(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us

I'm a little confused about weight loss. Is the weight loss typically caused by the disease or from the meds decreasing a person's appetite? Just wondering. Jan

@colapyrus .. Jan, personally I have never been told by a doctor which it is .. chicken/egg thing .. but I think every single one of has had a weight loss issue .. I personally lost 18% of my body weight . and never really ever gained it all back .. even though I have been MAC "stable" since May 2014. I don't know if it is an age thing .. I am now 73 .. or a carry over .. but I still don't have a big appetite. I still "eat to live" rather than live to eat as my husband says! So my opinion is just don't worry about it .. eat as healthy as you can .. take the good advice of members here on the Forum if you are losing weight .. from my File Cabinet:

Member @21042, Kathi Weight loss: skim mild, Carnation Instant Breakfast and mix a scoop of ice cream in it daily. She said when she was in the hospital in St. Louis, she was told to do that.

Member @pamelasc1, Pamela, I drank Ensure each day just to be sure I was getting some protein.

Katherine: I was told because of weight loss to have a protein shake made with yogurt each morning. I was told a good brand was: NOW UNFLAVORED 100% WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE 10 LB. If you google it you can find where the best price to purchase is. Personally I put about 1/3 yogurt, big scoop of the Now protein powder, a bit of sweetener, fill my WONDERFUL Hamilton Beach Blender the rest of the way to the top with frozen fruit and blend away. (https://smile.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-51101BA-Personal-Blender/dp/B00KVZ27UA/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466295509&sr=1-1&keywords=hamilton+beach+blender )
I get big bags of mixed berries, mangos, pineapple, peaches .. really whatever you like .. but blueberries are really healthy. It is a good way to get that healthy yogurt into your diet.

Hope the above helps just a little bit Jan! Hugs! Katherine

@jillnc .. Jill, excuse my ignorance .. but I did not know what rsv was so I googled it .. were you diagnosed with: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes cold-like symptoms in adults? Any new information about lungs in great to have on our Forum! Thanks for jumping in on explaining on weight loss .. it helps newer people understand what is going on in their own bodies. Hugs! Katherine

@colapyrus .. Jan, personally I have never been told by a doctor which it is .. chicken/egg thing .. but I think every single one of has had a weight loss issue .. I personally lost 18% of my body weight . and never really ever gained it all back .. even though I have been MAC "stable" since May 2014. I don't know if it is an age thing .. I am now 73 .. or a carry over .. but I still don't have a big appetite. I still "eat to live" rather than live to eat as my husband says! So my opinion is just don't worry about it .. eat as healthy as you can .. take the good advice of members here on the Forum if you are losing weight .. from my File Cabinet:

Member @21042, Kathi Weight loss: skim mild, Carnation Instant Breakfast and mix a scoop of ice cream in it daily. She said when she was in the hospital in St. Louis, she was told to do that.

Member @pamelasc1, Pamela, I drank Ensure each day just to be sure I was getting some protein.

Katherine: I was told because of weight loss to have a protein shake made with yogurt each morning. I was told a good brand was: NOW UNFLAVORED 100% WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE 10 LB. If you google it you can find where the best price to purchase is. Personally I put about 1/3 yogurt, big scoop of the Now protein powder, a bit of sweetener, fill my WONDERFUL Hamilton Beach Blender the rest of the way to the top with frozen fruit and blend away. (https://smile.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-51101BA-Personal-Blender/dp/B00KVZ27UA/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466295509&sr=1-1&keywords=hamilton+beach+blender )
I get big bags of mixed berries, mangos, pineapple, peaches .. really whatever you like .. but blueberries are really healthy. It is a good way to get that healthy yogurt into your diet.

