Am I weird?
#308778 - 06/08/07 05:13 AM
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chitchat1
Reged: 05/09/07
Posts: 69
Loc: Michigan
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I seem to be able to tolerate artifical sweetners and HFCS, I don't get bloating or gas or pain. However, I have read so many times here that we should avoid it. What are the drawbacks to me continuing using both the above? are there other reasons for not including these in your diet? Can anyone else tolerate HFCS and artifical sweetners? if so, I'd love to hear from you...thanks! 
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It is an individual thing and it can affect non-IBS individuals too. Some people can consume significant amounts of HFCS and sweetners with no ill effects while many others cannot tolerate any. In some studies 40-60% of the IBS patients showed a significant reduction in symptoms when high fructose foods (e.g. HFCS) and sweetners such as sorbitol were removed from the diet.
Reference
Goldstein, R., D. Braverman, and H. Stankiewicz, 2000: Carbohydrate Malabsorption and the Effect of Dietary Restriction on Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Functional Bowel Complaints. Israel Medical Association Journal, 2.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
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Thanks for your reply. Do you think HFCS and sweetners can make you C even if you don't have any other symptoms? I am still experimenting and trying to find out why I am still constipated.
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You asked a very interesting question. The research seems to suggest that the way you to figure it out is to remove sweetners and high fructose foods from your diet for a period of one month and see if you symptoms improve. I noticed an effect within a week.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
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The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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wow, that is impressive! thanks, I will give it a try. I have cut out the sweetners with no problem but I find the bread and snacks I am having have HFCS, so I will cut those out and see how it goes, were you IBS-C also? and it helped?
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Good Morning,
I am a C as well and at first I didnt think that HFCS was bothering me either because it didnt give me the usual gas and bloating that I get from many other things, but as soon as I elimiated it, within a day I could feel the difference. It wasnt significant but I think it will help me to become stable. It is defiantely worth a try. I havent used any artificial sweetner in over 2 months now.
Abby
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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HFCS, sorbitol, etc are not the only things you should try removing from your diet. The problem with HFCS is that it contains high amounts of fructose. You have to eliminate all high fructose foods including fruits and juices such as apple, pear, mango, etc. Check this message for more information.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
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Thanks so much, that is good to know that it has helped you. I have tried cutting everything else out and this is about the last thing. So bakery bread and bagels are ok to eat?
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So what exactly do you eat???? (giggles!). What do you tend to snack on? I found long ago that I could not tolerate Apples or any fruit actually apart from canned fruit. I do like to snack but what on? Any idea's would be great, thanks!
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For fruit I eat primarily semi ripe bananas, deseeded kiwi fruit and some berries. My snacks tend to be carbohydrates such as homemade pita chips, motza, pretzels (no oil or HFCS), low fat potato chips, low fat corn chips, etc.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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I am fructose intolerant and can not handle any fruite except for banannas in bread. I eat pretzels, luna bars, rice cakes (organic no fructose), newmans alphabet cookies, freshly made muffins and bread, hummus, nature valley makes a good oat and hunny bar (no hfcs or dairy), chex mix (great receipe on the site), grahm crackers...In the begining I didnt think there was much I could snack on either, but as long as you are willing to try new things then you can find something. All of my snacks are dairy free and HFCS free and also no artificial sugar.
hope this helps
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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Thank you so much for the idea's -I'll be off to the supermarket and HFS tonight. I eally appreciate your inputs, thanks!
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Abby
#310347 - 07/03/07 07:15 AM
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Jordy
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 2095
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How did you determine you were fructose intolerant?
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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Re: Abby
#310353 - 07/03/07 08:29 AM
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abby6126
Reged: 04/09/07
Posts: 219
Loc: Towson MD
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the doctor can do a breath test just like they do for lactose intolerance. My trouble with fruit goes back to when I was a child long before I knew that I had IBS.
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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Re: Abby
#310355 - 07/03/07 08:57 AM
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Jordy
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 2095
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Did you get the breath test? I can't find a place that does one in the entire state.
What do you eat for fruit and veggies?
Do you get your fiber from a specific Fiber supplement?
I don't want to jump on the Fructose intolerant wagon if I really don't have it....but I can never be sure without that breath test. Elimination diets do nothing.
Thanks
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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Re: Abby
#310356 - 07/03/07 09:17 AM
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abby6126
Reged: 04/09/07
Posts: 219
Loc: Towson MD
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They should do a breath test at a hospital. thats where I go. I actually havent eaten any fruit in over a year. Last summer I tried eating apples, bananas and grapes. I was terribly bloated after eating them, so my doctor told me to stop. I have tried to bring them back into my diet but the only way I can handle any fruit is baked in bread. So bananna on occasional in bread is all that I eat. As for veggies I eat Carrots, Green Beans, Spinach, Mushrooms, zuchini and sqash.I take 2 citracel caplets after lunch and another 2 after dinner.
