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Post by illinids2 on Oct 29, 2014 14:32:34 GMT -5
So my total protein is 5.3 (6.4 - 8.3 rsnge), Albumin is below range, I am anemic(TIBC low but iron in range), weak, tired and have very dry skin. I started on iron and zinc a few weeks ago and had labs drawn Friday. I am seeing my GP next week and he is referring me to a hematologist.
So......I eat a minimum of 250 grams of protein a day and will be well overy 300 today. I weigh 173-175 lbs and my BMI is at 22. I don't see how I can get significantly more protein in so I am wondering if it is Creon time.
Do I see a hematologist, GI or who to figure that out? My surgeons office doesn't seem to think my low labs are a big deal so I know they will be no help, but I am tired of feeling like shit and need some help to get feeling back to normal strength.
Suggestions appreciated.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Oct 29, 2014 19:37:51 GMT -5
I think if you get some iron infused you will feel better.
Didn't you have surgery recently?
How much water are you drinking? How about coffee and other caffeinated stuff?
How low is your albumin? How about pre albumin?
How's your ferritin level?
A hematologist has nothing to do with your protein absorption issues.
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Misty
Junior Member
Posts: 60 
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 07/22/2014
Surgeon: Dr. Hazem Elariny
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Post by Misty on Oct 29, 2014 19:42:34 GMT -5
Regarding the protein, I was in seeing my surgeon, Dr. Elariny, today and we had a discussion about better absorption of protein. He recommends, Purezyme available on Amazon. He pointed me to a website (enzymeessentials.com). He said it should be taken before ingesting protein in order to increase protein absorption. He said, it helps us to break it down but warned me to never add the pill to a shake or it will make it taste like vomit. Maybe try that. I ordered some today at his suggestion but I won't have labs again for 3 months.
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Post by illinids2 on Oct 29, 2014 20:12:44 GMT -5
I think if you get some iron infused you will feel better. I hope so as well.Didn't you have surgery recently? Yes, but numbers were low before surgeryHow much water are you drinking? How about coffee and other caffeinated stuff? I drink at least 2 -20 oz bottles of water a day and another 3-5 cups of coffee...don't drink soda, tea or anything else besides occasional glass of milk.How low is your albumin? How about pre albumin? It was 2.5 just 3 days before surgery (3.5 -5.0 ref range) and test on Friday was 3.1. The prior two labs were 3.4 (Feb and April. I don't see pre-albumin on any labsHow's your ferritin level? It was 297 with a reference range of 18-464 ng/mL. TIBC 235, just below bottom of range (250 - 450) & Iron Saturation is 38% on 15-50 reference range. Iron was 90 on a 65 - 175 mcg/dL reference range.....so the TIBC is the only thing out of range on iron that I see.A hematologist has nothing to do with your protein absorption issues. I want to see a hematologist to make sure I don't have something else going on since my Ferritin levels are fine, but I am anemic. |
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Post by illinids2 on Oct 29, 2014 20:14:32 GMT -5
Regarding the protein, I was in seeing my surgeon, Dr. Elariny, today and we had a discussion about better absorption of protein. He recommends, Purezyme available on Amazon. He pointed me to a website (enzymeessentials.com). He said it should be taken before ingesting protein in order to increase protein absorption. He said, it helps us to break it down but warned me to never add the pill to a shake or it will make it taste like vomit. Maybe try that. I ordered some today at his suggestion but I won't have labs again for 3 months. Interesting. Sounds like something I might try it as well. |
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Post by newyorkbitch on Oct 29, 2014 20:19:28 GMT -5
I think if you get some iron infused you will feel better. I hope so as well.Didn't you have surgery recently? Yes, but numbers were low before surgeryHow much water are you drinking? How about coffee and other caffeinated stuff? I drink at least 2 -20 oz bottles of water a day and another 3-5 cups of coffee...don't drink soda, tea or anything else besides occasional glass of milk.How low is your albumin? How about pre albumin? It was 2.5 just 3 days before surgery (3.5 -5.0 ref range) and test on Friday was 3.1. The prior two labs were 3.4 (Feb and April. I don't see pre-albumin on any labsHow's your ferritin level? It was 297 with a reference range of 18-464 ng/mL. TIBC 235, just below bottom of range (250 - 450) & Iron Saturation is 38% on 15-50 reference range. Iron was 90 on a 65 - 175 mcg/dL reference range.....so the TIBC is the only thing out of range on iron that I see.A hematologist has nothing to do with your protein absorption issues. I want to see a hematologist to make sure I don't have something else going on since my Ferritin levels are fine, but I am anemic.You're not drinking enough water. You need 64 oz, and you should reduce your coffee consumption. Get your pre albumin tested. See a hematologist. You might feel crappy because you recently had surgery - it takes a lot out of you. |
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Post by illinids2 on Oct 29, 2014 20:38:20 GMT -5
You're not drinking enough water. You need 64 oz, and you should reduce your coffee consumption. I knew you were going to tell me this.  Get your pre albumin tested. See a hematologist. You might feel crappy because you recently had surgery - it takes a lot out of you. I agree that surgery takes a lot out of a person, but I have been feeling weak for a long time before surgery and have been battling to get protein up ever since my DS surgery...
..and my GP is referring me to a hematologist so hopefully I can get in soon and get testing completed.
