Fructose Malabsorption

Posted by CL @lelia, Dec 5, 2018

I'd like to start a discussion on fructose malabsorption, how to control it, what to eat and not eat, etc. . Is anybody interested?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@grachelg

I have been having acid reflux for over a year and have recently been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption. Trying to stick to a food plan. Always feeling the reflux and heartburn. On omeprazole 20 mg. There are no fruits I can eat between the 2 conditions and this is upsetting. I do not eat or drink wine, coffee, carbonated drinks, garlic, onions, pepper, chocolate , vinegar, all citrus, all fruits, mint, tea, tomatoes... and yet I still feel sick almost after every meal. I also get migraines on occasion. Any advice on what I can still do to feel good!

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Hi Thanks for replying. I am on omeprazole for my acid reflux. I am taking 10mg a day was on 20 mg a day. I tried other antacids they didn't work. Some made me feel worse. I still have acid reflux and heartburn every day. I also have fructose malabsorption. I have just reconciled myself to no more fruits, fructan or fructose, honey.....
Where do you get the Aloe Vera? Do you juice it with any liquids? I will try anything cause right now I have heartburn and bloating all the time.
How do I go about finding a hospital in my area in NJ that specializes in acid reflux and malabsorption....?
I am off dairy. I have not been tested for celiac but I do not have any issues that I know of with gluten. @redhead63

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@grachelg

Hi Thanks for replying. I am on omeprazole for my acid reflux. I am taking 10mg a day was on 20 mg a day. I tried other antacids they didn't work. Some made me feel worse. I still have acid reflux and heartburn every day. I also have fructose malabsorption. I have just reconciled myself to no more fruits, fructan or fructose, honey.....
Where do you get the Aloe Vera? Do you juice it with any liquids? I will try anything cause right now I have heartburn and bloating all the time.
How do I go about finding a hospital in my area in NJ that specializes in acid reflux and malabsorption....?
I am off dairy. I have not been tested for celiac but I do not have any issues that I know of with gluten. @redhead63

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Hi:
You can order the Aloe Vera Juice off of Amazon and just drink it straight. Whole Foods would have it too and so would any good health food store. Make sure you get that brand that I sent you. Do you have food in your stool? If so then you need to also get a good enzyme, take 1-2, 20 minutes before your meal, if you eat very little than take one. I was on a prescription enzyme called Viokase for about 15 years and it stop working. As far as a Doctor in your area I really don’t know, I am from Chicago. If your medication isn’t working then go back and tell your Doctor that he needs to try something else. I would try the Aloe Vera Juice first, meantime if you have undigested foods in your bowel movement then ask your Doctor if he can give you a prescription for Viokase. Most Doctors will. I think you will feel a lot better once you start taking the Aloe Vera Juice. It took me about 15 Doctors before I hit the jackpot for all of my stomach issues and finally I found the perfect Doctor. I was born with lactose and fructose Intolerances and at that time both conditions weren’t recognized, so I developed all kinds of heath problems. Please rub a littte on your arm to see if you have a reaction before drinking the juice, most people can drink the juice. Let me know how you are doing.
Debbie

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@grachelg

I have been having acid reflux for over a year and have recently been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption. Trying to stick to a food plan. Always feeling the reflux and heartburn. On omeprazole 20 mg. There are no fruits I can eat between the 2 conditions and this is upsetting. I do not eat or drink wine, coffee, carbonated drinks, garlic, onions, pepper, chocolate , vinegar, all citrus, all fruits, mint, tea, tomatoes... and yet I still feel sick almost after every meal. I also get migraines on occasion. Any advice on what I can still do to feel good!

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After i had all my large intestines taking out was on the same med. Then was on randine.and nexuim. Slowed it down. Do not drink anti acided med if had yours removed of take tums or roilades only make it worse

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I have been having acid reflux for over a year and have recently been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption. Trying to stick to a food plan. Always feeling the reflux and heartburn. On omeprazole 20 mg. There are no fruits I can eat between the 2 conditions and this is upsetting. I do not eat or drink wine, coffee, carbonated drinks, garlic, onions, pepper, chocolate , vinegar, all citrus, all fruits, mint, tea, tomatoes... and yet I still feel sick almost after every meal. I also get migraines on occasion. Any advice on what I can still do to feel good!

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Hi everyone,

You may notice that I combined your messages with this existing discussion on fructose malabsorption. I did this as I thought it would be beneficial for you to connect or reconnect with members who are discussing much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

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@atxer

Hi Mayo Clinic Connect community,

About 2 years ago, I started having excessive gas and to a lesser extent increased belching. I have no other gastrointestinal issues - no bloating, diaheraa, or constipation - but the gas is really bad to the point that I’ve spent the last year restricting my diet and avoiding dating out of embarrassment.

Right now, I’ve found that the gas is reduced if I restrict my diet to plain Greek yogurt, avocados, lean meats, white rice, soy sauce, plain bagel, and cream cheese. That’s not a long list and not a sustainable diet, I know. I’ve noticed increased gas when I eat eggs, oatmeal, sugary muffins and cookies with high fructose corn syrup.