Hope this helps
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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Jordy
#310357 - 07/03/07 09:19 AM
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abby6126
Reged: 04/09/07
Posts: 219
Loc: Towson MD
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what state do you live in?
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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Questions
#310370 - 07/03/07 01:49 PM
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Syl
Reged: 03/13/05
Posts: 5499
Loc: SK, CANADA
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Abby - you are the first person that I know of that has posted on this message that they have had a fructose malabsorption test. The reason I am interested is that they don't do this test where I live. I had to use a dietary exclusion process to figure out my fructose malabsorption problem.
I presume they gave you a solution containing 25 grams of fructose to drink and then you had a breath test at various times. Is this correct?
I have a couple of questions. How did the test make you feel - i.e. did you experience any IBS symptoms? Did they tell you how sensitive you were to fructose or was it left up to you to figure how much excess fructose you could eat without experiencing problems? Did they give you a sheet or something with dietary instructions? If they did - would it be possible for you to post the instructions on the message board?
Thanks 
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Hello!
About a year ago I started experience terrible cramping gas and bloating, much worse than before. I went to my internest who told me that I was eating too much fruit and should eliminate and slowly bring it back in.
After that I stopped most fruit except for grapes and the occasional apple or bananna, which gave me a lot of bloating. After about 6 more months of pain I found a gastro who ran a ton of tests and narrowed it down to IBS.
He sent me to the hospital and told me that I would be taking a breath test that would test different types of sugar levels. I drank that gross liquid and blew into the tube. They stoped my test early because they said my levels were too high. I came home to terrible cramping and was in the bathroom the rest of day.
That next day I met with my doctor and he told me that I was severly lactose intolerant and needed to be very careful with fruit. And thats where he left it. He told me it was all trial by error and even said that I shouldnt cut dairy out of my diet.
He said that I should test the fruits one by one and see how it made me feel. Since that day I have yet to eat any fruit as it still makes me nervous.
Hope this helps a little
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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Re: Questions
#310382 - 07/04/07 05:22 AM
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Syl
Reged: 03/13/05
Posts: 5499
Loc: SK, CANADA
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It sounds like you were being given a three sugar breath test (lactose, fructose and sorbitol). For this test they give a relatively high amount of these sugars. If you are quite sensitive to them then you are likely to experience cramping, bloating and possibibly D afterwards. This is one of the reasons I have not bothered to find a place that does this test. It would give me a serious flare-up and it would take a few days for me to recover.
It is really unfortunate that you doctor did not give you any dietary guidelines regarding fruits to eat. There is an excellent set of dietary guidelines prepared by a group in Australia. If you live near a university then you may want to see if you can get a copy of the article from their library. The complete reference is below. If you cannot find it tell me and I will summarize the dietary guidelines for you.
Good Luck
Reference
Shepherd SJ, Gibson PR (2006). Fructose malasborption and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: guidelines for effective dietary management . Journal of the American Dietetic Association 106 (10): 1631–9.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Thanks for the reference. I am going to take a look at it and if I cant find it, I will be sure to ask. How have you been doing with fruit? Do you eat any and if so what and how? Thanks!
Abby
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Abby-IBS-C, Lactose Intolerant, fructose sensitive
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Re: Questions
#310451 - 07/05/07 05:32 AM
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Syl
Reged: 03/13/05
Posts: 5499
Loc: SK, CANADA
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I did not eat any fruit for about a year. Lately I have introduced semi ripe bananas, deseed kiwi fruit and strawberries. Most berries and stone fruits are low in fructose. Also, citrus fruits are low in fructose. However, most stone fruit such as cherries, peaches, nectarines and plums are high sorbitol so I stay away from them. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that by itself can act as a laxative but in combination with fructose produces more problems for fructose malabsorbers.
Here is a message that I posted before about fruits and fructose.
Good luck.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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I'm the same way. I was able to tolerate dairy products, even though it was on the bad list. I've also found that I can tolerate more "natural" artifical sweeteners, like stevia and xylitol. Everyone's different.
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Tierney
IBS-C
www.StandardProcess.com[/url] = the home of REAL supplements
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How do you guys figure out what you're intolerant of and what you're not. My body's too unpredictable. May my IBS needs to stabilise before i can do that?
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Sarah
IBS-C
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Some of finding out what your tolerances are is trial and error. Or at least, for me it was that way. For example, initially, I did not think I had a problem with dairy, but once I cut it out, I felt better. And, until I stabilized, I tried to be very careful with experimentation.
Except when I was very, very unstable, HCFS has not been a problem for me. Now, it seems like just about everyone is saying do not touch the stuff. When I first came on the boards 2.5 years ago, if I recall, it was mentioned as something not everyone can tolerate, but not that it was totally verboten.
There are also some things I can tolerate that are major triggers for others. I won't list them here because I don't want to newer people to think what's safe for me is safe for them, nor do I care to hear someone tell me I'm doing it "wrong," but suffice it to say that IBS is an individual thing and we all have at least a few different tolerances/intolerances.
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Thank you for your response, much appreciated
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Sarah
IBS-C
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