OT -lactose intolerance

[Hawthorne]

I have enjoyed milk all my life. In the last while I have only had a small amount on cereal in the am. A few days okay I felt like a glass of milk in the afternoon. Wow! I had terrible cramping and bloating and some almost diarrhea. I was surprised but searched and found that people can develop lactose intolerance any time during their life. I had experienced some bloating and abdominal discomfort to some extent for some time. I just thought it was all the RA drugs I take, although I do take a PPI.

I searched further re lactose intolerance and began to use lactose free milk. What a difference! My symptoms are virtually gone!

I am now wondering about other dairy products, like cheese, which I also enjoy. I am researching "Lactaid" pills. Does anyone here use them? It seems you take them just before eating (or drinking) any dairy product.

Any experiences you can share would be welcome.

[nanwilson]

Granddaughter is lactose intolerant too, she tried the pills but said they were useless. She just uses lactose free milk, yogurt and ice cream. We are a bunch of cheese freaks in this family, if she can't find lactose free cheese she will just have a small piece every so often with no ill effects. You may find you will have a problem with chocolate too , she can't have a lot of it or she gets the same symptoms as with milk........ and of course its Christmas and we get loaded with boxes of chocolates from friends . Good luck.
Nan

[BlackSpinner]

Most cheeses are lactose free because the chemical process to becoming cheese uses it all up. Yoghurt is mostly lactose free as well naturally.

If you still react to cheese then it is the proteins you are reacting too.

The majority of the world can not digest lactose after they are weaned. Even those of us of European descent can lose it anytime after childhood if the gene decides to switch off.

[Hawthorne]

Thanks, both of you, for those helpful replies!!

I'm REALLY sorry to hear about chocolate, but I guess there are milk products in it.

I will limit chocolate (hard at this time of year) but the last time I had chocolate, I did have some symptoms. I had the same problem with ice cream.

I have not really noticed anything with cheese. Will watch it though.

[cflame1]

I'm finding that I really like coconut milk as a substitute for milk. Trainer doesn't want me eating/drinking dairy, though I do sometimes anyways.

They make a really good coconut milk ice cream - I like a "So Delicious" brand.

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks, both of you, for those helpful replies!!

I'm REALLY sorry to hear about chocolate, but I guess there are milk products in it.

I will limit chocolate (hard at this time of year) but the last time I had chocolate, I did have some symptoms. I had the same problem with ice cream.

I have not really noticed anything with cheese. Will watch it though.

Cacao (powdered chocolate) does not have milk in it and can be used to create chocolate deserts. Almond milk works well with chocolate.

[wm_hess]

I too have this problem. My problem is both milk and cheeses. Lactaid doesn't do much for me.

Last night I had a Pzone from the local pizza place, and made sure to order it without cheese. They didn't put the cheese IN the pizza, but they managed to dust the top with some form of cheese. I didn't notice or think about it at first, but about an hour later I was looking for the pepto.

-Bill

[Janknitz]

My daughter is lactose intolerant and she does fine with the pills. You can also buy lactase enzyme drops (Amazon has them) to add to milk rather than paying extra for lactaid milk. You add the drops and wait 24 hours for the enzymes to work.

Fermented dairy might or might not be ok for you. You have to see for yourself. Butter and ghee have very little lactose to begin with. Some people tolerate raw dairy better. And the less fat, the more concentrated milk sugar, so avoid low fat dairy products.

It's very common for people who are lactose intolerant to also be gluten intolerant. I think my daughter is as she has symptoms of IBS, but she won't consider giving up gluten.

[BlackSpinner]

I too have this problem. My problem is both milk and cheeses. Lactaid doesn't do much for me.

Last night I had a Pzone from the local pizza place, and made sure to order it without cheese. They didn't put the cheese IN the pizza, but they managed to dust the top with some form of cheese. I didn't notice or think about it at first, but about an hour later I was looking for the pepto.

