Question:
How is the protein in the liquid drinks absorbed?

I don't want to seem like a total moron here, but I have been wondering about something. At 6 weeks I am very nauseated all the time, even with protein drinks. I have been trying to get the majority of my protein from the drinks per the Dr. (who I saw today), which led me to wonder: If drinks pretty much go right through the pouch, where and how is the protein absorbed? Intestines? And how long does it take to absorb? Thanks for answering what is probably a totally obvious (but not to me) question.    — Jennifer G. (posted on March 27, 2002)

March 27, 2002
Get a book called "Nutrition for Dummies". It'll break things down nicely. Meanwhile, food-protein is broken down into amino acids using the acid in the stomach. This happens in the stomach and the duodenum. From there the amino acids are absorbed in the intestines. The problem is that you no longer have stomach acid and most or all of your duodenum is bypassed -- hence it is harder to first break down the meat so that it can become amino acids to be absorbed. The shakes are pre digested which means they are already broken down into amino acids. No stomach acid required for absorption, and they are absorbed right into the intestines. When you go for bloodwork, have them do a pre-albumin test (they don't normally do this) to test for your protein levels. Get copies of this report and compare it to see how drinking the shakes will affect your levels. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

March 27, 2002
Stomachs (or pouches) don't absorb protein, so passing through is fine. The old stomach USED to digest, but we don't really DIGEST any more, in the churning vat full of chemicals sense, because the food doesn't go there. Intestines absorb. Each part of the intestine has an assigned element that it is in charge of extracting. (long story). Predigested protein has already been chemically digested, so it arrives through the pouch and into the intestine ready to be absorbed. Not in the very best part of the intestine to do the job, but at least it gets where it goes "ready". The speed of passage doesn't really have any effect. It's ready to go, so it doesn't have to "soak" in the (now missing) digestive juices to work for us.
   — vitalady

March 28, 2002
I am 3 months post-op and my Doctor told us that the main part of our stomach still poduces the acids necessary to digest foods. The intestines are connected back to the large part of the stomach for that reason. Diana [email protected]
   — Diana M.

April 1, 2002
Protien drinks should be treated the same as food (per my MD) meaning- no drinking 1/2 hour before or 1 hour afterwards...
   — ~~Stacie~~