Hi there I have previously told my story so far and waiting for a referral to King's, I think. In A+E following a CT scan for RUQ pain i was told the liver looked very cirrhotic. I've joined the gym and since Christmas have lost 1 stone 8lb. I see a personal trainer twice a week which is really good for my mental and physical health. In myself I feel much better apart from the odd leg cramp in right calf but this seems to have improved eating some oranges . My personal trainer keeps talking about protein, building muscle, muscle wastage, weight loss and asked if I can take a protein shake. It's clearly going to be some time till I see a Dietician and as protein is so important I wondered if anyone knows if you can have protein shakes with cirrhosis and if so which ones? I'm trying my hardest to improve my health, lose weight and get physically as fit as I can. I hate to ask specific questions but it's not easy to get an answer anywhere and Dr Google scares me so try not to go on there. Any help would be much appreciated.
Protein shakes: Hi there I have... - British Liver Trust
Protein shakes
So, very well done; with all your diet and lifestyle changes over the recent months. (It cannot have been easy among life's family and work duties).
If I am correct; in recalling you have yet to have your appointment with your Hepatology Doctor, (to discuss your cirrhosis / get the nature of it confirmed / get your treatment and follow up plan in place), I think you might still be safest sticking to getting your protein as: lean protein sourced from your natural food.
The BLT website cautions as follows:
"If you have a liver condition. Always check with your doctor or registered dietitian before taking any kind of supplement. If your condition makes it hard for you to digest fat then you might be given a food supplement to make sure you are getting enough energy and protein. Always take the supplement you have been given as advised.
Protein supplements
If you want to try a protein supplement, choose a whey protein isolate from a well-known reputable brand. This is especially important if you have a liver condition.
Supplements prescribed by your medical team or dietitian are carefully checked for quality and safety.
Not all over the counter protein and sports supplements are checked in this way. This means that what the label says may not be exactly what is in the product. They can contain large amounts of substances that are dangerous for people with a liver condition."
I realise it is super-frustrating how long you might have to wait to see e.g. the Dietician associated with your Hepatology Team, but, acting in isolation, you wouldn't want to act in enthusiastic haste and potentially risk regretting the long term impact.
Thanks QuietButBold this is what I thought that I'm eating chick peas, nuts, chia seeds, lentils, skinless chicken and turkey steaks and salmon and cod loin and cod fillets. Lots of fruit and veg, coffee, unsweetened soya milk and lots of berries! I think your reply is wise which is why I questioned it. My friend come for dinner last night, which was nice. She suggested making a list of questions from now as you think of them as when you get to the appointment you won't be able to remember. Trying to do my best to improve my health and my personal trainer is very happy with my progress. I'm going to have some counselling too through work. Get good days and bad but trying to stay as positive as possible and I think they gym has really helped with this.
Ps my hours at work have now changed so I made time for the gym, and am there of an evening to support my 2 special needs children too. I feel the level of stress is a lot less now.
Your friend has the right idea about noting down your questions as you think of them (in preparation for attending your Hepatology Clinic.
AyrshireK kindly gave me a good piece of guidance like that when I prepared for my first appointment - Katie had suggested to me to have a notebook for such appointments. (Which I have set up and been using).
As I think of something I put in in that notebook and take it with me. I also note in there advice the Clinic give me. Ditto key results - just to help keep things in context / perspective.
I also quite like to draw myself a table in there to summarise e.g. what changes I need to make, what adjustments I have tried, have they become a new adopted good habit, future improvement ideas, a progress blocker with which I am trying to find a better way (so I might need the Clinic for their guidance).
Another thing which works for me; a sentence to remind me about a piece of key terminology - which I like to mark with a highlighter pen.
It maybe just me, however, I also like to print a good informative diagram (as I find them) and then stick it in my notebook too. Then, in conversation with a Clinician, they can both see what I have already understood since last time and it helps to provide a shortcut - by them annotating the diagram (as relevant to me) with the next thing helpful for me to know / consider / work on.
