X-post: Low prealbumin level - need guidance

I had my 6-month labs done last week.  Everything was great...except my prealbumin level.  And it's kind of freaking me out.   The normal range according to the lab is 20-40 (although I found literature online saying normal was 16-35).  My level was 14mg/dL.   

My information indicates that this particular result is an indication of protein malnutrition.  It could also be influenced by a zinc deficiency.  I swear to you that I am routinely getting 80+ grams of protein a day.  When I look back at MFP there may be a few days out of the month that I drop to 70-75 but never below that.  And I take 25 mg of zinc per day.  

I'm very concerned that I may not be efficiently absorbing the protein I eat.  I've only used Unjury protein powder, which is known as very high quality stuff.  And the rest of the protein I get is from meat or dairy sources.  Please tell me where I'm going wrong!  

Yes, I will be talking to my bariatric surgeon and internist about this but neither of them are nutritionists.  I know that a lot of the vets on here have unofficial PhD's in this stuff.  Guidance please!! 

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong in terms of diet, but prealbumin levels can be affected by certain medications and illnesses.  It's more likely that something threw off your test results than that you're low in protein given that you're getting 80+ grams per day.  Your doctor will probably need to run more tests to see what is going on to throw your levels off, as well as repeating this test to make sure it's not a fluke (labs do make mistakes sometimes).

Thank you!