Hope the above helps just a little bit Jan! Hugs! Katherine

Dear All,
This is the question form I use when I see my MAC/Bronchiectasis doctor. This is merely the form I put together for myself .. cut/pasted from numerous sources .. use it .. redesign it for your own needs or whatever. You could easily copy/paste/ADD SPACES FOR NOTES/redesign it for your own use. Hope it helps someone! Hugs! Katherine
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Questions to Ask Your Doctor-LUNGS-MAI- Bronchiectasis
DOCTORS’ NAME: PHONE #: FAX #:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions To Ask Your Doctor
DOCTOR: _________________________________SPECIALTY______________________ DATE_______________
1. Where is the MAI/Bronchiectasis located currently? Are there new areas or new changes? At what stage would you say it is on a scale of 1 to 10? How does it compare to my last appointment for each.

2. Are the drugs I am taking currently effective for the two mycobacterium/Bronchiectasis ?
a. Are the dosing level for each medication effective or do they need to be adjusted? b. What period of time before one of the medications can be adjusted or eliminated?

3. Based on the current progress how long would you project that I would me to be on the medications?

4. What monitoring will I continue to need? When will I need my next:
a. Follow up appointments with you? b. X-rays/ CT scans
c. Monthly Lab work
d. Hearing testing
e. Vision testing
f. Monthly salt induced Sputum Cultures (Hypertonic Saline Induced Sputum Culture)

5. How long would you anticipate the side effects of night sweats/sleep disturbance/fatigue/oral thrush/dry mouth/geographic tongue to continue? a. Do you have any suggestions for coping with the less serious side effects?

6. Do you agree with the current Medication Schedule I am following?

7. Do you suggest any other lung clearance devices? How often/when?

8. Can I still take my stated over the counter medicines/vitamins/supplements?

IF SUGGESTED NEW Medication:
a. Spelling of new drug I will be taking
b. dosing level of each new medication
c. what period of time before the next medication
d. how long do you expect me to be on the medications
e. any new monitoring will I need
f. any side effects will I likely to have
g. which side effect should be reported immediately
h. when/how do I take each of these medications/ what schedule should I follow

TESTING RECOMMENDED FOR ANTIBIOTICS:
IMPORTANT! https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/susceptibility/tab/test/
Make sure your Pulmonologist is doing a 'susceptibility panel' IN ADVANCE of going on that particular antibiotic to tell EXACTLY what your MAC will respond to and WHICH one of the few drugs that will work on that particular mycobacterium. This panel is done from a positive sputum culture or lavage of lung. Susceptibility testing is often ordered at the same time as a culture.

Susceptibility Testing for Mycobacteria
http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/interpretive-guide/?alpha=A&unit_code=34805
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/5/1209.full
http://www.mmmig.nl/static/filebank/d073522b5602729078139d641a4cf987/antimicrobial-susceptibility-testing-drug-resistance-mechanisms-and-therapy-of-infections-with-nontuberculous-mycobacteria.pdf
TESTING-baseline and periodic
1. Ethambutol – color vision and visual acuity: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN QUARTERLY
2. Azithromycin – hearing and balance: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN QUARTERLY
3. Rifampin - CBD (blood counts), liver and kidney function tests: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN MONTHLY

OR TESTING:
BASELINE: HEARING AND VISION (Vision: Additional testing for eyes are use of the “eye chart” with letters read at 20 feet, and a red-green color book to distinguish changes in the ability to visualize colors.)
MONTHLY: BLOOD COUNTS, LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS, SPUTUM CULTURES
QUARTERLY: HEARING and VISION
NOTE: Ethambutol – color vision and visual acuity – monthly ( Additional testing for eyes are use of the “eye chart” with letters read at 20 feet, and a red-green color book to distinguish changes in the ability to visualize colors.)

**** Lab tests:
CBC- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
ALT- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) LIVER
alk phosphatase- Alkaline Phosphatase - LIVER
serum creatinine-. Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance-SERUM CREATININE - KIDNEY