-Bill

Then it is not the lactose that you are reacting to, it could be a protein. It is best to get tested to see whether this is an allergy or an intolerance. Food allergies have a bad habit of turning from a mild thing to life threatening in the blink of an eye.

[Thewino]

Hawthorne,

I a very, very intolerant of Lactose. I have drank the Lactaid milk for years. For me, this is what milk tastes like. I cannot eat anything with dairy without having severe symptoms. Sometimes, the abdominal pain awakens me at night if I have slipped up.

Yogurt certainly has dairy and is out for me. Cheese can be funny. It really depends on how it is made.

If there is a small amount of dairy in my food, I will chew two 'Lactaid - Fast Act' pills beforehand. I buy them at Publix.

The company that makes Lactaid milk is increasing their line of food items and now make ice cream and other items. Also, Bryers makes Vanilla and Chocolate lactose free ice cream.

Lactose intolerance and milk allergies are two separate issues.

Take care,
TheWino

[Hawthorne]

LOTS of very helpful information here! Thank you all so much!

Always glad to get more information so keep it coming.

[CapnLoki]

I've been lactose intolerant since I was about 30. For about 20 years I was quite sensitive to most dairy products and stopped eating almost all milk products. For some reason, high quality chocolate ice cream, eaten after a meal didn't bother me (mind over matter?) but even a small bit of cream or "cheesy" foods like pizza would set me off. Beware of comments like "its only a touch of cream" or "cheese is lactose free" and keep pills handy when you eat out. Some hard aged cheese are OK, but softer cheeses can be high in lactose. Modern processing often adds lactose to products that might otherwise be lactose-free.

In my case the LI has diminished over the years - small amounts of products that would do me in 20 years ago I can handle now. I still doubt that I will ever have a bowl of clam chowder again.

Here's an interesting guide to living with LI:
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ekende/lactose.htm

[Kiralynx]

I am now wondering about other dairy products, like cheese, which I also enjoy. I am researching "Lactaid" pills. Does anyone here use them? It seems you take them just before eating (or drinking) any dairy product.

Any experiences you can share would be welcome.

Hard aged cheeses -- aged at least 30 days -- may be okay.

If you choose to make your own yogurt, ferment it for at least 24 hours, and it will be virtually lactose free.

Some people find they do better with goat's milk for their yogurt and cheeses.

I have been eating like this for over 12 years now -- makes a MAJOR difference in my gut.

[SleepingUgly]

I am severely lactose intolerant, and have been for decades. Not all cheeses are lactose free. Some say it on the package (e.g., Cracker Barrel's sharp cheddar says it), some aged cheeses have less lactose, and yogurt with active cultures and yogurt cheese is virtually lactose free. The pills work quite well, although I tend to take a lot of them just to be sure (e.g., if I'm eating pizza or ice cream, I might take 4-5 pills, even though I might not need that many...it can't hurt). I take the pills, then immediately eat. I have used Lactaid brand pills, as well as the Walmart Equate generic for the Lactaid Fast Acting pills, and those work just as well and are cheaper. Does it work 100% of the time? No, but it works such a high percent that the only time I curtail my dairy intake is if I'm traveling r if it's intense dairy like cheesecake or ice cream and I can't afford a possible stomachache.

[chezdan9]

I have been lactose intolerant for almost 25 years now and Lactaid pills are a staple in our home. Strangely, I can eat small amounts of sour cream (??), almost all hard cheeses (avoid brie and other soft cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta), but things like ice cream and milk send me right over the edge.

BEWARE of items containing WHEY. It is everywhere! Low-cost hotdogs (don't EVER eat one unless you can read the package), 'Nilla Wafers (who knew?), and lots of other products use whey as a filler. I have found out over the years by trial and error.

I have just learned to like frozen yogurt instead of ice cream and gave up cereal unless I use lactaid milk, but blech - I don't need cereal. I eat a lot of yogurt that contains live cultures and can digest that very well, so that's where I get my dairy protein.

It's like any other issue in life - you'll learn to deal with it in your own way. Good luck and I hope you avoid unexpected trips to the bathroom!!