Is anyone a nutritionist/dietician?

[Shugardrawers]

According to my doc my latest bloodwork shows "grossly low blood protein". He wants me to see a nutritionist which is not covered by my insurance and will cost us $80 a shot. Is it really worth it? I'm assuming she'll tell me to eat more red meat and beans. I can't imagine she'll tell me anything that isn't common sense. What exactly does a nutritionist do?

I called his nurse and told her it wasn't covered. She called me back this evening and said he was aware that I'd have to pay out of pocket but he REALLY wants me to see her and it's not so much a suggestion as a docs order. Is not getting enough protein really that serious?? He also says my albumen is low. What's that?

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I'm no nutritionist. Each time Nutrition reared its ugly head in nursing school I kinda zoned out.

Albumin is a protein made in the liver. A big job of albumin is to help keep a kinda water balance in the body, which is v. important. There are lots of causes of low serum albumin, and your doctor knows a lot more about you (and medicine in general) than I, or most of us would. Malnutrition is one, and problems with the liver/kidney are others. (You can be malnourished and not starving. You can be malnourished and fat at the same time. )

If he says you should go to the nutrition chick, my advice is: GO! He'll tell her what you need, and she'll recommend the right overall diet.

Foods and protein:

MILK
1c whole - 9g protein
1c Yogurt - 10 g

EGGS
Egg - 6 g
1c eggnog - 15.5 g

CHEESE
1/2 c Cottage - 15 g
1 slice American - 3g
1 slice Cheddar - 6g

MEATS
6.5 oz Tuna fish - 44.5g
3 oz Fish - 30g
3 oz beef - 21g
3 oz pork - 19g
1/2 breast chicken - 26g

 

[Shugardrawers]

You really think she can tell me things I won't find in a book costing me $29.95??

The real question I guess isn't whether she can recommend a diet for me as much as whether I will follow what she says! I know I eat a LOT of simple carbs. They are fast and easy and can often be eaten straight from the box. Protein usually means cooking. Ugh.

I bought some of those high protein bars tonight at the grocery. That'll help won't it?? Maybe I'm not as nutrition savvy as I thought I was.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

There may be other stuff going on with you that I don't know about. The doctor writes a sort of prescription about what he wants you eating and the nutritionist works with you, finding out what you like, blah, blah, blah...to come up with a diet for you.

That diet will include everything the doc wants and exclude anything he doesn't. I don't want to scare you (because I'm sure there isn't anything to be scared of - or I'd try!), but I wouldn't play around with low albumin levels.

I wish I could help you more, but I don't know your doctor, and I really hate nutrition. I thank the good Lord in heaven everytime we do a dietary consult that I don't have to know anything about it.

There is so much to nutrition that you don't know. Some (not all, but too many for my taste) of the nutrition chicks act a little too serious or talk down to the patients, I know. But they DO have valuable information.

Just pay the cash and go. That's what I'd do.

 

[Tinky]

You really think she can tell me things I won't find in a book costing me $29.95??

The real question I guess isn't whether she can recommend a diet for me as much as whether I will follow what she says! I know I eat a LOT of simple carbs. They are fast and easy and can often be eaten straight from the box. Protein usually means cooking. Ugh.

I bought some of those high protein bars tonight at the grocery. That'll help won't it?? Maybe I'm not as nutrition savvy as I thought I was.

YES! I know its a lot to spend but its definately worth seeing someone who has your blood work results and can put you on the right path. There are a lot of things you can do to improve your levels but if your doctor felt it was that important it should carry some weight. You could spend a lot more time/money trying anecdotal treatments than that original 80.00.
Is he talking about a series with the nutritionist?

Good luck!

 

[Shugardrawers]

He didn't say how many visits he wants me to have, but considering the current state of my health I'd guess quite a few. In the past year I've been through chemo hell and back. It's really not suprising my body is in sad shape right now. I can't explain why but things like chips, cookies, crackers and pop seem to sit fairly well with me but "real" food like veggies and beans and grilled chicken don't. So of course, I've lived off the junk for a long time. My diet appalls everyone, including my Dh who's a real junk food junkie.

I promise, I'll call tomorrow and make an appt with the food nazi. This should be fun. $80 for her to rag at me about what I eat. I can stay home and Dh will do that for free

 

[Tinky]

I promise, I'll call tomorrow and make an appt with the food nazi. This should be fun. $80 for her to rag at me about what I eat. I can stay home and Dh will do that for free

If she's good, she won't judge or rag at you. Good luck! Let me know how it comes out! Lots of to you!

 

[MouseWorshipin]

She won't rag on you. She *might* talk to you like you're an idiot (some of them do, dunno why), but she'll help you.

 

[Mimi Q]

I promise, I'll call tomorrow and make an appt with the food nazi. This should be fun. $80 for her to rag at me about what I eat. I can stay home and Dh will do that for free

Hey, I'm a registered dietitian. I represent (uh, I mean resent) that remark.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

Regarding the amount of visits you should expect, I can't imagine you'd need more than one or two. My DH had to see a nutritionist when was diagnosed with Diabetes. She went over his diet and told him what he was doing wrong and what he was doing right and how to fix what was wrong. His doctor monitored his progress on the changes he needed to make.

I work at a University with several Dietitians and they are certainly a special breed of folk (very Type A), you shouldn't work with one who is condescending, they are dime a dozen and someone who is rude should not be tolerated if you're worried about it interview them first and go with your gut instinct.

Good luck.

 

[Mimi Q]

I work at a University with several Dietitians and they are certainly a special breed of folk (very Type A), you shouldn't work with one who is condescending, they are dime a dozen

Wow, Alaska Catdog, glad you think so much of RDs.