The notebook doesn't need to be all-consuming, more so, it may be a handy place to park "worry beads".
I like to use some coloured felt pens to also put a coloured box around key points, or asterisk something in the margin (that helps me to visualise the topic and navigate more quickly if an appointment is stressful).
For unpalatable / challenging improvement suggestions ...I will admit to an occasional appropriate / or not! e.g. meme-style image / motivational photo too.
Well, it's your personal notebook ...each to their own, you are in control of "the rules"!
(Maybe your friends and family have some good ideas for including in your notebook too e.g. be able to give you a really good funny or motivational sticker, or draw their view of picturing you ready for going to the gym ...or after all the gym effort?).
Have fun with it, it is not homework - nobody is going to grade your notebook.
I think your friend would be pleased to know they helped you reduce worry about things by noting down your questions and concerns - as they come to your thoughts.
Thanks so much that's really helpful. I may have a small notebook but if not will easily pick one up this week. My friend was really supportive but also pleased with how I've made lots of adjustments ahead of being seen. My personal trainer too is really supportive and said I'm making good progress. He is trying to train me how to build and retain muscle but also lose weight as I have a bmi that was 35.5 at Christmas and it's now 31.1. I'm also trying to find ways indoors when the kids have gone to bed of trying to combat stress, adult colouring, needlework, I love arts snd crafts so made a little garden thing that lights up. I also love sequin art type things on canvas. It gives me less time to worry and think too. Your suggestions and advice are appreciated and are really helpful. Thanks so much Jo
Just a thought; if you felt like it, you could use your creative skills to turn a really basic notebook into a fabulous, embroidered, fabric-covered journal.
Here are a few different techniques described - I loved the (at 15:37 minutes) vibrant multi-coloured, long ribbon, wrap around closure on one of these examples:
I didn’t have cirrhosis but did have F3 fibrosis. when I asked my gastro doc and my GP about protein shakes when I started the gym they both said fine but don’t use other supplements. I made sure to check the sugar levels and carb levels in them etc though as the supplement market is unregulated so things are not all equal. I would wait and check with a dietician or consultant if I were you and ask what you should be looking for in terms of any protein powders. Regardless, protein supplements are never as good as quality food based lean protein sources whatever your goal.
I've been using warrior whey protein powder for three years I am very fit and healthy no symptoms do weight training 3 times a week liver well compesated bloods perfect
Hello. I have S4 Cirrohsis. I spoke to my GP and a dietician and they recommended Pea Protein shakes for my stage so i have this with Coconut Milk. I use a company called Protein Works. I only have a protein shakes 3-4 times a week. Good luck with everything.
Three years after being hospitalised with AIH and cirrhosis I'm still able to get Renapro protein shots on prescription. I don't take them every day but they are useful for times when I lose my appetite. They contain 20g of concentrated protein. They taste awful but you can dilute them with cordial and water. They were originally prescribed by a hospital dietician. It would of course be a clinical judgment as to whether you need them but might be worth asking.
Hi there. I have liver cirrhosis and often see a dietitian. I’ve been told I have to increase my calorie and protein intake. With this. I use protein shakes from Lidl for 99p and their protein yogurt 99p also to help plus they are fat free. With them and my diet of loads of veggies and meat, I’m a lot healthier with daily exercises.
Also with cirrhosis, you get a lot of muscle waste and with exercise and eating what I eat, I don’t feel any pains etc.
Good luck, hope that helps.
Lisa x
Full of sugar extremely harsh on the liver sugar is
I don't know if it is wise to use protein shakes without checking first with a dietician who knows about liver issues. As a devotee of weight training I will say that protein is important but personal trainers can be too quick to suggest a protein shake. It's an easy way of ensuring you get enough. (By the way, I have found that most of them are hideously over-sweet and don't dissolve well) But, much like popping a daily multivitamin or other supplements, you could simply be wasting your money, Healthy people can waste their money without necessarily causing problems but clearly those of us with known issues should take more care.