TESTING-AFTER ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT ENDS I can ONLY speak for myself about what testing is correct after going off antibiotic treatment. Personally I had quarterly check ups with my doctor including sputum cultures initially .. then as he put the 'puzzle' together based on the results of the sputum culture/Xray/Pulmunary Testing ..deciding when to go to semi annual .. then to annual .. sometimes then back to semi annual. It is ALL up to your GOOD Infectious Disease doctor who is KNOWLEDGEABLE about MAC. But it is my understanding there SHOULD be follow up check ups to CONFIRM that the MAC in your lungs is STILL negative/NOT colonizing. Without CONTINUING checkups (I expect for my life time) we have NO idea if the MAC is colonizing .. OR IF we are still negative! Those nasty critters DON'T disappear .. just lie there in waiting .. that is why it is so important to take good care of ourselves .. eat healthy .. exercise .. stay positive .. be serene! Hope this is helpful. Katherine

TESTING RECOMMENDED FOR VITAMIN LEVELS
1. Ask for your VD-3 level to be checked .. they can get too low. Speak to your Doctor first .. but I took: NATURE MADE brand 5,000 IU of Vitamin D-3 (NOT VD) *From our member @tdrell Terri, my Primary Dr at NJH doubled the VD I take to 4000 units a day... my lab test showed I was at 50 and she said she likes to see it at 100.
2. Ask for your B-12 level to be checked .. they can get too low
3. Personally I always purchase the brand Nature Made vitamins for it's quality .. ' Nature Made is the first brand to earn the USP Verified Mark on one of its products, an independent certification for quality and purity.'

THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• Keep copies of all your lab work
• Keep your x-ray/CT scan films yourself, or consider having them done where they can be put on a CD http://ntminfo.org/files/QuestionsToAskYourDoctor.pdf http://ntminfo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=52

Dear All,
This is the question form I use when I see my MAC/Bronchiectasis doctor. This is merely the form I put together for myself .. cut/pasted from numerous sources .. use it .. redesign it for your own needs or whatever. You could easily copy/paste/ADD SPACES FOR NOTES/redesign it for your own use. Hope it helps someone! Hugs! Katherine
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Questions to Ask Your Doctor-LUNGS-MAI- Bronchiectasis
DOCTORS’ NAME: PHONE #: FAX #:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions To Ask Your Doctor
DOCTOR: _________________________________SPECIALTY______________________ DATE_______________
1. Where is the MAI/Bronchiectasis located currently? Are there new areas or new changes? At what stage would you say it is on a scale of 1 to 10? How does it compare to my last appointment for each.

2. Are the drugs I am taking currently effective for the two mycobacterium/Bronchiectasis ?
a. Are the dosing level for each medication effective or do they need to be adjusted? b. What period of time before one of the medications can be adjusted or eliminated?

3. Based on the current progress how long would you project that I would me to be on the medications?

4. What monitoring will I continue to need? When will I need my next:
a. Follow up appointments with you? b. X-rays/ CT scans
c. Monthly Lab work
d. Hearing testing
e. Vision testing
f. Monthly salt induced Sputum Cultures (Hypertonic Saline Induced Sputum Culture)

5. How long would you anticipate the side effects of night sweats/sleep disturbance/fatigue/oral thrush/dry mouth/geographic tongue to continue? a. Do you have any suggestions for coping with the less serious side effects?

6. Do you agree with the current Medication Schedule I am following?

7. Do you suggest any other lung clearance devices? How often/when?

8. Can I still take my stated over the counter medicines/vitamins/supplements?

IF SUGGESTED NEW Medication:
a. Spelling of new drug I will be taking
b. dosing level of each new medication
c. what period of time before the next medication
d. how long do you expect me to be on the medications
e. any new monitoring will I need
f. any side effects will I likely to have
g. which side effect should be reported immediately
h. when/how do I take each of these medications/ what schedule should I follow

TESTING RECOMMENDED FOR ANTIBIOTICS:
IMPORTANT! https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/susceptibility/tab/test/
Make sure your Pulmonologist is doing a 'susceptibility panel' IN ADVANCE of going on that particular antibiotic to tell EXACTLY what your MAC will respond to and WHICH one of the few drugs that will work on that particular mycobacterium. This panel is done from a positive sputum culture or lavage of lung. Susceptibility testing is often ordered at the same time as a culture.

