Diet and Protein Restriction

[mimi3535]

Good morning!  I got my husband to read all the postings from yesterday!  He kept saying "this is so cool!!", but of course when I tried to get him here on his own he refused! BUT he did ask me to ask every one about their diets.  Our doctor has placed him on a 40 gram protein diet.  He has seen the dietitian and is now feeling a bit sad and overwhelmed with all the restrictions that have been placed on his diet.  He wants to know is anyone else on a protein limited diet and if so, "What do you eat?"

As for me I really appreciated all the support offered yesterday.  It really made his day reading all the postings!!!!  I have been trying to be as supportive and loving as possible, but he has kind of shut down and hasn

[beamishboy]

Wow, 1800 riba.you are an Ironman!!......i rem dscussing reading difficutys,which has gotten bettr for me:travel/adventure books are working!!!! i can lay on the couch & dream ...On that dosage i can only imagine that your appetite is sh!t !!! If yu don't mind posting??? Tell us about your:facts,stats,situation and a good ol rant 'bout sx's.....if ya don't mind indulging me-GOODLUCK DRAGON SLAYER

[Bill1954]

Your question really deserves a new post. You

[Forseegood]

Just wanted to say, I think you can get used to anything...my dad was always a really healthy eater, so he didn't allow us to eat a lot of garbage...no twinkies, etc...and now, I kind of thank him for it cause I really never deveoped a taste for those types of things...

You develop "palettes" especially when you are young, a salt palette and a sweet palette....the saltier you have your food, the more salt you will crave...same with sweets...

If you intentionally lesson the sweetness or saltiness of your food, your cravings for saltiness and sweetness will lesson (for most people)...

I never salt my food, or very little, so now if I go to most restaurants - the food tastes really salty for me...it's the same with sweets, rarely have them...so most sweets taste really sweet to me...

Once I took this 16 year old into my care...she used to b*tch all the time that she had to eat "health food" cause I don't buy a lot of junk food, some but not much...and that was what she was used to...

And now, when she goes to her relatives and has to eat their food...she now whines that she has to eat a lot of junk there and she wants the type of food I prepare, cause she's used to it...and she also likes staying at a good weight now which wasn't happening before...now her relatives are complaining to me that she won't eat their food and they have to buy "health food" for her, guess they mean veggies and fruits...

I think the treatment must do something to the different palettes and taste buds, that's why people can't eat the same things they were used to...in that case, guess it's important to eat anything you can get into your mouth...(goof, you behave yourself)

[Bill1954]

Way to go, Kathy-

That last quarter will blur by! It

[jojogirl]

to late to post qustion, but when you start meds do you get sick alot and is it true your hair falls out. ???????????

[NYgirl]

My daughter was put on a very restrictive diet for her health when she was small (she has chronic obstruction pulmonary disease...or HAD should I say pretty much thank GOD she almost died twice) and the one thing she did enjoy was the rice product ice creams I think.  It was the saddest thing to watch a little kid not be able to have chips or cookies or cake I am so GLAD that is over.

The health food store had lots of good things she could substitute in her diet.

I think that Rocker said that high ammonia can also be from dairy breaking down in our systems.

As Bill said above - maybe the doctor can help manage it with the medication instead of hard core diet restrictions?  It would definitely be worth asking that's for SURE.

[GoofyDad]

Wood Eye!

[GoofyDad]

All - airborne's protein restrictions are probably due to his cirrhosis.

Mimi - I think they make a distinction between animal protein and veggie. You may want to check on that. Soy ice cream anyone?

Also, my hepo team does not specify to take riba with fat. They don't discourage it, and the nurse acknowledges it helps absorbtion, but it's not part of their standard patient instructions. These folks know their business. I don't know why they don't include that in their orders, but I think it would be wrong to conclude it's a matter ignorance on their part.

[can-do-man]

Don't you just love shaking that magic 8 ball and watching it float around. Entertains me for hours. You been ok? Ever figure out what pie made your hubby happy?

[Bill1954]

While the comments from other posters here are quite supportive, none of them seem to address the fact that your husband is a cirrhotic. Protein management can definitely be a concern for the cirrhotic patient, although management techniques seem to vary. Cirrhotic patients may have a difficult time processing proteins, which tend to increase ammonia levels, and can lead to encephalopathy. Some docs reduce dietary protein intake, while others tend to chemically manage with meds such as Lactulose. Although I

[FlGuy]

As tx goes on Bragg's appetite will dictate what he eats. You can probably count on him dropping 10 - 20 pounds though. I went to a dietician too since I had some blood sugar complications with HCV.  Most of it went out the window when I realized I'd eat what I could.  Did try to stay away from the bad stuff when possible. Remind Bragg of a few words he's already familiar with : 'I will never accept defeat' and I will never quit'. Hang in there!

[NYgirl]

Hello to you airborne!  We've been ejoying your wifes company - she is a very lovely woman you are such a LUCKY man to have her during this time.  I sure wish my exhusband wasn't such a dumb mooch and I had somebody to show me with not only their words but also their actions how much they loved me.  :)

You got stuck with a raw deal this disease is junk - but at least you know in addition to your wife you are not alone. We are here and will support you as best as we can with our whole hearts.  For some of us...this is IT this is THE support.  It's become a way of life.

