adequate protein and energy intake

[canadaliz]

Hi Friends, For those with cirrhosis (and carers of a cirrhotic person) do you follow the protein/energy intake recommendations religiously? --35-40kcal and 1.5g of protein for every kg of your body weight per day. I have a hard time getting the protein without eating meat. I'm not a vegetarian but my doctor warned me away from red meat as it is more likely to precipitate HE. I get most of mine from a plant protein shake with high protein milk, fish and Greek yoghurt but it sure gets to be a chore. Also, does anyone/everyone make sure to have the LNS (late night snack)? I am told to go to bed on at least 25g of carbs with peanut butter/jam or digestive biscuits and cheese with a glass of milk for example.

Smiles, Liz

[Hidden]

Heya Liz! I do make sure i get the adequate amount of protien a day and yes I do always eat before bed but thats because im always hungry more so than it being because i should. Its usually a bowl of special k with bananas and blueberries tossed in. I do eat red meat maybe once every two weeks and my hepatologist has ok'd it. It precipitateing HE would really depend on what stage of cirrhosis you are I think but, I do find doctors can really vary on what they think we should eat when it comes to the specifics of it all. Are you finding It more a chore to eat the same things all the time Liz, or more to try and keep the adequate amount without having to think to much about it?

[canadaliz in reply to Hidden]

Hey Phoenix, I am just so tired of eating to be honest and the same selection doesn't help. Still losing weight but not as fast which is good. I am told I'm stage 4 but am well compensated on meds. I don't see my gastro until June but will ask what stage I am as my recent scan was really good. But as for the food I eat more than I ever have just to keep up with hunger/nutrition and am tired of eating every few hours. I wish I could have a burger! I have tried skipping the LNS but wake up with my stomach touching my spine. And I also hate being a label reader. Shopping takes twice as long as I check the carbs, sodium and protein. Sorry, I'm moaning and shouldn't but I just want more variety. Truthfully I am now craving your bowl of cereal. Haven't had cereal since I was a kid!

Thanks for your thoughts, Liz

[Hidden in reply to canadaliz]

It may be uplifting to the spirit if your doctor can recommend a dietician he/she approves of. The dietician can help you with different ideas for acceptable foods and many of them can aid with meal planning to break up the repetitiveness a bit. Id be interested as well if your staging has improved. Your fibroscan has improved so something has definately gotten better.

Your not whining at all, never worry of that here. I do love your analogy about the stomach touching spine.. its quite literally the phrasing I use to describe the morning hunger pain as well. Like Mark, Fruit and berries are a go to for me. I dont see that cereal would not be ok for you to eat unless its like Count Chocula or something loaded with sugar. Even vary it up with adding chicken in a couple times as week as well. As i said if you can get hooked up with a dieticoan that can do some meal planning for you it may alliviate some of the stress of it and the feeling like eating is work. Unfortunatly for some of us Liz the eating every 2 hours is there. Even if I eat very large meals I still get the feelings of starvation coming on about an hour later. Its a pain in the ass but I prefer that over having a lack of appetite.

Tell the doc your concerns and hopefully it will lead to getting you on a more satisfying path Liz 🙂

[Hidden]

I followed all the dietary advice given to me, I was end stage decompensated. That included the nighttime snack, normally a piece of whole meal toast and a protein drink. I avoided red meat and ate lots of eggs, along with chicken and fish. I did eat large amounts of fresh fruit and berries everyday and stopped using lactulose, with the doctors approval.

Good luck with everything.

Mark.

[canadaliz in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mark. I was decompensated and stage 4 on diagnosis and really really didn't feel like eating. I'll up my eggs, good thought there. I'm off lactulose which is great but have to keep up fibre. Will pick up some berries today. With it being winter in Canada the cost can be pretty high but I'll try them for a bit of variety. I shouldn't moan but as I said above, I'm just getting tired of eating the same old $^%# everyday and making sure I have enough of each category.

Smiles, Liz

[Hidden in reply to canadaliz]

Appetite is a major issue, you do not feel like eating.

[jazzjam]

I’m the same, I get so bored with the same foods. My first doc said absolutely No to red meat, my second doc said studies have now shown it’s ok in small amounts. I am not a big red meat eater anyway so it didn’t bother me. In between foods I have protein powder, the type you get from health food shops or gyms. Whey protein, low carbs, I have. I usually get vanilla flavour and add frozen berries with a little water or milk and whizz it up in the blender. Or fresh bananas whizzed up with it. It’s very filling but I just have a small amount a couple of times a day.

I have never purposely had a Lns, only because I was never told to and the years and years of dieting tell me not to eat late at night hehe. I sometimes do though otherwise I get a bit of indigestion with my tablets.

[Steak]

Hi yes apparently after a visit to dietitian as part of my liver assessment she told me I needed to eat more. Every 2/3 hrs little and often especially at night u need approx 10 points of carbonates to help u through night. This was news 2 me as prior 2 being under jimmys my doctor hadn't mentioned this before even though I had asked him about this. X

[canadaliz in reply to Steak]

Hey Steak, I was the same. After diagnosis I was released from hospital with no more instruction than 1.5 litres fluid/day and 1500mg sodium. Period. I happened upon the most wonderful handbook for nutrition and it really helped.

liver.ca/wp-content/uploads...

Smiles, Liz

[Steak in reply to canadaliz]

Yes the dietitian gave me a booklet and said to ring her if I had any questions...x

[Steak in reply to Steak]

Thanks 4 the link wished I had been told about having at least 10 carbohydrates at night b4 though .

[Steak in reply to Steak]

I have just tried the protein shakes that were sent via dietitian no way could drink 1 of those any tips how 2 make them taste any better.x

[VeeWat in reply to canadaliz]

This has a few good meal combinations

30 ways to get 30 grams of protein at every meal

mensjournal.com/food-drink/...

[Ocala626]

Sorry but what is HE?

[Peppy05 in reply to Ocala626]

Hepatic encephalopathy (too much almonia goes to your brain) cause confusion, lack of memory. Peppy05

[Ocala626 in reply to Peppy05]

Thanks!

[Peppy05 in reply to Ocala626]

You're welcome

[Steak]

Hi i have just tried a protein drink as per dietitian at jimmys liver assessment horrible in my opinion. I do have my 10 points of carbonates for my late nite snack. X