After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing we (sounds quite royal, doesn't it) have decided to postpone rads until the end of April in the hope some of the chemo damage abates. It's a mixed blessing; a bit more time to recover will give me a better chance of coping with the burns and fatigue, but it drags the whole business out for another month.My bloods have improved over all but my red cells and proteins are still crap. I'm able to eat pretty much anything now, but bloody hell, trying to consume enough protein to reverse the damage is a trial. The really good news is that my liver, which was looking like it could have been behind the protein business, seems ok. Every time I get told my liver looks normal I want to ask if they are sure they have the right person. You should be able to retread tyres with mine..

Wouldn't it be great if we could trade in our bits and get warranty on parts and service, instead of going through all of this. Keep on keeping on Zoffiel, sounds like you're heading in the right direction

Zoffiel I eat quinoa as it is a protein .... it is like a rice but actually protein.

I just had cravings for red meat...even in a salad or sandwich for lunch. A tip I learned when pregnant. ..try to consume Vit C with your meat ...such as OJ , red capsicum, strawberries, kiwi fruit, tomatoes. ..as it helps absorption and avoid calcium at these times as it reduces it. Also iron rich veggies sources are better absorbed when consumed with meat sources (ie red meat, chicken, pork, fish and eggs)

Hooray, let's hear it for your liver! Eggs are good if you like them, also oily fish (sardines, salmon). I wonder if something like Sustagen would help?

Yeah, yeah, nah. | BCNA Online Network

Anonymous
9 years ago
Sending you a big cuddle, and hoping that you find a solution very soon xxx
primek
Member
9 years ago
Oh it sounds miserable. So hope things improve for you soon.
Zoffiel
Member
9 years ago
Thanks ladies. The beans and legumes thing is progressing now that they are not passing directly through my system (vigorously and painfully and undigested). I'm still sensitive to many of my favorite spices and condiments so there is a degree of miserable chewing and swallowing for my own good. I've been semi vego for years and while I will eat red meat, I hate the smell of it cooking in my house. I can't use the BBQ because the %$#@*ing euro wasps rule the back yard.
The funny thing is I've become such a princess. "Ooh, that doesn't agree with me" "Oh, I'm too feeble to do that" "My (pick a body part) hurts." "They keep looking at me". FFS. Having come from durable peasant stock this, in itself, is a huge insult and disappointment. Said like a true princess :)
primek
Member
9 years ago
Here are amounts of non meat sources of protein not packed with sugar.

https://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/beans-legumes-highest-protein.php
iserbrown
Member
9 years ago
@Zoffiel - I did ask the question as my sister doesn't produce enough protein in her blood so she has to have intragam every 4 weeks , she's just reached her 10th anniversary - it keeps her going
http://www.csl.com.au/s1/cs/auhq/1217017237558/Web_Product_C/1196562710265/ProductDetail.htm

Do you like yellow split peas as they are a good source of protein, suggested recipe here Yellow split pea and bacon soup
http://www.errenskitchen.com/yellow-split-pea-and-bacon-soup/

"....Split peas make a great addition to any dietary program. A 1/2-cup serving of cooked split peas provides 144 calories, 10 grams of protein, less than 1 gram of fat, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of dietary fiber, 2 milligrams of sodium and 0 milligrams of cholesterol..."

Good luck with it all and I do hope your levels improve and like you say there are some many hidden sugars that we have to be mindful of.

Take care and sending you a virtual hug xx
Zoffiel
Member
9 years ago
They've improved a bit in the last 5 weeks, @iserbrown which indicates it's probably a diet and absorption issue rather than my liver not playing it's part. Albumin levels are quite low and so are blood proteins. I went back to the lymphoedema nurse and we redid the fluid level test which showed only a slight increase so it hasn't snuck out that way. Same for my kidneys; no abnormal protein in my urine.
I know that the chemo gave my intestines a caning so hopefully things will pick up a bit now that I have half a chance of digesting anything that may help. The recommendation is I should be eating at least 65 gms of protein a day which is challenging when you consider a chicken breast is about 20 gms and an egg is about 6. Protein shakes average about 11 but they are usually packed with sugar and I'm already struggling with weight gain through eating too much sweet stuff during chemo. Oh well, it's mince and eggs for breakfast, tuna for lunch and chicken for dinner, lentils with everything, bloody silverbeet and chick pea salads. Extra whey powder in a shake (yuk) Tests again in another few weeks to see if that improves things, I need some muscle repair and more iron will help with the fatigue.
iserbrown
Member
9 years ago
Is it your protein levels due to food consumption and absorption or the protein levels in your blood that are a problem?
Afraser
Member
9 years ago
Hooray, let's hear it for your liver! Eggs are good if you like them, also oily fish (sardines, salmon). I wonder if something like Sustagen would help?
Anonymous
9 years ago
Eggs are good too
primek
Member
9 years ago
I just had cravings for red meat...even in a salad or sandwich for lunch. A tip I learned when pregnant. ..try to consume Vit C with your meat ...such as OJ , red capsicum, strawberries, kiwi fruit, tomatoes. ..as it helps absorption and avoid calcium at these times as it reduces it. Also iron rich veggies sources are better absorbed when consumed with meat sources (ie red meat, chicken, pork, fish and eggs)