXPLAINED TO ME by 2 Bariatiric nurses, one who has experience with all 4 types of surgery.

The belief is that in RNY you must chew chew and chew your food to prevent it from blocking your stoma, which is partially true. The other reason is that, how you swallow your food is how it will enter your intestines.  If your stomach no longer churns food to break it down further then the same would hold true in the DS and sleeve larger pieces of food may not absorb as well. Paul C.


http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4353648/Revision-to-D S-approved-No-need-for-EBAY-now-Thread/

Which of course first I think - wtf ?  I know for sure I am not the only person who does not chew 8766311 times before they swallow, and were the above true - why would not I have dumped ?

And then the next thing I think is JHCOABNB!! (umm..that would mean Jesus Hugh Christ on a brand new bicycle) IF I HAVE BEEN PAYING ALL THIS FREAKING MONEY AND SPENDING CALORIES ON FREAKING SHAKES AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS FREAKING CHEW, I AM GOING TO STROKE OUT !

SOOOOO....

My question for resident smarties and/or better googlers than I, how fast does/will the labs change for protein?  I was going to have my labs done and then drop the shakes, and X months later, have them redone and check.

But I do not cotton to my hair falling out (which it does dramatically when I do not have the 3 shakes a day) or my heart getting used for protein by my body, dontcha know. 

Anyone?  Bueeelllerr? Thankee kindlee!

edited for my typos, blurg.  I have the fumble fingers!  Good thing my work week is ovah!

Interesting question. I have no idea what the answer is but if I get the chance will ask it at our support group with Dr. Cirangle this sunday. I note the quote you had said Paul C. at the end which I assume is Dr. C.  Lets see if he give s the same answer.    Diane

No, Paul C is not Dr. Cirangle, but some fella here on the board.

But that would be so cool if you remembered to ask!   Good to know an answer! 

I shall hold off on my stroke. 

Hmmmm... interesting!  I definitely want to hear an answer on this because I'm not much of a chewer!

I'm going to answer this question in two parts because I need to get to a meeting. Anatomy is not my strong suit, but from what I understand it is not true our stomach does not churn stuff because it is smaller.

 In fact that is supposedly the reason why our stomachs (for many of us) make such loud noises.. you can now hear the peristalsis noises (fancy way of saying, your stomach churning your food) because the muscles are churning in a smaller space, sloshing the liquids and solids around.

Part of the reason it is good to chew your food better, is it helps begin the process of digestion and absorption of your food faster. Our stomachs empty faster, so there is less time for your stomach to absorb nutrients. I'll come back later after my meeting and talk about the labs. Hugs..

My stomach has never made those noises, unless I was about to have colon blow from the sugar substitute in Fudgsicles :}

I get the *why* about the chewing more, I just have a REALLY hard time believing I am one of 2 people with a surgery that is not a malabsorptive surgery that does not chew enough and therefore is lacking in protein enough to have below normal labs. 

Course its not impossible but, really?  Me and maybe Mac (I dunno about how many times she chews) are the ONLY folks with low protein and its because of not chewing? 

If so, I really might oughta buy the bridge, or play the lottery, ya know?

Have a good meeting!  Me n 2 are going walkies!  Thanks for the help!

Chewing helps but I really really doubt that is what is going on with you!  Look at my message below for more ideas.

No, that can't be right...I don't chew AT ALL well, never have, nor eat slowly, and my protein absorbs just fine....

Lizanne

OK so another thing here is that there are a lot of reasons why you might not be digesting the protein you eat. Protein digestion happens both in the stomach and the intestines. In the stomach lower stomach acid (which happens when you take PPIs) can mean you digest less protein. Inadequate enzymes in the intestines can lead to less digestion of protein.

Combining foods that decrease stomach acid with your protein can cause it to be less digested. Using ground meats mixed with meat tenderizer can increase the amount of protein you absorb by starting the digestion process sooner and helping it go faster. You may also want to step up or switch up your intake of probiotics. I'd also look into supplements designed to help you digest protein.

There are a plethora of reasons that you might have low protein levels. Crohn's disease is known to make it so that you don't absorb as much protein in the intestines.. you might want to see if you have any of the symptoms of that. If you are drinking too much fluids this can cause low protein levels on labs.

There are also certain drugs that can cause low levels on labs.. what meds are you taking if any? Also you'll want to look at having your liver and kidneys tested, and you might have some immune deficiency issues. Additionally blood sugar issues and diabetes also decrease protein absorption.

I'm not sure how long you'd have to wait to retest your labs.. I think you'd have to ask the lab that. I've read anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. I think one month is the typical amount of time to wait, depending on how bad your results are and how much of an eye you need to keep on them. Hope that helps...

Well PPIs are not an issue for me, so check and double check on that. Dr. A put us on an acid reducer but not a PPI, and I only took that for the supply he gave, like maybe a month or two.  

It seems bizarre that 2 months before surgery my intestinal enzymes were fine and then just went to the ****ter after surgery yes?    

I started taking Primal Defense probiotics, oh.. about 4 months ago, so we shall see about that.  I was just doing the chewables ones with meals for the first couple of months (and same with the papaya enzymes).  Maybe I will try some tenderizer on my proteins? 

No symptoms of Crohn disease.

I do not take any medications on a regular basis, no birth control pills, not even asthma meds anymore.  I only take the vitamins, minerals, oil of evening primrose, sp-zyme, Primal Defense and melatonin.

I have been tested for autoimmune stuff extensively because I get iritis and no one knows why, but my C-reactive protein and other inflammatory studies come back fine. 

Sadly I have a hard time believing what lab folks tell me, because they do not even know to cover the freaking vitamin A vial with foil.  Well, that was my last doctor's lab folks.  I broke up with that doctor because she was too busy to actually respond to me or alert me to things that I ought have been alerted on. 

My blood sugars and hemoglobin A1c have been fine too, so, I dunno!   I am a freak, but I cannot even make extra money on the side with my freakyness!  What a waste of freakiness!

I will poke around and see about some digestive proteins, but hell, they probably cost as much a month as my protein shakes! 

Thanks girlie!