CL
@lelia
@lelia
Posts: 160
Joined: Sep 18, 2014
Fructose Malabsorption
I'd like to start a discussion on fructose malabsorption, how to control it, what to eat and not eat, etc. . Is anybody interested?
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saucy
@saucy
@saucy
Posts: 121
Joined: Jul 05, 2016
CL
@lelia
@lelia
Posts: 160
Joined: Sep 18, 2014
I also have fructose malabsorption also cannot have any sugars or fruits but didn't realize that cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and anything with seeds are also fruit. Cheated over the hoildays and paid the price for several months!
Sorry to hear about your having to pay the price for several months! Most vegetables have sugar in them in some amount; the trick is to eat the lowest sugar ones possible. Tomatoes are technically a fruit, as are olives (never would have guessed that one!). Corn is a high sugar vegetable; the source of corn syrup, right?
The symptoms you can get from fructose malabsorption can be really horrible. I developed it after a case of viral food poisoning as severe as that caused by e coli, and it was almost fatal. You can't digest the fructose because the lining of the intestine is damaged. I had incredible gas and belching, bloating, and asthma from the gas, and didn't care whether I lived or died. What's to live for if you can't eat, breathe or sleep? I also got esophageal dysmotility and food caught in the esophagus (even scrambled eggs) and had GERD from it, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth from it. One time had to blend all my food for weeks. Also have visceral hypersensitivity. Anyway, it took about 10 years to get it diagnosed; be sure to go to a reputable gastroenterologist, at a university medical center if possible. Mayo diagnosed mine. I have a friend who has it and she can eat a lot more sugar than I can. She figures if I can eat it so can she. I've found I can hardly eat any, including artificial sugars. I want to share what I've learned. By the way, I've been to 4 dietitians and none of their recommendations worked for me because my system is so intolerant of sugar. This is a minimalist diet but it's a good start if you're still struggling to discovered what you can eat. Here's what I eat: Protein: eggs, meat, fish (all unprocessed- no ham, sausages, etc). Carbs: potatoes without the skin, white Basmati rice, Kettle Brand Kettle Chips (for energy). Vegetables: cooked spinach, cooked broccoli (in moderation), broccolini (in moderation), one baby carrot every other day (has sugar in it). Since I also have lactose intolerance and broccoli and broccolini (?) have a bit of lactose in them, I take 2 lactase pills with those. Occasionally have mushrooms, a bit of celery, green Swiss chard. Whatever you do, don't ever eat garlic, and if you try onion, only eat a little of the clear juice, not the solids. Fruit: none. Drinks: distilled water. Spices and herbs: cinnamon, thyme, sage, salt, black pepper. Nuts: occasional small amounts of Planters Deluxe mixed nuts (remove the pistachios). Oils: canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, extra light olive oil. Be careful with olive oil – olives are a fruit, and other olive oils have olive fruit juice in them. Regarding no potato skins or brown rice, I believe they contain fructans, chains of fructose, also indigestible if you have fructose malabsorption. Anyway, if anyone knows of any spices/herbs that are ok, I'd appreciate knowing. I've tried oregano and rosemary and they didn't agree. Another thing I use is L-Alanine powder, an amino acid, which was found by a researcher at the U. of Iowa or Iowa State to help the intestine absorb fructose. I take probably 6 tsp. of this a day with the potato chips, etc. All for now. There is a web site that gives all the names for sugars, to help you identify them, and another that gives the sugar content of fruits, vegetables, etc. Next time. I'm not going to talk about FODMAPS etc. but just give practical advice that has worked for me.
Thank you for sharing!
