Lab results

I only count my shakes for my protein, I haven't a clue what I absorb in food protein that I eat, if I absorb any in my foods, then I consider that a bonus. I do 120 grams via shakes. I know that there are lots of us that have been out quite awhile that still do the shakes. If you want any idea about them and if they are good or bad, ask Michelle Curran (VitaLady) how many she does and what her labs are like....

Just my opinion......Not a doctor, not nuthin'

Darlene, you raise a really good point in your post here - "I haven't a clue what I absorb in food protein that I eat..." I have never thought of this before, only sort of fumbling my way in the dark about what to eat, but not really knowing what of any of it is being used appropriately by my body. All we have to rely on is the results of our bloodwork - so bottom line, folks, is stay vigilent in getting your labs done! In the meantime, Darlene, I wonder if there is a way to discover how much of what we're eating is getting absorbed??? Be well, all. Maureen

I use to work in agriculture, and the only way is to get a TDN test done, (total digestible nutrition). Way way expensive...

I don't worry about how much I absorb, I just say zero absorption and supplement from there. I was given protein supplements (promod) in the hospital when I had my surgery and have been supplementing since.

Treading on the edge of medical here, but did you kow low protein causes edema? And the more you try to pee it out with diruetic, the lower the lytes and protein go?

So, if you actually NET 30% of protein food eaten, and you're trying to reach a goal of 70g, you'd have to eat 210 g of meat/fish/chkn. The lower counting proteins wont' even deliver 30%.

So, if you are indeed entering protein malnutrition, you need to be ingesting like 180g SUPPLEMENT, whey powder, not made with anything with sugar (no milk or juice), but if you have edema from protein malnutrition, it only gets worse, not better.

Is it moving up your legs? Skin splitting yet?

Please jump all over this. The worse that can happen using protein supps is that you will a.) lose a few lbs, b.) feel better. But in the meantime, get your calc/mag/potassium organized and get your protein over 6.0 and albumin back up over 4.0, OK?

Did not know that! How interesting. Well, I will have to do that. Thanks for the info. This is something they don't really cover.

No, it's in my lower legs, from the knees down, skin is not splitting. It's only happened since I've had my knee replacement. I take a cal/mag supplement, have used that because I heard magnesium is good for fibromyalgia.

I have a couple of protein powders on hand I use for protein balls and such, but can  you recommend something vanilla-y that doesn't taste yucky?

You DID say your protein level is low, so I'm not diagnosing, just describing what that looks like. Back in the dark ages, when we weren't taking enough protein in supps, I had it after my TT. I was lucky. In my post op exam, it was caught immediately and corrected. I woulda never known!

But since, I've seen ppl in advanced stages. Starts at the feet/ankles and works up.

Magnesium CITRATE (pills, not bowel prep) and vit D3 are both cited as being helpful for FM. Mag oxide will do nothing for it.

Vanilla? If I cannot have choco (and that is not even SAFE - to get between me 'n my choco!), I like the IDS vanilla Cream. Very much like melted vanilla ice cream, as best as I can remember it. LOL Syntha 6 does a nice vanilla. Do you prefer slightly thicker, like milk or more watery? We make them all with water, only, so when I say water, I mean like coffee texture, for example. The ones I mentioned are more like milk in texture, when made with water.

I use IDS vanilla-cinnamon + Champion Pure Whey Stack choco (15g each) + 8-10 oz of weak coffee or warm water, too.

We keep an IDS van cr open all the time, tho, since Don loves blueberries, and it's a nice mixer for that. He also used that for "milk" if he has cereal. We do no milk at all.

Actually, very few docs in the USA recognize malnutrition on the first shot. It's kinda rare, but in a WLS world, it's not so rare. It's not like anyone's going to put it in your "how to" book at the beginning.

Not in my feet anymore, but from ankles on up to knees. Starting happening after my knee replacement.

Mag oxide is what's in the cal citrate I've been taking ... who knew? I sure didn't. Well, I guess I start looking for mag citrate now.

The reason I was asking about vanilla was to be able to add flavors to it. I used to like adding an SF orange to make like a creamsicle shake pre-op (we had certain supplements we had to use pre-op and post-op from our provider). Or to add coffee and make a latte-like shake. I don't like anything real sweet.

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I've learned a lot. Here, I thought I was pretty healthy. Maybe I've figured out what's been wrong these past couple of years.

Move out into the wide world of healthy proteins you build yourself. I think I have 75 flavors or so. If you want creamsicle, you can buy one of about 5 choices. Maybe 25? vanillas? 30 versions of choco. Coconut, fruits in creamy, fruits in juicey format, coffee type flavors, strong and mild.....

I think you've led a sheltered life. LOL NOW you see why we enjoy our protein. It's not hard to do stuff that is FUN. Kinda tastes forbidden, but with 30g protein, under 3g sugar, it's not only "safe", but it promotes wt loss!

Mag oxide to poop
Mag citrate PILLS for everything else

mag citrate little green bottle for a bowel prep. Totally different animal. Don't do this unless you've got all day and a stack of magazines!

Thanks Michelle for popping in on this....maybe some will listen to you, I know most think I'm talking out my socks....

"Talking out my socks" Don't believe I've ever heard that one!  Darlene, you can talk anywhere and anytime you want to. I listen, I try to retain, sometimes it has to hit me over and over again so don't be afraid to repeat!