My Fructose Malabsorption & IBS Weren’t Invited to My Wedding Print 6 LikeDislike By Ashley Nickelsen Growing up my gut was always sensitive and fussy. By the age of 18, my symptoms were severely impacting my life academically and socially. When I finally decided to see a gastroenterologist, I was ultimately diagnosed with fructose malabsorption.Over the next couple of years, my reactions to foods came and went, but in the time leading up to my wedding, my stress level– and symptoms– skyrocketed. Read on to learn how I, a bride-to-be, managed to handle fructose malabsorption during one of the most nerve-wracking, exciting periods of my young adult life!Stressed to the max:In the year leading up to our wedding, I was also completing my final year of my Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Both combined to stress me enough that the foods I had previously managed to introduce (since 2006) had to be eliminated again, and I was eating strictly fructose friendly foods to deal with my fructose malabsorption and IBS. I Fainted! Symptoms included my usual suspects – cramps, gas and altered digestion. The biggest indication that my fructose malabsorption was active once more, was the time I fainted in front of my now husband and a bridesmaid to be. I’d had an apple earlier that day and was experiencing what I now call my “apple cramps,” which got so bad that I fainted and fell off my chair. I woke up on the floor a few seconds later to Ev and Kate looking down at me. Get HELP: In planning your wedding, don’t be afraid to ask for help, people have hidden talents! And everyone is excited to be a part of your big day. My family, fiancé, his family and our bridal party were fantastic. Sure, there were a couple of little disagreements in the lead up to the big day (I assume this is the same for everyone!) but all in all, they helped out with our DIY stationary, with RSVPs and with our DIY bouquets too (my Gran used to be a florist!) Also, whenever I needed to just chat there was always someone there for me. On the Menu:Choose simple dishes that can be altered with little fuss to suit your needs. When planning the wedding, we chose appetizers of vegetable and salmon platters and mains of a steak with a side of vegetables and topped with beetroot chips (I could pick off) and a mustard based sauce (on the side). I was pretty happy that the only safe option for dessert was my favourite: a trio of citrus sweets (orange blossom brulee, lemon sorbet and a citrus tart). Seeing as the tart was so small and it was the end of the night, I went ahead and enjoyed it! My now husband was especially supportive and continues to be my backup label reader! I am very lucky to have him around.Here are some of my gut friendly, yummy recipe ideas:Strawberry Coconut Chia PuddingRoasted Pumpkin Sage SoupBalsamic Rosemary Chicken RisottoPumpkin Pie with Gingerbread CrustNote: PLEASE consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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