Susceptibility Testing for Mycobacteria
http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/interpretive-guide/?alpha=A&unit_code=34805
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/5/1209.full
http://www.mmmig.nl/static/filebank/d073522b5602729078139d641a4cf987/antimicrobial-susceptibility-testing-drug-resistance-mechanisms-and-therapy-of-infections-with-nontuberculous-mycobacteria.pdf
TESTING-baseline and periodic
1. Ethambutol – color vision and visual acuity: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN QUARTERLY
2. Azithromycin – hearing and balance: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN QUARTERLY
3. Rifampin - CBD (blood counts), liver and kidney function tests: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN MONTHLY

OR TESTING:
BASELINE: HEARING AND VISION (Vision: Additional testing for eyes are use of the “eye chart” with letters read at 20 feet, and a red-green color book to distinguish changes in the ability to visualize colors.)
MONTHLY: BLOOD COUNTS, LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS, SPUTUM CULTURES
QUARTERLY: HEARING and VISION
NOTE: Ethambutol – color vision and visual acuity – monthly ( Additional testing for eyes are use of the “eye chart” with letters read at 20 feet, and a red-green color book to distinguish changes in the ability to visualize colors.)

**** Lab tests:
CBC- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
ALT- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) LIVER
alk phosphatase- Alkaline Phosphatase - LIVER
serum creatinine-. Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance-SERUM CREATININE - KIDNEY

TESTING-AFTER ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT ENDS I can ONLY speak for myself about what testing is correct after going off antibiotic treatment. Personally I had quarterly check ups with my doctor including sputum cultures initially .. then as he put the 'puzzle' together based on the results of the sputum culture/Xray/Pulmunary Testing ..deciding when to go to semi annual .. then to annual .. sometimes then back to semi annual. It is ALL up to your GOOD Infectious Disease doctor who is KNOWLEDGEABLE about MAC. But it is my understanding there SHOULD be follow up check ups to CONFIRM that the MAC in your lungs is STILL negative/NOT colonizing. Without CONTINUING checkups (I expect for my life time) we have NO idea if the MAC is colonizing .. OR IF we are still negative! Those nasty critters DON'T disappear .. just lie there in waiting .. that is why it is so important to take good care of ourselves .. eat healthy .. exercise .. stay positive .. be serene! Hope this is helpful. Katherine

TESTING RECOMMENDED FOR VITAMIN LEVELS
1. Ask for your VD-3 level to be checked .. they can get too low. Speak to your Doctor first .. but I took: NATURE MADE brand 5,000 IU of Vitamin D-3 (NOT VD) *From our member @tdrell Terri, my Primary Dr at NJH doubled the VD I take to 4000 units a day... my lab test showed I was at 50 and she said she likes to see it at 100.
2. Ask for your B-12 level to be checked .. they can get too low
3. Personally I always purchase the brand Nature Made vitamins for it's quality .. ' Nature Made is the first brand to earn the USP Verified Mark on one of its products, an independent certification for quality and purity.'

THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• Keep copies of all your lab work
• Keep your x-ray/CT scan films yourself, or consider having them done where they can be put on a CD http://ntminfo.org/files/QuestionsToAskYourDoctor.pdf http://ntminfo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=52

Dear All,
This is the question form I use when I see my MAC/Bronchiectasis doctor. This is merely the form I put together for myself .. cut/pasted from numerous sources .. use it .. redesign it for your own needs or whatever. You could easily copy/paste/ADD SPACES FOR NOTES/redesign it for your own use. Hope it helps someone! Hugs! Katherine
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Questions to Ask Your Doctor-LUNGS-MAI- Bronchiectasis
DOCTORS’ NAME: PHONE #: FAX #:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions To Ask Your Doctor
DOCTOR: _________________________________SPECIALTY______________________ DATE_______________
1. Where is the MAI/Bronchiectasis located currently? Are there new areas or new changes? At what stage would you say it is on a scale of 1 to 10? How does it compare to my last appointment for each.

2. Are the drugs I am taking currently effective for the two mycobacterium/Bronchiectasis ?
a. Are the dosing level for each medication effective or do they need to be adjusted? b. What period of time before one of the medications can be adjusted or eliminated?

