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Adjusting to Eli's Fructose Malabsorption
Our son Eli was just recently diagnosed with Fructose malabsorption. Can I just say first of all that it stinks? Really, it does. This article is about getting this diagnosis and figuring out what it all means. I am obviously new to this and as I am finding information, I will share it with everyone.
Our son has many issues, such as severe reflux (GERD) and motility issues. He has also undergone the Nissen fundoplication. Through searching and figuring out what has been going on with Eli, he was tested for fructose intolerance by a fructose breath test. This test is very accurate. Within an hour, we had a positive diagnosis for fructose malabsorption. On top of everything else we were currently dealing with, we were sent home from the doctor's office with a new diet he had to stick to, the fructose-free and sucrose-free diet.
When a doctor tells you fructose-free and sucrose-free, what he REALLY means is no fructose, sucrose, definitely no high fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, corn (karo) syrup, maple syrup, and powdered sugar. Also, any other form of any of these is also prohibited, making the diet even more difficult to follow. So, I have to research each thing I find and make sure it doesn't REALLY mean one of these items above even if the general ingredient isn't listed.
These ingredients are in a lot more foods than I ever imagined. In fact, while shopping, it is not uncommon to find myself, my husband, my mother, or one of Eli's brothers standing in an aisle at the grocery store, head hung low, and looking defeated as we hold in our hands something we were hoping so badly he could have. Before, we ate like many other typical American families, which isn't the healthiest. Now, you can definitely find me reading labels and looking like a health nut in any store. We've even tried unique health food stores, but had no luck there, either. The whole family went on one anticipated excursion only to leave empty handed. It just seems that most of the "fun" foods are out for now. Halloween is viewed as dooms day around here at the moment, and we are thinking about canceling and pretending it doesn't exist.
There is hope, though! I plan on continuing my mission to find foods that Eli and other fructose free kids can have. I am going to make a list and add to it and have it here at MWP for other parent who are searching. It might be small at first, but it will hopefully grow quickly! I have already discovered safe cookies, crackers, and popcorn!
There are foods that he can have, too. A fructose free child can have most meats, milk, most veggies, potatoes, breads and spices. He can even have sugar free jello and sugar free puddings. From what I understand all fructose malabsorbing people have different threshholds for how much fructose and sucrose they can handle. Some have many symptoms while others don't feel any side effects from their intolerance.
Here is a great link that really helped me calm down after I found out about Eli's fructose malabsorption.
http://applesaway.squarespace.com/articlesstories/2006/9/22/help-what-is-fructose-intolerance-or-malabsorption.html
Please join us on our message board and share any information you have about fructose malabsorption!
Written by: Eli's Mom, Erin
Read more about Other Conditions:
Fructose Malabsorption/Intolerance F.A.Q.'s,
Fun Fructose-Free Foods for Toddlers and Children
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