Could this be lactose intolerance?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Could this be lactose intolerance?
1
Sun, 01-14-2007 - 3:46am

I realize the obvious response is to go to the doctor. My problem is, I'm a school teacher and going to the doctor basically waits until the summer unless it's a major emergency. Hopefully you all will answer my questions.

This all started back before Christmas. We had about 2 1/2 weeks off this winter and I decided I would start the day with a small bowl of cereal. I usually don't eat much for breakfast, but want to start. About a day or two in I started with super yucky diarrhea. It honestly lasted the whole time. I assumed at first I had a stomach virus, but I never really felt all that sick, just the diarrhea and it lasted a good 2 weeks. Each day I continued to start with cereal/milk because I never made the possible connection until now.

Once school started back, I stopped with the milk in the cereal and only ate the cereal dry and the stomach problems stopped until today. I ate cereal/milk and here I am, up at 3 am with upset stomach, awful diarrhea, but again, not really feeling all that sick overall. I felt fine when I woke up this morning, but after I ate breakfast, I felt kind of queasy all day and woke up at 2 am with the diarrhea. It's mostly cramps/diarrhea and it's of the emergency nature. I comes on very suddenly and I really need to run to the bathroom. It happened once on my way to Target and I had to turn the car around and barely made it home. I've been thinking about the connection because I generally dont' eat dairy products other than occasionally cheese and the milk is the only thing that's new in my diet.

Is this doctor-worthy, or just avoid dairy and move on with life?

Sorry for so many questions...I guess I get talkitive in the middle of the night ;o)

Laura

Laura, mom to B & E
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 01-14-2007 - 2:05pm

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Welcome Laura and yes, I am trying to focus on Spring! lol


You talkative? Nah, just sorry I wasn't here to reply sooner.


It definitely does sound like your problem might be lactose intolerance. The good news? No trip to the doctor is necessary to figure this out. Obviously your problem seems related to milk, so you can either try a lactose free milk, or buy some lactose enzyme pills to take before eating anything dairy. The milk is more expensive, both totally worth the cost, if it enables you to have that bowl of cereal each morning. I agree that having breakfast is important! Dean's is another milk producer that has a lactose free milk. The lactose enzyme pills...you can either buy the brand name ones, which are made by Lactaid, or get the generics which should be on the same shelf. Any food, drug or big box store should carry both, stores like Target, WalMart, etc.


BTW, lactose free milk tastes exactly the same as regular milk. The lactose has been removed, for those that cannot digest it.


Give this a try and let us know if it helps you. I don't drink much milk, but my dh knows to leave 'my' milk alone and use the other stuff.

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