I have had a LONG 2013 so I haven't been able to write, but think it was time I got back into things! 2013 seems to have been one of those years where if it could go wrong it has. In hindsight it hasn't really been that bad, and I have been blessed in many ways this year, but it's been crazy enough to keep me from writing, which is usually my biggest outlet!
Especially considering my health it's been an uphill battle this year. I broke my foot, had numerous smaller illnesses like strep and bronchitis in addition to the normal Celiac, RA and Pancreatitis. One illness though in particular I wanted to share.
I thought that I knew all about Celiac and related conditions, that I was well informed and in control. I was not prepared for the curve ball it threw me this year and the resulting diagnosis. It seemed that although I had been gluten free for over six years now I was still having symptoms after eating. My mom was the first one who pointed out to me that there was something else that I was eating or consuming that was making me sick. Every time I would go to New Day Gluten Free and have my usual turkey sandwich I would be sick by the time I made it home. It is only about a thirty minute drive, so whatever was causing the problem, the reaction was quick!
Since New Day is 100% gluten free I knew that cross-contamination wasn't the problem. And since my turkey sandwich consists only of bread, turkey, lettuce and onion it seemed that wasn't the problem either. The only other thing I could think of was that I would have a nice big Coke every time I was there. It seemed weird that Coke could make me sick, but decided to run an experiment and cut Coke out to see how I felt.
Amazingly without Coke I no longer got sick after eating my turkey sandwich! I LOVE Coke but decided it didn't like me, so I went without. I tried other sodas but they made me sick too. I couldn't figure out if it was the carbonation, the acid, or the caffeine. It just didn't make sense. Anytime I drank soda within half an hour I would be doubled over with stomach pain, and all the glorious symptoms associated with food poisoning of being "glutenated"... I still had reactions after eating other things, but I couldn't pinpoint the culprit.
I called and talked to my gastroenterologist who told me I will probably always have a "temperamental" digestive tract and there wasn't much that could be done besides trying to control symptoms. I am also pretty sure she thinks I have completely lost my mind! Who leaves a message for their doctor saying Coke is making me sick? It doesn't make sense. There is no Coke-itis in the medical dictionary!
The defining moment came when my mom made some lemonade. I drank some and was sick within the usual half hour. Not knowing what could have done it I checked the ingredients and finally began to connect the dots. With the exception of water the only ingredient in common with soda was high-fructose corn syrup. I didn't understand how or why high-fructose corn syrup could make me sick, but knowing that it had to be the culprit I began doing a ton of research and asking around.
What I found is that there is an actual disorder called Fructose Malabsorbtion. One of the most fascinating facts I learned was Fructose Malabsorbtion
is most commonly found in patents diagnosed with Lactose Intolerance or
Celiac Disease. I was dumbfounded that "my" disease that I thought I
knew so much about could be linked with another condition I had never
even imagined.
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2100144888579601052#editor/target=post;postID=6851639397628119030
Fructose Malabsorbtion is similar to Lactose Intolerance in that your body cannot digest it, it is different however, in that unlike Lactose Intolerance there is nothing you can take to aid your body in digesting fructose. A fructose molecule is already so small it cannot be broken down any further the way lactose enzymes break lactose down. The only treatment for the disorder is to eliminate fructose as much as possible from your diet.
Fructose proved to be, for me anyway, trickier at eliminating than gluten was. High-fructose corn syrup was pretty easy, (though it feels like it is in EVERYTHING that gluten isn't in), but learning which foods naturally contained more took lots of research! An example of such foods include: apples, watermelon, pears, honey, agave, and fruit juices, and foods like onion, and garlic can be consumed, but only in small amounts. Needless to say I am still learning, but for the most part all the symptoms I had have begun to disappear. Even within the last two weeks I have felt better than I have in months, all due to cutting out fructose.
Below are some links and more information regarding Fructose Malabsorbtion. Please do not confuse this with Hereditary Fructose Intolerance, which while similar can be a very serious and even fatal disease. Also while I recommend keeping a food journal and experimenting with eliminating foods if you are having symptoms there is no substitute for talking with your doctor and receiving an official diagnosis. Especially when there are other much more serious diseases that can mimic a food intolerance!
Mayo Clinic
Wikipedia