I just received a call this evening reminding me of a follow up appointment with my GI on Friday. I was going to cancel but I am thinking he would be the person to see as far as my protein absorption issues. |
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Post by jpcello on Oct 30, 2014 4:49:07 GMT -5
I agree with NYB about the water. I also drink coffee but I always get a minimum of 64 ounces of WATER.
Since your ferritin is so high (when I was anemic my ferritin was 3) but you are still feeling so crappy, I would definitely see the hematologist and keep your GI appointment. You've got to figure out what's up.
Do you still limit your carbs? You continue to lose weight and feel crappy. Is it possible that you are carb deficient? Just something else to think about.
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Post by illinids2 on Oct 30, 2014 6:10:34 GMT -5
I agree with NYB about the water. I also drink coffee but I always get a minimum of 64 ounces of WATER. Since your ferritin is so high (when I was anemic my ferritin was 3) but you are still feeling so crappy, I would definitely see the hematologist and keep your GI appointment. You've got to figure out what's up. Do you still limit your carbs? You continue to lose weight and feel crappy. Is it possible that you are carb deficient? Just something else to think about. ha! You haven't seen my carb debates. No, I do not limit carbs. ...I am getting 150-200 a day (lots of veggies, nuts and some junk) Thanks for the post though and just as you say the ferritin being high but still being anemic, along with protein low, is my big concern so I am keeping GI appointment and hemonc referral was in progress yesterday. |
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Post by fullhousemom on Oct 30, 2014 7:40:54 GMT -5
No expert here, but why is everyone suggesting a hema for anemia?
Shortly after my surgery, I met a woman in my surgeon's office who had lost her weight and decided to ignore her protein requirements (she admitted that she was just stupid). She was warning me to NEVER do what she did. She had been out of state and she just collapsed. Didn't have the energy to pick herself up. She ended up in the hospital as she was very protein deficient. Apparently, they can give you protein via an iv? She didn't give a lot of details, but said it was a very expensive mistake.
My observations would be that low protein can make you feel very tired and weak. This only comes from my brief discussion that day.
I am very surprised by your low protein with the volume of food you eat. Perhaps it has to do with your common channel length, etc. I wish I could be of more help. Good luck and I hope it gets figured out soon and you feel better.
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Post by illinids2 on Oct 30, 2014 7:56:51 GMT -5
No expert here, but why is everyone suggesting a hema for anemia? Shortly after my surgery, I met a woman in my surgeon's office who had lost her weight and decided to ignore her protein requirements (she admitted that she was just stupid). She was warning me to NEVER do what she did. She had been out of state and she just collapsed. Didn't have the energy to pick herself up. She ended up in the hospital as she was very protein deficient. Apparently, they can give you protein via an iv? She didn't give a lot of details, but said it was a very expensive mistake. My observations would be that low protein can make you feel very tired and weak. This only comes from my brief discussion that day. I am very surprised by your low protein with the volume of food you eat. Perhaps it has to do with your common channel length, etc. I wish I could be of more help. Good luck and I hope it gets figured out soon and you feel better. hematologist because I am anemic with good iron/ferritin numbers so that can suggest the possibility of an underlying chronic disease....and I have some other things out of whack as well. My common channel is 100 cm, I believe. I will need to double check my report that I don't have with me at work, but pretty standard from what I recall. Thanks |
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PeteA
Full Member
Posts: 221
Surgery Date: 4/15/13
Surgeon: Dr. Phillip Schauer
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Post by PeteA on Oct 30, 2014 9:00:26 GMT -5
It sounds like you have a good handle on trying to find solutions. The Hema for the anemia sounds like your best bet I think the GI would only be if the problem traced back to something more dire than an absorption issue (Crohns?, some kind of slow bleed internally, something
like that). Not really related but I tried to get my Endo to look at my iron and she clearly pointed me to a Hema instead.
Given your diet I think the OTC enzyme someone suggested is a great followup or pursue the Creon although it is intriguing that
the OTC seems to be more protein focused and Creon, to my understanding, adds to overall absorption. I hope you feel better soon.
Having that nagging sense of tiredness is hard to deal with.
Pete
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Post by illinids2 on Oct 30, 2014 9:47:37 GMT -5
It sounds like you have a good handle on trying to find solutions. The Hema for the anemia sounds like your best bet I think the GI would only be if the problem traced back to something more dire than an absorption issue (Crohns?, some kind of slow bleed internally, something like that). Not really related but I tried to get my Endo to look at my iron and she clearly pointed me to a Hema instead. Given your diet I think the OTC enzyme someone suggested is a great followup or pursue the Creon although it is intriguing that the OTC seems to be more protein focused and Creon, to my understanding, adds to overall absorption. I hope you feel better soon. Having that nagging sense of tiredness is hard to deal with. Pete Thanks Pete...I actually just came back to the board to look up the OTC protein absorption aid. If it does in fact help with protein absorption and not overall, that would make sense. EDIT: Very interesting. I just looked up the Purezyme and it is 99.99% Protease which is one of the three enzymes/proteins in Creon. The other two main components being lipase and amylase. One of those helps with absorption of sugar so I do think just the Protease alone makes more sense if I need to absorb more protein & don't want more carb absorption. Additionally the Creon page I am looking at has the following warning so I need to discuss with my GI: To make sure you can safely take Creon, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- kidney disease
- gout
- a history of blockage in your intestines
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Get your pre albumin tested. See a hematologist. You might feel crappy because you recently had surgery - it takes a lot out of you. I agree that surgery takes a lot out of a person, but I have been feeling weak for a long time before surgery and have been battling to get protein up ever since my DS surgery...
