mixed GI symptoms

[Betzizi]

Any ideas about this combination?  I've had mild ache in right abdominal area off and on for months, sometimes after fatty meals, all else fine.  Then two weeks ago I tossed two aspirin down on a semi-empty stomach, awoke with stomach pain, bloating, tenderness,nausea. I saw the doc who checked for appendicitis.  I also had had a fatty meal earlier that day.  Assuming a  gall bladder problem, I decided to avoid fats. Took several days for the nausea to go away.  Generalized sensation of heat across the my abdomen occured a few times.  Trying especially oily things brings a mild version on again.  But  on top of it, my Hemacult just came back showing some blood in the stool --  in two of the six windows.  I've also felt somewhat constipated ever since.  Is this two separate things going on at once, or can there by a touch of bleeding with a gall bladder attack, or ??  As background, I also have a serious chronic Lyme Disease situation (many years) with antibiotic use off and on for several, and take probiotic pearls.  Also have the Lyme co-infection of Babesia in the gut.  Also multiple food hypersensitivities. I am a 57 year old woman.  Ah, life used to be so simple!

[boron]

Yes, asparagus contain some fructose, but also fructans - these are moecules with frucose and glucose - which are not absorbed, but they MAY cause gas and diarrhea in persons with fructose malabsorption. It's the same with wheat, onions and leeks.

[Betzizi]

Hi! Thanks so much for all of that info.  I had no clue fructose might be included in so many things.  The info about sorbitol and the "tols" is really helpful, too. Asparagus?!?  Does that really have something which could cause the same problems as fructose and/or sugar?  Wow! Thanks again for your helpful info.
Betzizi

[boron]

Gallbladder usually spasms after a fatty meal, but bile ducts or sphincter of Oddi which opens/closes the duct before opening into duodenum can spasm in meantime. Anyway, wait for US.

If you can't eat fructose, you should avoid carrots and tomatoes. Also most fruits, especially apples, pears, prunes, dates, figs, and stone fruits (appricots, peaches, sweat cherries). Bananas, strawberries, cranberries, oranges may be OK.
Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) which may be in any sweetened, tinned, packaged food. Avoid HONEY.
Some people with fructose malabsorption can't tolerate wheat, onions, asparagus, leeks, artichokes which all contain fructans. Read labels and avoid inulin, FOS or oligofructose.
AVOID SORBITOL!. This is in "low-calorie" foods, some diet sodas, "sugar free" chewing gum. Also avoid other polyols: xylitol, maltitol, lactitol..what ends on -tol.

In short, avoid sweet foods, and anything containing fructose, HFCS, inulin, FOS, oligofructose, sorbitol and other "polyols". For more read my journal about fructose malabsorption.

[Betzizi]

PS to Boron --  The past couple of mornings I've awakened feeling just fine in that upper right quadrant of the abdomen, but as a little time goes on, even while I'm still in bed, it starts to hurt...almost as if waking up and starting the day in itself has caused a stress to the GB.  Is it possible that the GB can just start spasming lightly from normal activity?  Thanks again,
Betzizi

[Betzizi]

Gee, thanks for taking time to respond!  Makes a lot of sense, what you just wrote out.  I just talked with my doctor yesterday and he is ordering an U/S but hadn't thought of the H pylori. Great idea!  I'll ask him to add that.  They can do that with a blood test, right?  Since I'm so hyper-sensitive to EVERYthing, I would not look forward to a sedative and scope!  As for food sensitivities, the Lyme has wiped out my immune system and overloaded my liver enough that I am pretty much unable to eat the vast majority of foods, including the standards of gluten, dairy, yeast, etc.  -- but am safe with a few things, including beef, chicken, lamb, touch of potato, rice, a few veggies.  The onset of this GI trouble started with a greasy meal (hamburger patty and french fries) and the aspirin later.  But then a week later my worst reaction was to something I considered very safe --  a lovely chicken soup w/ skinless chicken, celery, carrots and a bit of rice.  That was it.  Very bad bloating and pain which finally subsided after maybe 7 hours.  I am now tip-toeing around food and have already lost 5 pounds (now at 110 at 5'4"), which is not a trend I want to continue.  All sugars and fructose are out because they have, for several years, caused very serious headaches (feels like a swollen brain) and dizziness the next day.  Does any of this help?  Oh - one more  thing -- occasionally over the past couple of years when I have eaten fatty meals, I have had a mild ache in the gall bladder area. Thank you again for your thoughts!!!

[boron]

Yes, it could be two or even more coincidences here.
Gallbladder (ultrasound!)
Gastritis/ulcer, which can be caused by H. pylori (have test)
Food Intolerances - can you say more- what exactly can't you tolerate?