There is also a lot of disagreement in the fitness community about protein intake in terms of how much is beneficial for maintaining or gaining muscle and how much is excessive and not needed. A general rule of thumb is 1g of protein per kg of your body weight per day. I do heavy training and aim for more like 1.5g but don't always hit the target. You are far better off getting your protein from food if you can. Apps like My Fitness Pal can help you calculate your intake and also keep an eye on your calories. It is a fiddle at first but becomes second nature. Your personal trainer can help you with this, I'm sure. Since you are trying to lose weight I would suggest that fish, prawns and crab are particularly good low fat protein sources, as is turkey.
Finally, I would point out that if you have a goal of building or maintaining muscle you cannot at the same time lose weight with any speed. If you have a lot of weight to lose then that is usually the best thing to concentrate on first. If you are overweight but not obese I would suggest you want a decent middle ground. I have found that a calorie deficit of no more than 300 calories per day is the sweet spot. If you google "body recomposition" you will get more information but most women I have come across seem to find similar. That level of calorie deficit cannot give you a fast weight loss, but it should permit enough exercise to improve your cardiovascular fitness and help maintain most of the muscle you have. Most people who are overweight already have quite a bit of muscle because it has had to be developed to move them around all day. So focusing on maintaining what you have while trying to lose fat might well be a sensible aim. Your personal trainer, again, should be able to help you with this.
Hi Skye48, I have advanced liver disease (non-drinker so cause is uncertain) and I saw the dietician for the second time last Monday 17th. On my first visit back in October 24 they gave me a supply of Aymes Shakes which I find very palatable. When I mentioned during last Monday's visit that I enjoyed them, she provide me with another couple of packs and, in addition, she requested my GP to prescribe them for me. In addition to the Aymes powders she also gave me a pack made by nualtra which I haven't tried yet.
I usually have one of these drinks late evening before hitting the hay.
I play snooker 3 times a week and I do a lot of walking too. I have a short work-out every evening (without fail) using small weights.
I am in my 85th year and I have to say that all in all, despite my diagnosis, I feel pretty good.
I hope that all goes well for you.
My husband has Cirrhosis and spent four months in hospital this past summer and fall. He’d had sepsis which got into his spine and lost two vertebrae. He underwent spinal fusion. His diet was supplemented each day with three protein drinks. We are in Canada. They were either Ensure or Boost high protein. His GI had advised him in the past to always keep a couple in the car or his backpack as it is critical he never miss a meal. Whenever he is very ill, they are the only things he can tolerate.
HelloI was prescribed Fortisip protein drinks for weight & muscle loss due to cirrhosis.
Ask your doctor about perhaps getting some of these?
Best wishes
Cecelia
I have the same i lost about 9 stone last year do u keep picking up infections with your liver failure cause I am I be sick from the 20 of December and don't seam to be getting any better no matter what the doctors do they now seam to just be ignoring the hole problem what would u do I live in fareham Hampshire
Hello
So sorry to hear that. I don't pick up a lot of infections - I am very careful as I had C.Diff in the middle of all this ( clearly someone thought I hadn't suffered enough!) and went to under 6 stone. I'm still trying to regain weight.
What is your diagnosis - is it cirrhosis? I'm not the best to ask for medical advice - perhaps the team here could help more, but I would ask to see a dietician and get some protein drinks prescribed. Have you had a recent blood test? Your white blood cell count is probably low if you pick up a lot of infections.
Sorry I can't help more.😟
Best of luck with it all.
Cecelia
High protein low carb
New To BLT and Whey Protein Supplement
Could there still be high levels of protein in urine?
I have cirrhosis of the liver and wondering if it is normal to lose weight 
Unneeded Protein Shakes