CL
@lelia
@lelia
Posts: 160
Joined: Sep 18, 2014
Thanks for asking. I haven't tried it yet because I am getting digestive issues from a Reclast infusion for osteoporosis. Am not trying anything new right now. I'll keep you posted, and thanks so much for the information and your helpfulness. Lelia
RECLAST ALERT! More info on the Reclast infusion I had. If you have g.i. issues, DON'T get it! I finally had everything mostly under control after 17 years, and was actually sleeping lying down flat in the bed, etc. Now all food bothers my stomach, even that which used to be ok. I'm back on Prilosec and taking the maximum ashthma meds. I know it's the Reclast and not something else because I only change one variable at a time and getting the Reclast infusion was what I changed. I've also gotten a boatload of other quality of life threatening symptoms which I've never had before including labored breathing with exercise. Some non g.i. issues I already had were made worse by the Reclast. My primary doctor says to never get the infusion again, and even to not use any form of bisphosphonates of any kind such as pills. To see the list of about 118 possible side effects of ReclastI, go to the Mayo Clinic web site, select Patient Care…, then Drugs and Supplement A-Z, and then Zoledronic Acid (intravenous route). There are about 5 pages, the first being Descriptions, then Before Using (scroll down to Other Medical Problems and you will find stomach absorption problems), with the last screen being Side Effects. I only got 1/2 dose; wonder what hell I'd be going through it I'd gotten the full dose. The 1/2 dose should last 6 months; I'm 3 months into it and finally starting to feel little bit better the last day or so. I think it is because I've upped the amount of water I am drinking, to 11-12 8 oz glasses/day. Mayo says to drink 11 1/2 cups per day. I don't think this would include beverages with caffeine. That's it for now.
I have been an IBS sufferer for many years and over the last 3 to 4 years had become worse. That's when I found out about LOW FODMAP diet. Having adopted it, am much much better over the last 2 years. Fructose intolerance could be associated with other intolerances like Lactose and Sorbitol. Hope you got these tested and eliminated. Fructose is found in many fruits — Mangoes are the worst; jack fruit, very ripe bananas are others. I use an ANDROID app called "FODMAP" from Monash Univ, Australia — who pioneered this diet. They have tested a large number of food sources and provide details of lactose, fructose, sorbitol content in different food items. You might find this useful to find the low FRUCTOSE foods.
saucy
@saucy
@saucy
Posts: 121
Joined: Jul 05, 2016
As mentioned in many clinical articles on IBS — there is high variability on individual tolerances for specific foods. Hence the advise on necessity to find out our own tolerance levels for many of those in the grey zone. I find that I do not tolerate most of those marked RED in the FODMAP app — which means my problem is similar to many others. I tolerate Tomatoes and carrots well – even in large quantities — but raw Cucumber and green pepper in small quantities only. The FODMAP app indicates the average levels with tolerable quantities suggested based on their testing. Green pepper is suggested in small quantities only. Yellow and Red varieties are better tolerated than the popular green. All the best in your quest to quieten you guts !!
RECLAST ALERT! More info on the Reclast infusion I had. If you have g.i. issues, DON'T get it! I finally had everything mostly under control after 17 years, and was actually sleeping lying down flat in the bed, etc. Now all food bothers my stomach, even that which used to be ok. I'm back on Prilosec and taking the maximum ashthma meds. I know it's the Reclast and not something else because I only change one variable at a time and getting the Reclast infusion was what I changed. I've also gotten a boatload of other quality of life threatening symptoms which I've never had before including labored breathing with exercise. Some non g.i. issues I already had were made worse by the Reclast. My primary doctor says to never get the infusion again, and even to not use any form of bisphosphonates of any kind such as pills. To see the list of about 118 possible side effects of ReclastI, go to the Mayo Clinic web site, select Patient Care…, then Drugs and Supplement A-Z, and then Zoledronic Acid (intravenous route). There are about 5 pages, the first being Descriptions, then Before Using (scroll down to Other Medical Problems and you will find stomach absorption problems), with the last screen being Side Effects. I only got 1/2 dose; wonder what hell I'd be going through it I'd gotten the full dose. The 1/2 dose should last 6 months; I'm 3 months into it and finally starting to feel little bit better the last day or so. I think it is because I've upped the amount of water I am drinking, to 11-12 8 oz glasses/day. Mayo says to drink 11 1/2 cups per day. I don't think this would include beverages with caffeine. That's it for now.
Sorry to hear you are suffering so much from the use of Reclast. The medicine can be harsh on your stomach will explains the use of Prilosec. I think asthma might be a disconnected issue.
The following are my recommendations;
1) Try Lutomerase (xylose isomerase) to take care of fructose intolerance.
