Lactose Intolerance
 

I have a new gastro-doctor. About 4-5 years ago I was diagnosed with IBS (after suffering my whole adult life) and have controlled it with daily medication since. My new doc says maybe it's not IBS, but lactose intolerance. Easy to discover at home, he says.

I went 2 weeks with no dairy. You really have to scrutinize labels, but it can be done. Then I loaded up on my favorite ice cream and waited for the results. I didn't have to wait long. So now I buy Lactaid milk and cottage cheese and take a lactaid (contains lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose) pill with any other dairy I consume.

The benefits: I've cut a lot of fat out of my diet by eliminating most cheese, sour cream and ice cream, I've cut out a $92/month prescription, I'm more alert to what's in my food since I read every label on prepared foods, look at menus carefully and nutrition info online.

Downside: My fart production is off a good 90%. Mrs BV is a happier camper, but I miss them.

My biggest problem is finding any lactose-free dairy products besides milk and cottage cheese. Any help?

While not lactose-free, yogurt and aged hard cheese (cheddar, Swiss) should be free or very low in lactose.


I think its still best to use a lactase pill prior to eating to avoid the bloating and gassy after effects. I am sure Mrs BV will appreciate the silence and respite for her sense of smell. :)

I'm intolerant of lactose intolerant people.

keep in mind that there are two forms of dairy intolerance. lactose gets the most press, but there is another protein called casein that can be as bad or worse. worse not just in effects, but it's apparently acceptable for products containing casein to list themselves as "dairy free."

either way, looking for lactose-free dairy products is akin to looking for tomato-free ketchup. you are better off looking for soy or rice based alternatives. spend some time at whole foods or similar markets that carry lots of organics - they have the best selection and will give you a good road map for your options.

lol +1

OP, are you taking any medications? It's been proven that certain medications will decrease the amount of lactase your body produces. In particular, aspirin is a culprit.

HTSC

Lactaid now makes lactose free ice cream and egg nog. I have not tried them. I do not plan on trying them. I'd just stick with the real stuff...and make sure that the head is nearby.:)

Think of it as doing your part to keep this planet from getting too warm.

You miss farting ??? :confused:

Are you sure it's the lactose, not a reduction in fat intake (for example?)

Lactose intolerance can be tested for - does normally involve a colonoscopy though (and samples of the intestine taken and tested).

Oh, and depending on the type of IBS you have, you may find Calcium pills beneficial.

What drugs were you on?

Have you been taking probiotics as well? Lactase treats what you eat when you take it, but probiotics colonize your intestine with bacteria that help break down lactose.

...and you'd know if it was lactose vs. casein since lactaid milk and lactaid would provide no benefit to someone with a casein issue.
there is also a hydrogen breath test.

It was called Levbid when it was first prescribed, but I was switched to another brand. I think the generic is Hyoscyamine. I've dropped from 2 a day to 1 and will drop it entirely when the current bottle is empty. I have been taking Aciphex also, but that only started a couple months ago and I will drop that when the bottle is empty as well.

I'm a guy. It's something I was good at. I could almost poot at will.

I tried probiotics. No help that I could discern.

not true. it's not uncommon to be affected by both.

The lactaid milk and cottage cheese are very good. The ice cream, on the other hand, is pretty aweful. Bought the chocolate, took one spoonful, and threw the carton away. YMMV.

kefir is great for people with lactose int.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir

wife makes about a gallon a day.

indian restaurant cooking can give one a serious lactose attack. some cook with a huge amount of ghee, which is concentrated lactose.

:confused::confused::confused:

"The milk solids that do remain in butter are removed when the butter is clarified (what the Indians call ghee). There might be minute amounts of lactose in ghee but it is unlikely to be enough to have an effect on those who are lactose intolerant."

http://www.drgourmet.com/askdrgourme...e-butter.shtml

I haven't been formally diagnosed by a doctor, but I know I've got it...

Starting about age 38, a glass of milk or a bowl of ice cream would lead to some serious regrets 6 to 24 hours later. I can eat cheese, but too much (3-4 slices of a heavily cheesed pizza) and I'm in the same sh**ty situation.

