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Post by pamela on Jul 11, 2009 13:14:19 GMT -5
Hello,
I just discovered this board this past week. I have spent hours reading and crying as it is so reassuring to know that there are others out there with similar issues. I have been fumbling around for years after having been told that I had a severe systemic intolerance to fructose and sorbitol, and a mild intolerance to lactose. I had been sick most of my life- vomiting - the spins, foggy head, skin problems, digestive issues, heart palpitations... the list goes on. Once I started on a fructose sorbitol free diet the difference was like night and day. And of course I also avoid lactose. I have moved several times so am no longer in touch with the original Dr. My current Dr. does not take me seriously. I would like to have the DNA testing done. Does anyone know if this can be done in Canada or does the blood sample have to be sent to the lab in Boston?
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Post by colormist on Jul 12, 2009 9:38:27 GMT -5
Hi Pamela! Glad you found the board. Trust me when I say we've all been there. The kicker for me was noticing that all HFIers ate pixy stix. For all my life I couldn't explain why I hated all sweets except pixy stix. I began to think it was psychological. It's so nice to have others out there with similar diets and all going through the same hassles in life. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly were your skin problems? I don't recall anyone mentioning skin problems before and I'm always looking for commonalities amongst HFIers.  Whereabouts in Ontario are you located? |
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Post by pamela on Jul 12, 2009 11:47:09 GMT -5
Hi,
Thanks for the message Fred. I appreciate the info and have sent you a reply.
In response to the question from Colormist, my skin issues, extreme cystic acne, started at age 11 and finally stopped in my early 30's when I eliminated the fructose and sobitol in my diet. It was one of the ways that my body tried to excrete the toxins. At times my skin was so bad I had difficulty wearing my prescription glasses. The acne was one of the clues that led me to the sugars as I began to link the flare ups with certain foods. During those years if I was on a diet of eggs, tuna, crackers and clear tea, my skin would clear up. It took years before I was able to put enough puzzle pieces together. Who would think that fruits and vegetables would be my enemy? Of course the skin was just one of the problems and everything got worse from the time I was old enough to make my own (wrong)food choices until we finally figured out the problem. I was fortunate growing up though as my father (adoptive) had digestive issues so by default I had a very similar diet to what I have now. (He was cured of his issues when I was 15 when they took out his gallbladder) That diet is probably what let me get so far along without major problems. As an infant and small child I was often sick. My mom says it got to the point that I lived on meat stew or meat and cheese as I refused all else.
Sorry this is so long winded, but it is so nice to be able to explain to someone who may understand.
As for where I live- near Kingston which is about 3 hours east of Toronto. My diagnosis was done in Montreal back in 1993 by a gastroenterologist.
Pamela
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Post by julienc on Jul 13, 2009 11:37:35 GMT -5
Welcome Pamela!
Don't worry for a second about being long winded. I love reading these stories - I was in your shoes about 2.5 years ago when I stumbled on this forum. I stumbled through life figuring out my no-sugar diet with major digestive problems along the way. As Colormist said, we've all been there!!
I would definitely recommend getting the official diagnosis - it sounds like Fred has already pointed you in the right direction.
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Post by pamela on Jul 13, 2009 16:14:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome.
This discussion board discovery is just amazing. I have been reading through the site and have enjoyed the many stories, advice and leads. It is all so reassuring and so nice to know that others understand.
Fred and I have been in communication and between his emails and reading through this site I have a renewed confidence to persist with my current Dr. to get this properly documented in my current files. I will also persist in getting my old records transferred which I had tried to do once before- that is if the records form 1993 still exist. Do you know how long a Dr. has to keep his records?
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Post by charlie on Jul 13, 2009 17:15:43 GMT -5
In Britain it is seven years for anything official but most would keep them in archives further back. ~depends if using computers or paper at that stage I suppose.
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Post by pamela on Jul 22, 2009 19:26:26 GMT -5
I saw my Doctor this week. The receptionist told me that they keep medical records for 10 years in Ontario. After that they shred them all. If it is the same in Quebec my records at the gastroenterologist will be gone. I'll try again anyways. A letter sent last year was ignored.
I asked my Dr. if I could be referred to a geneticist or an endocrinologist but she has decided that she will send me to an allergist. Well, if nothing else I get a fresh set of ears and then maybe the allergist can refer me to a geneticist or an endocrinologist.
Does anyone have any experiences - good or bad with topical creams, shampoos... that contain sorbitol? I tend to avoid them as I expect that they would be absorbed in through the skin and the body would have to metabolize them. I recently used a sunscreen that contained sorbitol (It was by accident as I usually read every label of everything). I experienced vertigo for several days after wards starting within 24 hours of the use of the sunscreen. I am not sure if I should link it to the fructose sorbitol issues that I have or if this is just another part of my body deciding to do weird things. I suppose I can try it again but I certainly did not enjoy the spins.
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Post by julienc on Jul 23, 2009 11:38:11 GMT -5
Does anyone have any experiences - good or bad with topical creams, shampoos... that contain sorbitol? I tend to avoid them as I expect that they would be absorbed in through the skin and the body would have to metabolize them. I recently used a sunscreen that contained sorbitol (It was by accident as I usually read every label of everything). I experienced vertigo for several days after wards starting within 24 hours of the use of the sunscreen. I am not sure if I should link it to the fructose sorbitol issues that I have or if this is just another part of my body deciding to do weird things. I suppose I can try it again but I certainly did not enjoy the spins. I generally do not use sweet-smelling lotions, shampoo, etc because the scent is so repulsive, but I have never noticed a problem with topical creams. I wouldn't think that your body could absorb enough to cause trouble with the metabolizing. It seems like fructose causes problems in the liver through the digestive system - so even if it's absorbed through the skin, I suppose small amounts may make it to your bloodstream, but at that point it's past the digestive system. Hmmmm... |
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Post by pamela on Aug 13, 2009 14:10:11 GMT -5
Well it seems standards are different everywhere. Quebec only keeps inactive medical records for 5 years.
I saw the allergist this morning. She was intrigued with my story but is much more familiar with allergies involving anaphylactic reactions. She said that she would do some research before my next appointment in 6 - 8 weeks. This sounds promising.
Thanks Fred, I took your advice and only gave her my history and the few records that I had copies of. It will let the Doctor come up with ideas that may be new avenues to pursue.
Cheers!
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esmee
Full Member
gluten, lactose, fructose, histamine, and salicylate intolerant
Posts: 236
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Post by esmee on Jan 12, 2012 1:12:20 GMT -5
hi colormist
this is a very old thread, but i wanted to say that fructose caused very bad acne in me as well. i know it does for several other aquaintances of mine who also seem to be fructose sensitive to some degree or other. i have not been officially diagnosed yet, but i have most all the symptoms mentioned on here by other HFI-ers (though mine may be a bit milder).
esmée ♥
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