Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 Ok , I am here to try to help explain. As said, your albumin is a part of your total protein. As your total protein is at the very lowest limit, your body is doing whatever it can to get the protein you need to function - including breaking down your muscles. Protein in your diet does a limited amount of good for you - especially with your levels at this low point. Dietarty protein is absorbed and utilized by the body through a series of breakdowns into smaller pieces - eventually into amino acids. The amino acids are what is absorbed through the intestine into the blood. The enzymes that break the food into the smaller pieces are mainly in the duodenum - the first section of the small intestine - just after the stomach. Even proximal RNYers have bypassed this section. Accordingly, the predigested protein (which means it is already broken into amino acid form) assures that we can absorb protein in the limited amount of functional small intestine that we have. I strongly encourage you to drink at least 90gm of predigested protein daily until your levels are well back into the middle of the normal range. I expect this will take 3-4 months given our limited absorption. The other lab values (RBC, HCT, and HGB) are all tests which give the levels of oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells - most commonly known as anemia. This is common in " us " because we don't absorb iron easily either. Talk to your dr about a high dose elemental iron (chromagen forte is an example) which is well absorbed and doesnt cause constipation. Hope this helps, Carolyn Lab Results >Hi. I just got my lab results back and a few were out of the normal >range. Could someone explain what these mean and what are some >solutions to get them in line? I am to meet with my PCP on Tuesday >and would like to go in with some knowledge. > >Test: Normal Range: My value Previous Previous > (8/15/00) (1/27/00) (9/20/99) >RBC 4.5-5.1 4.07 4.52 4.22 >HGB 12.3-15.3 11.7 12.8 12.2 >HCT 36.0-45.0 34.6 39.0 35.7 >Glucose 70-105 65 98 >Albumin 3.5-5.0 3.1 3.3 >Triglyceride 20-155 211 > >Thanks, I appreiate your help. >Tamara in Pittsburgh > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2000 Report Share Posted August 17, 2000 Carolyn and , Thanks for the explaination and suggestions. If my body has been going to my muscles/bones for needed protein, can increaseing my protein supplements correct any damage that has been done to my muscles and bones? Nothing like a little fear to get me going in the right direction. Thanks Tamara in Pittsburgh > Ok , I am here to try to help explain. > > As said, your albumin is a part of your total protein. As your > total protein is at the very lowest limit, your body is doing whatever it > can to get the protein you need to function - including breaking down your > muscles. > > Protein in your diet does a limited amount of good for you - especially with > your levels at this low point. Dietarty protein is absorbed and utilized by > the body through a series of breakdowns into smaller pieces - eventually > into amino acids. The amino acids are what is absorbed through the > intestine into the blood. The enzymes that break the food into the smaller > pieces are mainly in the duodenum - the first section of the small > intestine - just after the stomach. Even proximal RNYers have bypassed this > section. Accordingly, the predigested protein (which means it is already > broken into amino acid form) assures that we can absorb protein in the > limited amount of functional small intestine that we have. I strongly > encourage you to drink at least 90gm of predigested protein daily until your > levels are well back into the middle of the normal range. I expect this > will take 3-4 months given our limited absorption. > > The other lab values (RBC, HCT, and HGB) are all tests which give the levels > of oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells - most commonly known as > anemia. This is common in " us " because we don't absorb iron easily either. > Talk to your dr about a high dose elemental iron (chromagen forte is an > example) which is well absorbed and doesnt cause constipation. > > Hope this helps, > Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2000 Report Share Posted August 17, 2000 Tamara, The protein supps and calcium will stop any further destruction, but to buiiild the muscle and bone density back up you will have to participate in weight bearing exercise - even walking will do. (ugh I know, I am not big on this either). Think protein supps and Viactiv for calcium three times a day. Carolyn Re: Lab Results >Carolyn and , > >Thanks for the explaination and suggestions. If my body has been >going to my muscles/bones for needed protein, can increaseing my >protein supplements correct any damage that has been done to my >muscles and bones? >Nothing like a little fear to get me going in the right direction. >Thanks >Tamara in Pittsburgh > > >> Ok , I am here to try to help explain. >> >> As said, your albumin is a part of your total protein. As >your >> total protein is at the very lowest limit, your body is doing >whatever it >> can to get the protein you need to function - including breaking >down your >> muscles. >> >> Protein in your diet does a limited amount of good for you - >especially with >> your levels at this low point. Dietarty protein is absorbed and >utilized by >> the body through a series of breakdowns into smaller pieces - >eventually >> into amino acids. The amino acids are what is absorbed through the >> intestine into the blood. The enzymes that break the food into the >smaller >> pieces are mainly in the duodenum - the first section of the small >> intestine - just after the stomach. Even proximal RNYers have >bypassed this >> section. Accordingly, the predigested protein (which means it is >already >> broken into amino acid form) assures that we can absorb protein in >the >> limited amount of functional small intestine that we have. I >strongly >> encourage you to drink at least 90gm of predigested protein daily >until your >> levels are well back into the middle of the normal range. I expect >this >> will take 3-4 months given our limited absorption. >> >> The other lab values (RBC, HCT, and HGB) are all tests which give >the levels >> of oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells - most commonly >known as >> anemia. This is common in " us " because we don't absorb iron easily >either. >> Talk to your dr about a high dose elemental iron (chromagen forte >is >an >> example) which is well absorbed and doesnt cause constipation. >> >> Hope this helps, >> Carolyn > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.