Hmmmmm....

My situation has drastically changed since the last time I was on here ...

I have since found out that I have a hardtime digesting meat ... (I really shouldn't be eating cheese either)

I should call my doc and ask her what the condition is called ... but my stomach doesn't produce enough acid to break it down.

I could go on pills for it, but I would have to take them all the time and I just won't do it.

But I have noticed I still get tired quite often and MamaJ says it has to be the pasta and rice that I eat all the time ...

But ... If I can't have pasta and rice ... (whole grain) and no meat .... then what can I have??

I love to eat but I don't want nothing but salads all the time or to just juice ...

I WANT SUBSTINANCE!!!

This is all so confusing sometimes ... what do I do??

Please Help!!

here we go!!!!! first things first. there are many reasons for reduced stomach acid, and one of the main ones is low levels of b12 and other b complex vits. so, go get some!!!! take them!!!

next thing... there's a whole group of people who have trouble eating meat, yet need the protein.. those of us who have had the gastric bypass, so here are a few tips to help you get the nutrition you need.

PROTEIN SHAKES!!!. yes. some of them are gross, but some are pretty good, and all can be doctored up with extracts, unsweetened cocoa, sugar free/fat free pudding, instant coffee, frozen fruit, and stuff like that.

but, apparently, we can't absorb more than about 20 grams of protein at any one time, so that's what you should look for, even if you have to have two of them a day. and many are available in cans or easy to mix formulas, or single serving packets.

some folks who've had this swear by sugar free instant breakfast, but i don't think there's really enough protein in them.

other things people do: eat baby food [alone or mixed into soups], puree meats [a gross thought, but it works and tastes ok].

and the key: small bites [fingernail size or smaller], and chew everything until it's the consistency of oatmeal. that'll make it easier for your stomach to handle.

and someone on one of the bypass surgery boards said that a nutritionist suggested dissolving some wyler's meat tenderizer and sipping it after eating meat.

of course, one could simply eat some papaya for dessert... [meat tenderizer contains mostly papain, which is found in papaya]

hmm what else????

does cottage cheese work for you? how about cooked legumes?? [chick peas, refried beans, that kind of thing?]. can you get tofu down/?? [i like it with a little hot sauce, but you can use anything on it, even italian salad dressing!!]

also, chili seems to work pretty well...

hope this gives you some ideas, and even more important, i hope it helps!!!!

hey Kudos!

Give your mom a hug from me!

Jiff gave you great info!!!! The only other thing that I could think of is that I know that some of the weight watcher gals eat things like boca burgers and veggie pepperoni and veggie hot dogs. I have never tried any of them but they seem to like them.

I also have found a recipe for lentil and black bean burgers that people seem to like...I'll post it for you if you want, but, again, I never have tried them. Can you tell I am not tooooo adventurous in my tastes!!!!

Let us know how things are going!!!!

hugs and all that good stuff!
peach

I have nothing to add that jiff has not said yet. there are many choices. what aobut fish is that too hard to digest???

It is just so wonderful that so many of you have replied. If you'll allow me, let me offer some mom observances and opinions.

Kudos (sis) became a partial vegetarian a while back in an effort to cut back on the fat and meat products as she was having such a difficult time with the digestion of them. Must admit that as I had not witnessed her fatigue at that time I was still blaming them on the carbs she was also consuming with her meals. (Sissy knows she definately has a carb problem! )

In recent months I have found that she starts off energetic but after approximately four to six hours of consuming her carbs she's ready to nod off. It's especially bad after lunch which is usually a bowl of some type of pasta/floury mix. By 2 to 3 o'clock she's barely able to hold her head up. After a nap she can continue through the early part of the evening. This is, I promise you, not an exageration. (Sorry Sis), but it appears that the major portion of her meals are some large portion of starch aka carbs ie., perogies, pasta salad, noodles, homemade spaghetti, bow tie pasta, macc salad....sound familiar sissy?

So, as a vegetarian, what are her alternatives? Even fish/poultry makes her so lethargic that she is ready for bed within an hour after eating that.

She needs to reduce her pasta/potato intake, no fish/poultry/red meat......eggs she's gagging down. (Even as a youngster she had a hard time with them). So, what do you suggest? We've stocked her up on the veggie and boca burger stuff, but what does she make as side dishes? Or combo meals?

HELP?

