Why must we have high calories?

[Enzo2311]

I don't exactly understand why other than, our body burns more. Where does the extra 1000-2000 calories go? How many more calories on spent on our breathing vs a normal persons breathing?

 

[Gorf]

Each person is different but I believe we eat more because of out digestion problem, we need more to compensate for the ones we don't get. Please tell me if I am wrong?

 

[welshwitch]

Yup. We have a basic issue with digesting food efficiently. Due to the increased mucus in our endocrine system (not to mention lungs, etc.) the necessary enzymes don't connect with the food we eat to break it down efficiently. Enter digestive enzymes...manufactured to help us do so. We need the extra calorie intake to compensate for the loss of nutrients.

 

[Enzo2311]

Yup. We have a basic issue with digesting food efficiently. Due to the increased mucus in our endocrine system (not to mention lungs, etc.) the necessary enzymes don't connect with the food we eat to break it down efficiently. Enter digestive enzymes...manufactured to help us do so. We need the extra calorie intake to compensate for the loss of nutrients.

so if I were to take a multivitamin with say, 100% vitamin a b and c

i would only be getting about 65-75% vitamin a b and c. Correct?

 

[welshwitch]

I don't know about the exact percentage, but yes you would not be getting 100% of the vitamin. One reason it's recommended for us to take fat soluble ADEKs is that they are custom made for CF....so we get the most benefit out of it.

 

[Enzo2311]

I don't know about the exact percentage, but yes you would not be getting 100% of the vitamin. One reason it's recommended for us to take fat soluble ADEKs is that they are custom made for CF....so we get the most benefit out of it.

when they checked my blood I was low in those vitamins. I've always had really no energy, I'd wake up, go to school, come home and take a nap and I was wondering if its due to me being low in those vitamins?

 

[welshwitch]

Definitely possible!!!! People with CF often have trouble maintaining their vitamin levels (especially Vitamin D) There are other ways vitamins benefit us too. Vitamin K: helps with blood clotting, if you have hemoptysis. Vitamin D: helps with bone density. Do you have access to CF vitamins? http://www.sourcecf.com is my go-to, and I really think they help keep my energy levels up.

 

[sugarcookie]

when they checked my blood I was low in those vitamins. I've always had really no energy, I'd wake up, go to school, come home and take a nap and I was wondering if its due to me being low in those vitamins?

Hey Enzo, When your doctors checked your blood, did they check your iron levels? People with CF are notoriously have low iron levels. My clinic usually only checks iron when I am on IV's, otherwise not. A few years ago, I had a major complication with anemia (my hematocrit/red blood cells were half of what they should have been) and I had a blood transfusion. I started taking iron everyday. I asked my primary doctor to write me a standing order to get my iron levels checked, which I do every other month. Taking iron daily has made the biggest improvement in my energy level. I used to take 3-hour naps daily, now sometimes I don't even need a nap and occasionally have insomnia. Just remember if you start taking iron, you need to get your blood levels checked and make sure your primary doctor knows.

 

[Enzo2311]

Hey Enzo, When your doctors checked your blood, did they check your iron levels? People with CF are notoriously have low iron levels. My clinic usually only checks iron when I am on IV's, otherwise not. A few years ago, I had a major complication with anemia (my hematocrit/red blood cells were half of what they should have been) and I had a blood transfusion. I started taking iron everyday. I asked my primary doctor to write me a standing order to get my iron levels checked, which I do every other month. Taking iron daily has made the biggest improvement in my energy level. I used to take 3-hour naps daily, now sometimes I don't even need a nap and occasionally have insomnia. Just remember if you start taking iron, you need to get your blood levels checked and make sure your primary doctor knows.

i was good on iron. My mom has anemia