I remember the first time I posted I was like oh they are never going to talk to ME and all of a sudden there were all of these people becoming friends and answering my DUMBO questions (I can be a bit insane sometimes...but I was BEFORE I knew I had this disease).

There are people in here with better livers and worse liver shape than you.  But they are NOT alone and can come in and ask ANYTHING at ALL (from questions about Mr. Johnson falling and not getting up to...can I eat too much ice cream ;-)

People here are honest and open adults who just want to HELP the next guy make it through treatment. We ALL hate this disease and want it GONE. There is power in numbers after all right?

You wouldn't have been in the 82nd Airbone = the toughtest of the tough (I only know because my brother was a marine and always talked about them like GOD) but you guys wouldn't want to go in to BATTLE on your own would you?

Same thing here - just another war.  :)

[azgrl]

WHAT?!  I thought I was the only one who still consulted the magic eight ball?!  I have one in my office and one at home....althought the kid keeps taking it even though he can't read yet.....You know you're having a good day when the eight ball is giving all the correct advice and you have jelly bellies.....

And another thing....um butter pecan is only the best ice cream evah!!!!

deb in az

[can-do-man]

No were not doctors but i have watch er and i did stay at a holiday express once. Should count for summin. Hows your day going? Good me hopes

[friole]

greetings- glad to see you both here today.  You have got to realize none of us are doctors, and we have all varying degrees of liver damage. Many of us don't need any kind of food restrictions. Your doctor probably put you on limited protein due to the advanced stage of damage. Perhaps you could discuss that with him today. Ask the benefit of the limited protein vs staying on treatment.  Perhaps he would let up a bit.  I think we are all in agreement, that getting through treatment is the most important thing at this point.  That means whatever it takes for food intake.

The Ribavirin is said to be absorbed as much as 80% more when taken with a high fat meal.  So, that's not a blanket authorization to just eat fat food, but I think most of us figure the more of that nasty stuff we absorb, the more virons we are slaughtering.
frijole

[Forseegood]

Hi, I've never been given any diet restrictions other than not to take iron supplementation and to stay away from eating a lot of iron rich foods constantly, like I wouldn't eat loads of spinach every day, but of course, I wouldn't do that anyway, ha ha!

I didn't read your prior post but I'm thinking that your hubby has more advanced liver damage than me...that's usually when people are put on diet restrictions...

I just think that the fact that we all have an impaired liver, to varying degrees...that we should all eat a very good diet with as many veggies and fruits, etc. that we can...but of course that makes me the unpopular kid at the dance and no one will dance with me...boo hoo! ha ha! Hope your hubby is doing better and good luck to you both!

[azgrl]

I like the eight ball because if you ask a question and you don't get the answer you want you can always throw it....you know there is an online version if you ever find yourself in a situation and you've forgotten your ball.....

Pie....Pie...Pie....of course...it was cherry pie!!

deb in az

[friole]

I am doing great today.  Got all my teeth in and my glasses work most of the time...... lol.....

You know Jim used that Holiday Express joke once, and I didn't get it then, and I don't get it now.  Call me thick.  BTW -- too bad you're not in Texas -- I just love Butter Pecan.
Kathy

[friole]

Hi Bill - glad to see you posting today.  I can hardly believe it but I am on week 34 now.  It is going fairly smoothly as long as I conserve energy for what I have to do and just don't do the rest!  How are you?  are you into "overtime" ?  How are your joints/hands doing?  Did that ever level out?  I know posting here was hard for you to do for awhile.
Kathy

[Bill1954]

Hi Kathy,

You caught the protien/cirrosis connection, our posts must have crossed. How the heck have you been geting along lately--where are you in tratment now? Hope all is well,

Bill

[can-do-man]

you said....The first GI MD told my poor hubby that he had 5 years to live..... Can you believe that?.
_______________________________________________________________

Sadly yes i can, Should have ask him how much he wanted to bet on that. is there any teaching hospitals close to where you live? Where you can find a GI that is mainly a hepatolgist?

Glad he's thinking of coming around here.

[sailinlady]

Forgot to say good luck to both you & hubby.

Is this Dr. a GI or hepatologist? (if you already said so, sorry I missed it). One thing you have to be sure of is your doctor.  Ask lots of questions and keep changing until you are satisfied with the care.

[mimi3535]

OMG....My hubby will eat a gallon tub of ice cream in a few days if I let him!!!!  I am sure hubby will be excited to read all you

[Dale_Ray]

My doctor told me not to worry about what I ate only that I needed plenty of protein and no limit. His suggestion that I eat 5 smaller meals a day has helped with indigestion. Before treatment I liked chicken - now I don't. Sometimes I just eat a big hamburger steak and mashed potatos. I'm on week 15 of 48 so my taste buds have come back and I like anything other than spicy. So far it is like riding a roller coaster but If your husband is on Peg / Cop / Nupo it seems like your doctor would just be concerned about keeping food in him and maintaining weight until he completes. I don't know you exact circumstances but the other thing that is important and until the folks in this forum convinced me of the importance of water I had all kinds of problems now the best medicine is drink plenty of water. I hope he gets to feeling better and don't let him withdraw from you I think that is a tendancy caused by the treatment. Good luck to the both of you.