Possible Fructose Malabsorption?

[pinkpandapants]

So I've been trying for what seems like forever to figure out my stomach problems. For the past few months I thought that it might be Celiac, just because of all of my symptoms/problems put together (depression/anxiety, thyroid disease, eczema, stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea), but the blood tests came up negative and the biopsies from my endoscopy came up completely negative. So it's not that, which, to be honest, I'm relieved about. But it doesn't solve my digestive woes!

Before I thought it might be Celiac I had been doing some research on fructose malabsorption, and thought that it might fit me better, but then I kind of threw that idea away until recently. My main problem is fruits. ESPECIALLY apples, which have the highest fructose content of them all. I can't eat apples at all, because they give me the WORST stomach cramps, followed by awful gas. I also can't eat pears or any canned fruit packed in pear juice, honeydew melon, plums, mangoes, or too many grapes or cherries (a few is fine). Besides the fruit, I have a big problem with some foods that contain fructans, ESPECIALLY tomatoes, but also artichokes, garlic and onion. I think that wheat may also be a problem, as it contains fructans as well, except I have to eat a LOT. If I eat too many sweets I also have problems.

I've been tested for allergies with ALL of the foods that bother me and nothing's come up. As I already said, Celiac came up negative. I don't even know where to start for a fructose malabsorption test, though. My gastroenterologist didn't even have a lactose intolerance test for me, she just said I probably was if I felt better without dairy! I feel stupid asking about more tests when I've already had so many done already with negative results. I just feel like I'm being a hypochondriac now. I told her about my problems with apples and tomatoes, etc., but she didn't really take it seriously. She just diagnosed me with IBS, but I know that food has something to do with it! I just want my poor tummy to be fixed. :c

[Bubba's Mom]

You could have non Celiac gluten intolerance..or the damage to your small intestine was mild or not found. You can have Celiac with negative blood tests. Around 20-30-% of us test negative but have Celiac.

There's a test that can be done for frutose intolerance. It's very similar to the one for lactose intolerance and SIBO. You breath into a device that measures the gases in your exhale, then drink a solution and redo the exhale measure several times over a span of about 2 hours. You could push for that.

I would recommend you go 100% gluten free and see if it helps? If your system is inflamed some foods may be bothering you that wouldn't be once everything has settled down.

It's infuriating that Dr.s don't take this stuff seriously!

[GFinDC]

Right, failing the tests doesn't mean you don't have celiac disease. It may just mean the tests aren't very good. There is also NCGI (non-celiac gluten intolerance) which there are no tests for right now. So you are on your own if you have that condition, doctors can't test for it.

[Finally-45]

My gastro said that fructose intolerance can be different for each person.... I have the worst IBS reaction from corn, but it's mild for other fructose sources. I hope you feel better soon.