Protein Advice
Hi guys,
My Total Protein is high at 9.4, but my albumin is low at 3.0. Obviously, this is due to the cancer . . . . just like my ferritin is high, yet my serum iron is low. My ferritin is so high that the dr wanted to make sure I had stopped taking my iron supps (yup, like 6 wks ago).
So . . . . how do I judge how much protein I should consume?? Is there an upper "toxicity" level of too high total protein like there is with ferritin? I've been typicaly doing 3 - 4 protein shakes/day and then eating maybe 20 - 30gms protein. I know that's not ideal, but my stomach can't expand to eat like it should b/c my abdomen has excess fluid in it from the tumors (they secreted it). I'm almost never hungry and when I do eat, it's usually b/c I know I should. So much easier to do a protein shake.
Before adding in the protein shake, at my last total protein measure, it was 8.0 and my albumin was still 3.0. So, the extra protein I've been getting in the last 5 weeks was just stored into my "long-term" protein storage and skipped over my albumin and (presumably) my pre-albumin.
Just not sure what to do about protein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Total Protein is high at 9.4, but my albumin is low at 3.0. Obviously, this is due to the cancer . . . . just like my ferritin is high, yet my serum iron is low. My ferritin is so high that the dr wanted to make sure I had stopped taking my iron supps (yup, like 6 wks ago).
So . . . . how do I judge how much protein I should consume?? Is there an upper "toxicity" level of too high total protein like there is with ferritin? I've been typicaly doing 3 - 4 protein shakes/day and then eating maybe 20 - 30gms protein. I know that's not ideal, but my stomach can't expand to eat like it should b/c my abdomen has excess fluid in it from the tumors (they secreted it). I'm almost never hungry and when I do eat, it's usually b/c I know I should. So much easier to do a protein shake.
Before adding in the protein shake, at my last total protein measure, it was 8.0 and my albumin was still 3.0. So, the extra protein I've been getting in the last 5 weeks was just stored into my "long-term" protein storage and skipped over my albumin and (presumably) my pre-albumin.
Just not sure what to do about protein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HW / SW / CW / GW 299 / 287 / 160 / 140 Feb '09 / Mar '09 / Dec '13 /Aug '10
Appendicitis/Bowel Obstruction Surgery 8/21/10
Beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma! 7/15/2011 - 1/26/2012 
Ran Half-Marathon 10/14/2012
First Pregnancy, Due 8/12/14 I LOVE MY DS!!!
My RD says she looks at albumin and prealbumin more so than protein serum to determine if we're getting enough protein. I sure don't know what to tell you with your unique labs though. Is there a RD that works in your doc's area?
--gina
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
She may be able to tell you which labs are more important to look at for nutritional value. I thought it was interesting when mine told me protein serum was less important in determining protein nutritional status. I want to say the third one was transferrin.
--gina
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
My hemo's NUT says that total protein is merely an indicator of overall health, and that the albumin and pre-albumin (as well as calcium and zinc!) are better indicators of protein nutrition status.
Julie R - Ludington, Michigan
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Hugs to you. Your such a trooper. Having cancer is hard enough but add the DS into the picture and it does kind of make it scary. What I mean by scary is the food part of it. I am finding my way, yet at times it is very hard. I don't eat much either and my appetite went many months ago. I knew I had to hang on and get through this next surgery, that was several months ago and I have had to change my eating to survival. I do 5-6 egg protein shakes a day and make sure I get my fat intake. I lost weight but have stabled at 123. I am 5'6. It seems your sleeve and mine shrink when we take in less food and do the shakes, but if this is what we have to do to get us to the next phase of our lives, it is doable. Food will come back to you I am sure. It has been 3 months for me and still holding out on the shakes and will do this for as long as it takes.
My hemo doctor tells me my ferritin is extremely high, but my serum iron is very low. It is a indication that inflammation is going on inside me. My prayers are with you. Sorry I missed your call. Give me a ring anytime. Karen
My hemo doctor tells me my ferritin is extremely high, but my serum iron is very low. It is a indication that inflammation is going on inside me. My prayers are with you. Sorry I missed your call. Give me a ring anytime. Karen
Hi Karen,
I'm glad to hear from you also! Money is really a big issue for me right now and I know the egg protein is probably the best, but I just can't afford it - not even if I wanted to charge it, there's just nothing left to go around and my boyfriend bought my last round of vitamins. I've applied to Abbott Pharma.'s patient assistance program. They offer one where they will deliver protein drinks by the case to your door. I chose the one that had the highest amount of protein per 8 oz with a good blend of vitamins (made from citrate, palmitate, etc). I haven't received notice either way if I've been accepted, though. It's only been 1.5 wks since I applied so I'm not surprised that I haven't heard yet.
I rather expect to lose more weight until I stabilize. I'm hoping that by the time I've had treatment for 2 months or so, that the cancer will be "knocked back" so much that the underlying inflammation part that interferes with so many physiological processes is done and that might be the point I stop losing weight. I'm averaging about 3/4 of a pound a week loss so by that time, I will be really skinny, but okay :)
Do you still take your iron supp?
I'm glad to hear from you also! Money is really a big issue for me right now and I know the egg protein is probably the best, but I just can't afford it - not even if I wanted to charge it, there's just nothing left to go around and my boyfriend bought my last round of vitamins. I've applied to Abbott Pharma.'s patient assistance program. They offer one where they will deliver protein drinks by the case to your door. I chose the one that had the highest amount of protein per 8 oz with a good blend of vitamins (made from citrate, palmitate, etc). I haven't received notice either way if I've been accepted, though. It's only been 1.5 wks since I applied so I'm not surprised that I haven't heard yet.
I rather expect to lose more weight until I stabilize. I'm hoping that by the time I've had treatment for 2 months or so, that the cancer will be "knocked back" so much that the underlying inflammation part that interferes with so many physiological processes is done and that might be the point I stop losing weight. I'm averaging about 3/4 of a pound a week loss so by that time, I will be really skinny, but okay :)
Do you still take your iron supp?
HW / SW / CW / GW 299 / 287 / 160 / 140 Feb '09 / Mar '09 / Dec '13 /Aug '10
Appendicitis/Bowel Obstruction Surgery 8/21/10
Beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma! 7/15/2011 - 1/26/2012
Ran Half-Marathon 10/14/2012
First Pregnancy, Due 8/12/14 I LOVE MY DS!!!
There is no real long term protein storage, so don't worry too much about that.
Albumin and pre-albumin are the intake markers, so I'd focus on those.
I really have no idea how the cancer process affects these markers though.
I know you've researched a lot--is there nothing about a diet to follow in there? I'm sure there would be a way to adopt that to a DS anatomy.
Albumin and pre-albumin are the intake markers, so I'd focus on those.
I really have no idea how the cancer process affects these markers though.
I know you've researched a lot--is there nothing about a diet to follow in there? I'm sure there would be a way to adopt that to a DS anatomy.
5'9.5" | HW: 368 | SW: 353 | CW: 155 +/- 5 lbs | Angel to 
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