I don't do the lactose-free stuff. Won't even try it. I would consider calcium tablets if I felt I needed them, but would rather eat my cheese with a little moderation. :D

Three of my four children are lactose intolerant. They always carry Lactaid with them. They normally take one just as they start eating (irrespective of whether it is dairy---except for sushi). They buy their Lactaid at Costco. There is a Kirkland brand which costs less than the name brand and works very well.

I'm not really sure if people understood my reference to Calcium or not... Calcium tablets are known as a way of helping when IBS affects digestion of food in certain ways.

Google IBS and Calcium, or alternatively Magnesium and IBS and see what you find.

The various house brands manufactured by Perrigo work at least as well
as Lactaid.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

In general how well do these work? Also what foods would people recommend to use to differentiate between lactose and cassein intolerance? Thanks.

I've found generics from K-Mart, Wal*Mart & local grocery chains to work fine. BV Jr #3 prefers the Lactaid chewables.

I think Lactaid milk would give you an indication of casein intolerance since it has no lactose.

Given what I have observed with my sons, I would say that just concentrate on getting those kids used to popping Lactaid (or Generic).
Why dig deeper?

I'd say 95% is pure lactose intolerance. Casein intolerance seems to be
a pretty small problem (one that I think I once suffered and got rid of).
Bama's methodology would certainly narrow the diagnosis.

Because for some (read: me) the Lactaid pills do not work as intended. They just cause massive flatulence that actually becomes painful.

The Lactaid milk and cottage cheese not only works well, but it tastes really great also. I only wish the ice cream were edible....

Someone with casein issues would not benefit from lactaid milk since lactaid milk still contains casein. How did you disprove my point? Are you talking about actual casein issues or people who believe casein causes ADHD?

Lactose Intolerance
 

I've hijacked too many threads by ranting on the subject and feel like the subject deserves its own thread - I searched and did not see one.

How do you cope? I find the lactase pills help but not always.

After >35 years of feeling sick during/after every meal, I was correctly diagnosed as lactose intolerant. My previous gastro doctor diagnosed me with IBS and prescribed pills that helped 75% of the time (slowed down my digestion).

I have learned to do without cheese. Sorry, but I can't find a non-dairy cheese that melts properly. I miss real pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches and ordering the cheese plate for dessert.

I have learned to inform servers early while ordering. Most have been helpful. You do have to spell it out for some - no dairy means no milk, no butter, no cheese, no cream, eggs are not dairy, etc.

When grated cheese is offered for pasta or salad, I ask the server to give my share to Mrs BamaVol. When buying deli sandwiches, I remove the cheese and add it to Mrs BamaVol's sandwich. If I'm alone, of course I order without.

I discovered lactose free ice cream and milk. I am grateful. Soy, almond, coconut and rice milk are okay, but have their own flavor. Never make mashed potatos with coconut milk.

I know there are non-dairy and lactose free yogurts and cottage cheese. They are hard to find in the small towns where I have lived the last 5 years.

It's a cheesy world we live in. What are your experiences?

Out of interest - what were the symptoms of your lactose intolerance?

I was diagnosed lactose intolerant as a very small child so I say welcome (unfortunately) to my world.

It is easier now that non-dairy, lactose free, soymilk, almond milk, etc products seem to be readily available. When I was a little, my options to pour on my cereal were water and orange juice.

The pills don't help me much at all.

I do occasionally cheat but I have a pain vs. enjoyment scale that I balance everything on. Stinky french cheese bought at a Sunday market in Paris to enjoy with a baguette and a bottle of wine while sitting under the Eiffle Tower? Absolutely worth it. Slice of American cheese on a white bread sandwich? Not worth it at all.

You get used to dairy being hidden places it should never be hidden, reading labels, asking questions.

It's rare that I can go to a restaurant without altering menu items. I'm used to that. What frustrates me the most, though, is when they don't understand that yes, even a little cheese can cause me an issue.