Luv ya Sissy

Mom aka J

kudos, the info mamaj provided suggests that things are definitely not right. i've done some squirreling around, looking for some info for you, and so far i've found many malabsorption syndromes. so, could you maybe tell me the name of the medication the doc wants you to take?? that'll help narrow down your problem, or at least the problem the doc thinks you have

and, mamaj...

thank you SOOOO Much for the additional info. there's definitely something going on here. and i'll have to do some research before opening my mouth [fingers???] again.

in the meantime, the best source of protein for a vegetarian are the beans: black beans [and black bean soup is indeed yummy!!!], pintos, kidney beans, navy beans, and so on.

i'll be back with more info. i hope.

but frankly, if kudos can't digest meat, she's probably having trouble digesting all proteins, and that's a major problem. she's not eating a balanced diet at all, not for a veg, not for a non-dieter. not at all...

Thank you Mom!!

The other thing that all this has affected is my concentration!

Jiffypop .... thank you soooooo much!!
I called my doc ... she only did simple tests to find out why I wasn't digesting ... she ran all the tests she could. She isn't a specialist and I should go to one. I called her and asked what she was just going to put me on a digestive enzyme and refer me to a specialist.

I complained to her for a couple of years about being so tired and zombie like ... she kept telling me it was because I had so many kids and that I wasn't 20 years old anymore!! duh!?!

She finally started running tests when I started losing so much hair. My thyroid is perfect she said ... I'll find the papers somewhere ... she said most women would kill for my thyroid ... so that wasn't the problem and she looked for anemias .... I am low on iron and that was all she found ...

Finally I had to do an elimination diet type thing ... found I was most tired when I ate meat. Then she did some tests for that and asked me to take a pill for it everyday.

I rarely go to the doc .... mostly for my yearly checkup and I hate taking pills ... I wane after a few days ... so I said no ... that I would just deal with it ... and she shrugged her shoulders and said ok ...

She has known me somewhat for 8 years .... she doesn't argue with me .... maybe she should? I hate complaining .... but I feel like nobody believes me when I say it and they laugh at me too ...

Ok .... just got off the phone with her ... she was just going to give me Protease

She suggested that I make an appointment with a specialist if this doesn't work ... and I explained to her about carbs bothering me too and she said she could prescribe Amalayse?

have to get busy here ... will post more later ...

Thank you sooooo much!!

Hey sissy-get to work! Neither one of us has time to be here!

Jif~ I echo Kudos' thanks. After watching her physically after eating the last few months, I know something is definately wrong. She's having so much trouble eating meat/poultry, etc., but yet I see what her carb reactions are doing to her too.

I thought I might add that she does eat some fruits, alot of veggies, salads and various beans, soy and tofu products. She told me this morning that even after she ate her boca burger last night she was soooo tired about an hour later. Hmmm, didn't ask her what she ate with it, but bet it was at least bread. Altho she's not showing diabetic signs she has had jusdacional (OMG, know that's spelled wrong!) diabetes during pregnacy. And yes, her hair has gotten very thin. We thought it from stress but now I'm wondering. There isn't any type of stomach cramping from eating the meat (not that I recall her saying) just the extreme fatigue. She gets all glassy eyed and looks like she's been on an all night drunk! Might as well throw in that she drinks gallons of water daily. All I can think of as far as a bit more info that might help piece it together.

All this coming when she just lost her insurance coverage!


Again, thanks for any and all input.

J

Oh, Sis - what was the deal about you can only take liquid forms of pills? The details are a bit sketchy (one of those "senior" moments) !

I am here follwoing this but i do not have anything to add. Jiff looks like she has this under strict supervision.

I wish i was still at bassett where i had gi docs at my disposal and could ask any questions.

two heads are definitely better than one here, and you find such wonderful stuff...

the hair loss.... i suspect [and believe me, i only suspect] that it's caused by lack of protein. the fatigue after eating also goes along with that.

so kudos, even though you don't like it, please please PLEASE take the protease, at least until you see the GI person. it might help.

and take the amylase as well. if you see an improvement, that's important.

you are not getting better. and it won't get better without intervention.

so, intervene already!!! take the protease for a little while at least.

Hey Jiff and Sue ~

What is Protease and Amylase the miracle pill for? PLEASE don't hesitate in offering your opinions.

She is so much like her mom (unfortunately) that she doesn't do doc visits or open up very often!

Good thing she's cute (like her mom) tho! Thanks so much for your input!

J

anything with an ASE on the end is an enzyme, which helps break things down.

so, protease is an enzyme that breaks down protein, so it's really important that your sis take it [hear that, kudos?????]

and amylase breaks down carbs... again it's really important to take it...

maybe some protein shakes would help her. many of them are already digested [broken down] into the amino acids [amino acids are strung together to make proteins].

these are some of the buzz words to look for when buying one. 'predigested' amino acids. essential amino acids.

and they can be doctored. i'm a firm believer in chocolate protein shakes with a little unsweetened cocoa in them. makes all the difference!!!