Hi everyone I am in need of advice for the past month I have gained 30 pounds of fluid my legs look like they did when I was heavy. I had my surgery in 2009 I have been good with my protein except when I donated plasma. I been having female problems and have been getting hormone shots I was thinking that was the reason for the water retention. My doctor did blood work 3 weeks ago and I asked how was my protein levels the person on the phone said they were fine, well I went back to the doctor for the follow appointment he wanted me to come back to for my female problems. He told me my albumin and protein was very low and my liver enzymes was high. I have backed off a lot of my carbs and increased my protein to two whey proteins a day and two protein bars plus what I eat in between. I work at Sonic's as a grill cook I nibble on about 3 or 4 popcorn chicken and about 4 tots while I am at work. I also grill a piece of chicken to eat. I stand for about 7 hours a day when I am at work. I am not losing any weight and am wondering what I need to do. My legs are very tight and my muscles are starting to hurt. Any advice would be great, the whey protein is 30 grams per scoop and the bars are pure protein brand.

This something you need to follow up with your physician. Although you can get low serum protein levels from chronic malnutrition, you seem to be painting a liver failure picture, it might need more attention than upping your protein intake.

I agree that this sounds like a real problem brewing. Were your legs so swollen when you were seen?

Your doc needs to not focus on any one problem and get a full picture of what is going on. Go back in. If he doesn't start talking about putting the puzzle pieces together, then you may need to get seen by someone else.

Since you are a DS patient, your protein needs have been much higher than most, all along. My local surgeon recommends 120g protein for DS patients.

Before you saw the doc, how much protein were you consuming? You said your levels had been fine, but now they aren't. Did your diet change?

I'm trying to see if what you have been doing changed, or if it's your body that changed.

If you went vegan, then it's probably malnutrition and increasing your protein is the fix. But if you didn't change anything and were keeping up with your intake.. then keep looking for the reason.

Meanwhile, increasing your protein shouldn't hurt and hopefully will help.

@tobiganymore

Find a different Dr. You shouldn't be guessing on what to do, your DR should be clearly telling you what to do to solve the problem. Get a better one.

I agree with the others; see a doctor. One thing, why did you donate plasma? Was it necessary? If not, most DS surgeons don't want their patients to donate blood or plasma unless it's a medical emergency and even then to think twice.

stop donating plasma until the problems are resolved. Although I do not have any medical training, I would just be an armchair quarterback. I would look at renal/liver failure, malnutrition, dehydration. Good luck with resolving the issues.

Sounds like kidney issues to me! I have chronic kidney disease and those are some of the common symptoms. Edema, low blood protein levels, etc. You could be spilling protein in your urine due to kidney issues. Go get tested!

Thank you everyone for your comments. Just to give a clear picture I have not donated plasma for about 3 years now. I have dropped my intake of protein due to a new job so the low protein happened quickly. The doctor who did my blood work is my GYN doctor for a bleeding issue. I am wondering if the hormone therapy is not causing my edema also. But my liver enzymes are high my AST is 78 and ALT is 113 I wen t my regular doctor he gave me fluid pills and checking for hepatitis. He is saying hormones can increase liver enzymes.