Need info on FM

[kim55]

As I've stated here before, I'm 55 years old with lifelong symptoms of HFI (my doctor refused to test). So I think I understand HFI, but now I need info on fructuse malabsorbtion.

Neither of my kids has HFI, but my son has always had an extreme reaction to sorbitol. My 18-year-old daughter, who I call my "hummingbird" because she loves sugar, has had stomach problems of unknown origin for years. She is also extremely prone to fevers, and would routinely miss 12-15 days of school each year. She has been diagnosed with mild wheat allergies and a possible allergy to melons and tomatoes, but her shots for pollen allergies seemed to bring the wheat problem under control. (And after 5 months of a wheat-free diet, she said she'd rather be sick than continue it.) However, she is now away at college and she is complaining that 1.)she never realized how much sugar other people cook with and 2.) her stomach pains have come back. She has been eliminating various things from her diet. I suggested she try going sugar-free to see if it could be FM. She just called me and complained that after three days of avoiding sugar her symptoms have partly improved but that she was sick of eating meat and cheese and couldn't find anything else that she could eat! She has an appointment with a gastroenterologist in 2 weeks, after finals. I plan to go with her and ask for a fructose breath test. Do those of you on this list have any other advice for us? Once she is home we can try a better sugar-free diet, because I will be buying the food and cooking, but if it is FM, how will it be before we can expect symptoms to improve?

[colormist]

My husband has a gluten intolerance but he still eats wheat in small portions. He'll have flour tortillas and make a burrito. There are also soft corn tortillas (that he doesn't like as much) or he'll mix it up and make nachos. He also read somewhere that oatmeal was okay in moderation as it had lower gluten levels (totally not sure on that one). If she's just FM, then a small amount of beans shouldn't be too difficult to handle (black, navy, pinto, lima, soy).

She could also have corn meal products and rice. Any unsweetened dairy would be okay. There is a really awesome rice pasta and a corn pasta out there that would be great for her to help mix things up. I make a lot of stir fry at home (rice, safe veggies, chicken, garlic, spices). Spinach salad with feta would be okay for her (just be careful with any dressings--I usually use a red wine vinegar or just salt & pepper).

Hope this helps. I'm not sure what she has access to. :\

[lionessmom]

definitely get rice. white rice.

[charlie]

If it is FM that has come on as a result of bowel irritation and not born with it there is hope on the horizon. what she may have to do is a very strict diet eliminating all fructose for several months she may find she can then tolerate small amounts. With FM there is often a problem with fructans in wheat rather than gluten so she would need to eliminate all wheat products too. That maybe why she has has wheat intolerance symptoms too.

There is a dietitian called Sue Shepherd in Australia who has done alot of research on it nd produced alot of literature about it according to her you with FM you can balance the glucose and fructose levels in foods and then the body can cope. It isn't anything i would undertake lightly though as it would need alot of careful research.

As to the diet being tedious, yes it is and it is very hard at that age to realise the importance of it for a healthy existence .. All you can do is try it when she gets home making as many safe, imaginative meals as you can, maybe write out some recipes for her to take back with her and hope she realises how much better she feels.

good luck.