Yes, I'm lucky that it is an intolerance and not an allergy, but I want to look forward to eating, not dread pain afterwards.

I simply will not stand for intolerance.

When I was discussing my gut issues with my 2nd gastroenterologist, he told me I could test myself for lactose interance. For 2 weeks, I avoided dairy 100% - that meant reading every label carefully but I was successful - and felt great. Then, on his instructions, I ate a pint of my favorite ice cream (Ben & Jerry's Phish Phood). Within minutes, I was bloated and passing gas, lots of stinky gas. Shortly therafter, I had gut-emptying diarrhea.

Sorry to be graphic, but it's such a relief not to face that anymore.

I had to sit for it myself.

It's a shame you just can't put this behind you.

It's not my fault! It's genetics!! :D


I'm also lactose intolerant and very much understand your pain, BamaVol. As a child I'd drink a glass of milk with nearly every meal and enjoyed pizza, yogurt, cream-based sauces, string cheese, ice cream... Shortly after my 18th birthday, my small intestine decide that it was done breaking down milk sugars. So those of you who aren't currently lactose intolerant, enjoy it while you can because you never know when/if your digestive system will make your meals less enjoyable.

I've come to read menus carefully and have no problem asking restaurant staff members what the ingredient of a particulate dish are. Not being near the comforts of home, I just don't order anything that does or may contain anything questionable.

I often end up packing pro-biotic pills to take with me when I travel to keep my stomach happy.

The only time I get frustrated about not being able to order and eat dairy is on UA in F. Stupid ice cream sundaes!

That's about the same pattern I experienced. I was in my late teens when it developed.

I worry about the probiotics since most of them are grown in dairy and there is a dairy residue in the capsule. No problems? I'd love to try it again.

Ha! Words to live by. :D

I don't have much in the way of suggestions for cheese replacements--because you're right, none of them melt properly.

However, things I've run across for dessert that you might enjoy:

• Soy ice cream--Trader Joe's, if you're near one, has a decent selection. Some are better than others. A decent vanilla is often easy to find, to which you can add a topping that works for you. (Puréed fruit?)
• "Tofutti Cuties"--these are ice cream sandwiches made with tofu. Surprisingly good. The cookie parts are particularly nice.
• Tofu cheesecake--I've never had this, but vegetarian friends have made it and said it's amazing. Look for recipes if you're into that.
• Vegan cakes--I am not now, never have been, and probably never will be vegan. However, vegan cakes are often terrific. i unwittingly purchased a vegan cupcake with some of the thickest, tastiest chocolate frosting I've ever had. I spent several years wondering what on earth they could have used for frosting as butter, sour cream, and cream cheese were obviously out. I have since learned that the secret may be avocado. Go figure.
• Pie--I discovered a while ago that I've been unwittingly making vegan fruit pies for years. Go figure! You make the crust with a neutral vegetable oil instead of butter or Crisco. It makes a nice light, flaky crust and is much easier than cutting flour into butter!

Note also that vegan cookies generally taste like compressed sawdust. Avoid!

Before going the gluten-free route, Liz Lovely made fantastic vegan cookies.

My wife was lactose intolerant for a number of years. Her situation was different in two key ways from what I hear from other people. First, she both grew into it and grew out of it. The condition came on during her childhood but then eased up after young adulthood. Second, her symptoms followed a pattern similar to an allergy. She could eat small amounts of dairy and be okay, like being exposed to low levels of an allergen and not having a reaction. But when her exposure crossed a certain threshold her intolerance would "trigger". Past that point she'd have strong reactions to any tiny increment of dairy, and would have to avoid it altogether for a few days until her system calmed down.

Rice milk is great for light and fluffy pancakes.

Thanks to the mod who moved this.

Apparently I started the discussion 4 years ago and forgot it. That's pretty funny.

One more question? Do you have symptoms outside your digestive system? I have a friend who says she is mildly lactose intolerant. I've watched her eat cheese and yogurt and then break out in a rash on her arms. If I have a rash, it's not anywhere I can see it.