lactose intolerance relief?

[Melclear]

I have just recently become terribly lactose intolerant, and am hoping that some others here can offer some advice. I am still learning what products have hidden dairy in them (I totally don't understand why frozen soy veggie products have milk solids!), and I know that in general, LI is managed just by controlling what I eat to avoid symptoms. But my questions is what to do when you have eaten something bad? So here I am, having eaten some whole wheat pancakes and I didn't realize that there was buttermilk in them. My tummy is letting me know how much it dislikes buttermilk. I have tried the OTC simethicone (doesn't work at all) and charcoal pills (help somewhat, but are kinda slow). Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Fidget Queen]

There is, unfortunately no easy solution. Just research, experience, and time. I actually avoided all dairy products like the plague for years and found that my stomach can now tolerate dairy just fine. The very unfortunate part is that I have found out that while my stomach stopped grumbling, my severe acne is intimately tied to the dairy. I read about the connection for years, but it took real personal experience to make me believe it. So these symptoms you are experiencing now are your body's way of telling you to STOP putting the stuff into your body.

The only thing that helps the gassiness that comes from being LI is making sure you are not constipated AT ALL. Sorry to be gross, but being backed up in any way will make it much much more painful and long lasting. Digestive enzymes (bromelaine being the most effective for me) will help, too. But you have to take a lot more than the bottle says. Instead of the 1, I take 6. It makes all the difference if taken within five minutes after eating.

I know it's horrible. I went through the excruciating pain for years during my early teen years while eating TONS AND TONS of dairy. It is ridiculous that we are so detached from the way food affects us that it took so long to figure it out. It kept me from living any kind of life.

 

[jonahnah]

I'd been lactose intolerant since my teens, but it didn't become really severe until I was in my early 30s. Mine did improve over time, but when it was at its worst, I couldn't even have a tsp of butter on a bagel or that would trigger severe cramping/diarrhea.

Basically, its trial and error and you learn to read labels VERY carefully. I use non-fat lactaid in my cereal, but I didn't have much luck w/ whatever the pill form is of lactaid.

I've found that after being dairy free for a few years, my intestines stopped going completely crazy when I ate cooked dairy products, but I still can't eat whipped cream or ice cream unless there's an available bathroom really close.... So, I can drink a cappucino since the milk is steamed, but I can't have cream or half & half in coffee.

Good luck!

 

[nspire]

OMG!! Now I know why my stomach has been going crazy for the past few days. I have a friend who gave me some of her Nutrisystem products to try. Well, I've been getting stomach cramps and gas really bad. When I looked at the ingredients for most of the food it contained soy, which is what has been upsetting my stomach.

I did try digestive enzymes and they seem to work ok.

 

[story1267]

Digestive Advantage

My son was tested and found to be lactose intolerant. His GI doc suggested we try Digestive Advantage - Lactose Intolerance. I think it's basically LactAid but it lasts all day. He takes one every morning and it has made a huge difference in his *ahem* music-making.

I keep thinking I should try it myself, and then always forget, but I think it's worth a shot if you can't or won't go 100% dairy free.

 

[Melclear]

Thanks everyone. Suzanne, is Digestive Advantage an OTC thing or do I need a prescription for it?

 

[story1267]

It's definitely OTC and widely available. Worth it to shop around - I've gotten it pretty cheap at Walmart but I've seen it at all the various drug stores.

They make different kinds so you want to be careful to get the Lactose Intolerance version.

Here's their website. Coupons and everything!

http://www.digestiveadvantage.com/

 

[JodelleFitzh20]

Enzyme's a definate if you are going to keep doing dairy. But if you are intolerant, that is your body telling that it cannont tolerate the dairy so maybe try to do without for about a month or so and see how you feel. There are lots of dairy free alternatives. Have you tried Almond Milk? It's creamy and if comes in different flavors too. It also makes a lovely coffee creamer. Also, you can bake with it. I use it in everything from a cookies, to pancakes, to biscuits and so forth.
You can make a really yummy dairy free cheese spread out of cashews, or there is a brand of dairy free cheese made from cashews called "Whip Cheeze" and it's made by one of the boys from Home Improvement who is now all grown up and dairy free.
And another my boss and I discovered one day when we thought some canned coconut milk we'd bought had gone bad is that when the coconut fat settles and separates from the coconut water in the can is that it becomes a very creamy thick coconut yogurt-type consistency that makes you forget why you liked regular yogurt in the first place! It's my new favorite! Hope those suggestions help you!

 

[PhyllisG]

I too am lactose intolerant and finally have switched to almond milk unsweetened in my oatmeal. I also found coconut milk by SoDelicious that I have been having in my tea/coffee. It is soy free. This is not like the coconut milk you get in a can but has the consistency of milk. Just making these changes has made an enormous difference. My stomach is flatter and less bloated and I no longer have to take enzymes. I like both of these substitutes unsweetened tho they do have sweetened ones also.