I was diagnosed with some type of sucrose intolerance when I was 10 years old. My symptoms then were vomiting and stomach pain. It was so long ago there may have been symptoms I don’t remember. Either way restricting/eliminating sucrose from my diet eased my symptoms. My doctor thought I would grow out of it and 2 years later I was able to eat sucrose without those nasty symptoms. But with this new digestive issue, I wonder if sugar malabsorption is an issue.

I’m seeing a GI doctor about this next week Has anyone else had excessive gas as your only symptom? Did you get a diagnosis?

Thanks!

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If you have a mild case of fructose malabsorption the main symptom could be excessive gas, I think. I have an extreme case, and before it was diagnosed I had so much gas I had "explosive" belching. Also had other symptoms as well, many of which could be related to the gas like GERD, bloating, etc. Good thing you are going to a GI doctor.

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@grachelg

I have been having acid reflux for over a year and have recently been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption. Trying to stick to a food plan. Always feeling the reflux and heartburn. On omeprazole 20 mg. There are no fruits I can eat between the 2 conditions and this is upsetting. I do not eat or drink wine, coffee, carbonated drinks, garlic, onions, pepper, chocolate , vinegar, all citrus, all fruits, mint, tea, tomatoes... and yet I still feel sick almost after every meal. I also get migraines on occasion. Any advice on what I can still do to feel good!

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I'm so sorry you're still having problems. What you don't eat sound so familiar! I posted a diet and recipes further up the pages in fructose malabsorption, and also info re sugars in drugs and supplements. Omeprazole has sugar in it; that probably isn't helping It's possible you might also have lactose intolerance and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. After over 13 years I finally got to a point where I am stable with the fm, so started this fm discussion to help others in the same predicament. Hopefully you can find some answers and get it under control!

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@lelia

I'm so sorry you're still having problems. What you don't eat sound so familiar! I posted a diet and recipes further up the pages in fructose malabsorption, and also info re sugars in drugs and supplements. Omeprazole has sugar in it; that probably isn't helping It's possible you might also have lactose intolerance and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. After over 13 years I finally got to a point where I am stable with the fm, so started this fm discussion to help others in the same predicament. Hopefully you can find some answers and get it under control!

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I have been diagnosed with fm and lactose intolerance and acid reflux . I no longer have bacterial overgrowth. I do not have gas. My symptoms were constant heart burn and bloating. Yes now see a nutritionist and started a Low FODMAP diet with the elimination of foods for fm and reflux. I have also been taken off gluten. There is not much that I can eat. And only drink water. I have eliminated my vitamins and pro biotic since they all have some form of sugars not allowed. Would love to find a probiotic, calcium and multi vitamin I can take. My menu is basically salmon, chicken, quinoa, brown rice all gluten free.. oatmeal, hard boil eggs, carrots and cucumbers, lettuce. I tried a half slice of Muenster cheese in an omelette and had severe diarrhea. I was a cheeses addict before this all started. So I will try it again at some point maybe a quarter of a slice and maybe fat free. I tried tuna in oil and felt terrible after. So no oil for me. Will try in water soon.
Nutritionist is very helpful. Also doing stress management excercises. I have not touched a fruit in about a year. Trying to feel good for more than 5-6 days.

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@grachelg

I have been diagnosed with fm and lactose intolerance and acid reflux . I no longer have bacterial overgrowth. I do not have gas. My symptoms were constant heart burn and bloating. Yes now see a nutritionist and started a Low FODMAP diet with the elimination of foods for fm and reflux. I have also been taken off gluten. There is not much that I can eat. And only drink water. I have eliminated my vitamins and pro biotic since they all have some form of sugars not allowed. Would love to find a probiotic, calcium and multi vitamin I can take. My menu is basically salmon, chicken, quinoa, brown rice all gluten free.. oatmeal, hard boil eggs, carrots and cucumbers, lettuce. I tried a half slice of Muenster cheese in an omelette and had severe diarrhea. I was a cheeses addict before this all started. So I will try it again at some point maybe a quarter of a slice and maybe fat free. I tried tuna in oil and felt terrible after. So no oil for me. Will try in water soon.
Nutritionist is very helpful. Also doing stress management excercises. I have not touched a fruit in about a year. Trying to feel good for more than 5-6 days.

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Low FODMAP diet has a lot of sugar in it, even the "maintenance" dose before you start reintroducing more FODMAPS. I can't eat any FODMAP foods to speak of. Brown rice hulls have chains of fructose in them called fructans, so you might want to switch to white rice. Carrots, cucumber and lettuce have sugars in them. Most vegetables do have sugar in them. If you read through this entire fm discussion entry you may get some ideas of what to take/eat. For example, I tell the brands of the drugs and supplements (including calcium) I take that may work for you as well. Again, good luck!

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Hello, I am the mom of a 13 yr old boy with fructose malabsorption. He was finally diagnosed at Mayo 1st week of June 2018. He finally became pain free once we eliminated fructans, although I did not realize there are fructans in potato skins! Regarding L-alanine, how much do you take per body weight? do you need to take it on an empty stomach before you eat food? We have had no help in re-introducing foods. Dieticians repeatedy tell us "everyone is different, you just have to try." When my son has even 3 bites of a food, he reacts 6 hrs later and is laid up with abdominal pain, weakness and severe constipation for 5-6 days. As a mom, it is very sad to see my son curled up for so long and he is missing school. Do you have any suggestions on how to choose foods to re-introduce and how to decrease the likelihood of a reaction? Thank you!!

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