Question:
Can a person get too much protein pre or post-op?

   — sandy W. (posted on April 14, 2002)

April 14, 2002
You know, I don't know the answer to this question...but I hope someone who does responds. I ingest probably around 130-150 grams/day (55 of which are from a supplememt). One thing I DO remember reading was that when eating a lot of protein, it is important to drink a lot of water (which we do anyway)...something about protein making the kidneys work really hard. VITALADY, YOU OUT THERE? She knows a ton about this stuff and talks about protein all the time....maybe we'll get lucky and she'll dial in on this. Good luck to you. OPEN RNY 7/17/01, -90, 47 to go.
   — blee01

April 14, 2002
This is a really good question. This article describes how a diet rich in animal protein can be detrimental to one's health (http://www.fwhc.org/health/high-protein-diet.htm). I guess too much protein can help to leach calcium out of the bones. Consuming more vegetable protein (and especially soy products) can help reverse or minimize this effect.... Calcium leached from the bones can become deposited in the kidneys and result in kidney stones. I'm not sure what the 'ideal' protein amount is for a post-op (and the surgeries are different). I know that I have about 80 gms/day and this has been sufficient for me (I'm post-op BPD/DS). However, I've known other BPD/DS post-ops who require more (around 100 or so). A typical proximal RNY post-op would require less because there is less protein malapsorption. I'm sure each body is different. Do post-op RNY patients routeinly get tested for protein levels? This would help guide you to know whether the amount you are consuming is sufficient. As a post-op DSer, I get a whole slew of labwork done -- and protein/albumin (stored protein) levels are monitored closely. Mine have been totally within normal range (and actually equivalent to pre-op levels) at about 80 gms/day. Some days I just don't even get in that much but I try to make up for it within 3-4 days with a protein shake or try to get a can of tuna in, etc. LOL All the best, (lap BPD/DS with gallbladder removal, January 25, 2001, Preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45, Now: 180 lbs/bmi 26),
   — Teresa N.

April 14, 2002
Ooops, falling down on the job, huh? Well, in a nutshell, no. IN SUPPLEMENT FORM. As long as you're not adding extra sugars & calories (milk, juice, gobs of fruit) to it, you probably will not top-out in protein supps. Food proteins go through a different process to be absorbed, so they really put a load on the organs, which is very different than the predigested protein supps. Athletes chug 200-300g a day in supp form. I had a VERY stressful day this week and wanted a cig SO bad (14 yrs!), so I "lit up" a protein every 1.5-2 hrs. That's a little close, but given the alternative, well, it was fine. I probably got in 240g that day. I stick with the 30g increments, but 120g (4 drinks) is my min. on a bad day. I prefer 180g. Your labs will tell you if you're getting too much, but it's not likely. Now, in the olden days, "steak heads" are the ones who had trouble with kidneys/livers "wearing out" prematurely. They didn't have good protein supps then, but now they do, and lucky us, cuz we've got them, too!
   — vitalady

April 15, 2002
Well before WLS, it is feasible to get too much protien. But after WLS, you will be so limited on the amount of food you can eat, that it would be practically impossible to get more protien than you can handle. Most post-ops struggle to just get the bare minumum.
   — Dell H.