2) Take probiotics everyday. It helps to fill your gut with good bacteria and eliminate the bad bacteria that feed on fructose and give you IBS.
3) Take infused ginger water prior to eating. It helps IBS and digestion.
4) Take digestive enzyme containing Betaine HCl to breakdown and emulsify the food.
5) Take turmeric pills (curcumin) for digestion and inflammation.
6) Either see a Chinese or Indian Herbalist as in lot of instances like this naturopath has worked wonders and I strongly believe in it.
7) Do water aerobics and weight bearing exercises.
I hope you start feeling better.
CL
@lelia
@lelia
Posts: 160
Joined: Sep 18, 2014
Sorry to hear you are suffering so much from the use of Reclast. The medicine can be harsh on your stomach will explains the use of Prilosec. I think asthma might be a disconnected issue.
The following are my recommendations;
1) Try Lutomerase (xylose isomerase) to take care of fructose intolerance.
2) Take probiotics everyday. It helps to fill your gut with good bacteria and eliminate the bad bacteria that feed on fructose and give you IBS.
3) Take infused ginger water prior to eating. It helps IBS and digestion.
4) Take digestive enzyme containing Betaine HCl to breakdown and emulsify the food.
5) Take turmeric pills (curcumin) for digestion and inflammation.
6) Either see a Chinese or Indian Herbalist as in lot of instances like this naturopath has worked wonders and I strongly believe in it.
7) Do water aerobics and weight bearing exercises.
I hope you start feeling better.
Thanks for your suggestions. Many of the symptoms move around a lot, and right now g.i. issues are almost normal. Still get out of breath with exercise, though, especially weight bearing exercise. I had to go to the E.R. several weeks ago because hadn't been able to catch my breath for 2 days, and all of the tests were normal. So, since the problem started after getting the Reclast infusion, I think that is the cause. Two and one-half months to go!
saucy
@saucy
@saucy
Posts: 121
Joined: Jul 05, 2016
Thanks for your suggestions. Many of the symptoms move around a lot, and right now g.i. issues are almost normal. Still get out of breath with exercise, though, especially weight bearing exercise. I had to go to the E.R. several weeks ago because hadn't been able to catch my breath for 2 days, and all of the tests were normal. So, since the problem started after getting the Reclast infusion, I think that is the cause. Two and one-half months to go!
The bottom line here if something bothers your stomach don't eat it! Trying to take supplements and medication so we can eat the foods that don't agree with us only causes further problems and side effects. There is very little I can tolerate but if I avoid those foods I feel better. In N Dakota for the summer and relatives love high carb foods, it's been very hard for me to stay on my diet because often there is nothing I can eat, ie potatoes, corn on the cob, macaroni salads ect and people get offended if I don't try their "dishes". I'm best to stick to proteins and some vegetables, they think i'm nuts but a lot of them are ill also but don't realize it's the foods.
CL
@lelia
@lelia
Posts: 160
Joined: Sep 18, 2014
The bottom line here if something bothers your stomach don't eat it! Trying to take supplements and medication so we can eat the foods that don't agree with us only causes further problems and side effects. There is very little I can tolerate but if I avoid those foods I feel better. In N Dakota for the summer and relatives love high carb foods, it's been very hard for me to stay on my diet because often there is nothing I can eat, ie potatoes, corn on the cob, macaroni salads ect and people get offended if I don't try their "dishes". I'm best to stick to proteins and some vegetables, they think i'm nuts but a lot of them are ill also but don't realize it's the foods.
I also avoid the foods that are problematic for me, but at some point may try the lutomerase. It would be nice to expand the diet a bit. BTW, I grew up in ND and have many fond memories. Left my heart there, if you want to know the truth. 🙂
saucy
@saucy
@saucy
Posts: 121
Joined: Jul 05, 2016
@lelia
It helps with small amounts of sugar, like in potato chips, nuts, and drugs/supplements with problem "inactive" ingredients. I get it from bulk supplements.com. I don't eat many nuts because but occasionally a few are ok. Good luck. Maybe the disolute mentioned three posts up would help. I haven't tried it yet.