3. Based on the current progress how long would you project that I would me to be on the medications?

4. What monitoring will I continue to need? When will I need my next:
a. Follow up appointments with you? b. X-rays/ CT scans
c. Monthly Lab work
d. Hearing testing
e. Vision testing
f. Monthly salt induced Sputum Cultures (Hypertonic Saline Induced Sputum Culture)

5. How long would you anticipate the side effects of night sweats/sleep disturbance/fatigue/oral thrush/dry mouth/geographic tongue to continue? a. Do you have any suggestions for coping with the less serious side effects?

6. Do you agree with the current Medication Schedule I am following?

7. Do you suggest any other lung clearance devices? How often/when?

8. Can I still take my stated over the counter medicines/vitamins/supplements?

IF SUGGESTED NEW Medication:
a. Spelling of new drug I will be taking
b. dosing level of each new medication
c. what period of time before the next medication
d. how long do you expect me to be on the medications
e. any new monitoring will I need
f. any side effects will I likely to have
g. which side effect should be reported immediately
h. when/how do I take each of these medications/ what schedule should I follow

TESTING RECOMMENDED FOR ANTIBIOTICS:
IMPORTANT! https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/susceptibility/tab/test/
Make sure your Pulmonologist is doing a 'susceptibility panel' IN ADVANCE of going on that particular antibiotic to tell EXACTLY what your MAC will respond to and WHICH one of the few drugs that will work on that particular mycobacterium. This panel is done from a positive sputum culture or lavage of lung. Susceptibility testing is often ordered at the same time as a culture.

Susceptibility Testing for Mycobacteria
http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/interpretive-guide/?alpha=A&unit_code=34805
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/5/1209.full
http://www.mmmig.nl/static/filebank/d073522b5602729078139d641a4cf987/antimicrobial-susceptibility-testing-drug-resistance-mechanisms-and-therapy-of-infections-with-nontuberculous-mycobacteria.pdf
TESTING-baseline and periodic
1. Ethambutol – color vision and visual acuity: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN QUARTERLY
2. Azithromycin – hearing and balance: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN QUARTERLY
3. Rifampin - CBD (blood counts), liver and kidney function tests: GET BASELINE PRIOR TO STARTING .. THEN MONTHLY

OR TESTING:
BASELINE: HEARING AND VISION (Vision: Additional testing for eyes are use of the “eye chart” with letters read at 20 feet, and a red-green color book to distinguish changes in the ability to visualize colors.)
MONTHLY: BLOOD COUNTS, LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS, SPUTUM CULTURES
QUARTERLY: HEARING and VISION
NOTE: Ethambutol – color vision and visual acuity – monthly ( Additional testing for eyes are use of the “eye chart” with letters read at 20 feet, and a red-green color book to distinguish changes in the ability to visualize colors.)

**** Lab tests:
CBC- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
ALT- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) LIVER
alk phosphatase- Alkaline Phosphatase - LIVER
serum creatinine-. Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance-SERUM CREATININE - KIDNEY

TESTING-AFTER ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT ENDS I can ONLY speak for myself about what testing is correct after going off antibiotic treatment. Personally I had quarterly check ups with my doctor including sputum cultures initially .. then as he put the 'puzzle' together based on the results of the sputum culture/Xray/Pulmunary Testing ..deciding when to go to semi annual .. then to annual .. sometimes then back to semi annual. It is ALL up to your GOOD Infectious Disease doctor who is KNOWLEDGEABLE about MAC. But it is my understanding there SHOULD be follow up check ups to CONFIRM that the MAC in your lungs is STILL negative/NOT colonizing. Without CONTINUING checkups (I expect for my life time) we have NO idea if the MAC is colonizing .. OR IF we are still negative! Those nasty critters DON'T disappear .. just lie there in waiting .. that is why it is so important to take good care of ourselves .. eat healthy .. exercise .. stay positive .. be serene! Hope this is helpful. Katherine

TESTING RECOMMENDED FOR VITAMIN LEVELS
1. Ask for your VD-3 level to be checked .. they can get too low. Speak to your Doctor first .. but I took: NATURE MADE brand 5,000 IU of Vitamin D-3 (NOT VD) *From our member @tdrell Terri, my Primary Dr at NJH doubled the VD I take to 4000 units a day... my lab test showed I was at 50 and she said she likes to see it at 100.
2. Ask for your B-12 level to be checked .. they can get too low
3. Personally I always purchase the brand Nature Made vitamins for it's quality .. ' Nature Made is the first brand to earn the USP Verified Mark on one of its products, an independent certification for quality and purity.'

THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• Keep copies of all your lab work
• Keep your x-ray/CT scan films yourself, or consider having them done where they can be put on a CD http://ntminfo.org/files/QuestionsToAskYourDoctor.pdf http://ntminfo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=52

@colapyrus .. Jan, personally I have never been told by a doctor which it is .. chicken/egg thing .. but I think every single one of has had a weight loss issue .. I personally lost 18% of my body weight . and never really ever gained it all back .. even though I have been MAC "stable" since May 2014. I don't know if it is an age thing .. I am now 73 .. or a carry over .. but I still don't have a big appetite. I still "eat to live" rather than live to eat as my husband says! So my opinion is just don't worry about it .. eat as healthy as you can .. take the good advice of members here on the Forum if you are losing weight .. from my File Cabinet:

Member @21042, Kathi Weight loss: skim mild, Carnation Instant Breakfast and mix a scoop of ice cream in it daily. She said when she was in the hospital in St. Louis, she was told to do that.

Member @pamelasc1, Pamela, I drank Ensure each day just to be sure I was getting some protein.

Katherine: I was told because of weight loss to have a protein shake made with yogurt each morning. I was told a good brand was: NOW UNFLAVORED 100% WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE 10 LB. If you google it you can find where the best price to purchase is. Personally I put about 1/3 yogurt, big scoop of the Now protein powder, a bit of sweetener, fill my WONDERFUL Hamilton Beach Blender the rest of the way to the top with frozen fruit and blend away. (https://smile.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-51101BA-Personal-Blender/dp/B00KVZ27UA/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466295509&sr=1-1&keywords=hamilton+beach+blender )
I get big bags of mixed berries, mangos, pineapple, peaches .. really whatever you like .. but blueberries are really healthy. It is a good way to get that healthy yogurt into your diet.

Hope the above helps just a little bit Jan! Hugs! Katherine

@colapyrus .. Jan, personally I have never been told by a doctor which it is .. chicken/egg thing .. but I think every single one of has had a weight loss issue .. I personally lost 18% of my body weight . and never really ever gained it all back .. even though I have been MAC "stable" since May 2014. I don't know if it is an age thing .. I am now 73 .. or a carry over .. but I still don't have a big appetite. I still "eat to live" rather than live to eat as my husband says! So my opinion is just don't worry about it .. eat as healthy as you can .. take the good advice of members here on the Forum if you are losing weight .. from my File Cabinet:

Member @21042, Kathi Weight loss: skim mild, Carnation Instant Breakfast and mix a scoop of ice cream in it daily. She said when she was in the hospital in St. Louis, she was told to do that.

Member @pamelasc1, Pamela, I drank Ensure each day just to be sure I was getting some protein.

Katherine: I was told because of weight loss to have a protein shake made with yogurt each morning. I was told a good brand was: NOW UNFLAVORED 100% WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE 10 LB. If you google it you can find where the best price to purchase is. Personally I put about 1/3 yogurt, big scoop of the Now protein powder, a bit of sweetener, fill my WONDERFUL Hamilton Beach Blender the rest of the way to the top with frozen fruit and blend away. (https://smile.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-51101BA-Personal-Blender/dp/B00KVZ27UA/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466295509&sr=1-1&keywords=hamilton+beach+blender )
I get big bags of mixed berries, mangos, pineapple, peaches .. really whatever you like .. but blueberries are really healthy. It is a good way to get that healthy yogurt into your diet.

Hope the above helps just a little bit Jan! Hugs! Katherine