Alexandra Adams, Boston USA
My story started in 2006 when I went to the doctor because of stomach pains. For years I wasn’t given a diagnosis but instead was advised to wait and see how I feel, cut down on fiber, try lactose free milk, try meditation and yoga, and take probiotics. This was a really hard time for me because I was not feeling well but did not know why.
It wasn’t until one night in 2012 when the nausea, stomach pain, and abdominal cramps were so bad that I went to the emergency room. I ended up leaving the ER with no new information but another doctor’s appointment for the next morning. It was then, after I expressed my frustration to the doctor, that she sent me for a slew of tests. Before then, all that was done was blood work. I had an ultrasound, a CAT scan, two breath tests, and a colonoscopy.
At the end of these tests I learned that I had fructose malabsorption, a digestive disorder where my small intestine is not able to absorb fructose well. This resulted in me having abdominal pain and cramps, bloating, gas, constipation, nausea, joint pains, fatigue, brain fog, and this weird pain behind my eyes.
I was sent to a nutritionist to learn about the low FODMAP diet, which is also recommended for those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. I went from healthily eating whatever I wanted, to not being able to eat wheat, onions, garlic, certain fruit and vegetables, and more. The elimination phase was not difficult for me, but I did miss eating a variety of food.
It was the reintroduction phase, when you try different FODMAP foods to learn what your stomach can tolerate, that was hard for me. I became nervous and reluctant to try foods because I was concerned that I would become sick again.
Over time and with the help of my nutritionist, I learned to eat a healthy well-varied diet again. Today I feel healthy and the majority of days my stomach is okay. If I am not careful and I eat one of my trigger foods or if I eat too much of a certain food, the stomach pains, bloating, joint pain, and fatigue return. The difference is now I know how to manage it and by eating carefully or going back on the low FODMAP diet, I will feel better in a couple of days.
I have always eaten healthy but through this process, I have learned the importance of eating organic and non-processed food. Additionally, I have realized that patients need to educate and advocate for themselves. It should not have taken six years, a trip to the ER, and my frustration for me to be diagnosed with fructose malabsorption.
However, it did. As I sat in waiting rooms for my tests, I met people who also had no idea why they were having digestive issues years after the symptoms began. This includes a woman who was undiagnosed after ten years. I recommend that if you are not feeling well, ask questions, learn as much as you can, and partner with your doctor to ensure you are as healthy as you can be.
Best wishes,
Alexandra
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