Lactose Intolerance?

[Thirteen]

Anybody else here lactose-intolerant? How bad? What sits alright or not? And what kind of things do you like to eat/drink as dairy substitutes?

[TheLittleNinja]

Hey.

Mine comes and goes. I'm also not great with caffeine based products. On a bad day, one hot chocolate and I'm buckled up in pain (like period cramps tbh) then running to the loo ( yuhp niice) . But like I said, mine comes and goes, so I just deal with it.

My sister has this intolerance too, she just eats less dairy, has black coffee, and uses soya milk instead =]

Hope this helps =]
Claire x

[Thirteen]

Well I use soy milk instead of normal milk already. In my hot chocolate, in my coffee, and my tea preference is green, so just some sugar and thats good to go. :P

[SuperBrunetteCutie4Ever]

I have it. I can have it somedays and others as soon as I drink milk, I have a BAD stomach ache. Others, I'm in the washroom for a LONG time. Not fun! There's supposed to be a pill you can take BEFORE eating dairy so, you can digest it but, I haven't tried it yet.

[Thirteen]

I've heard of that pill. Lactaid or something? I may try it out when I have health insurance. o_O

[kadyCHAOS]

The pills have lactase in them so it can counterbalance out the lactose in normal dairy products. You can buy them over the counter almost anywhere.

[JustJosh]

Hey, I'm lactose intolarant and have been for quite a few years now. I've got to check every thing I buy well not so much now as I know what I can have, I can't eat cheese, milk, yogarts, anything dairy related. If something has got lactose in or dairy products and I eat/drink it, I'll be sure to be in the bathroom within seconds of having it, other days I'll get a really bad pain in my stomach. Not much fun when they bringing out nice milkshakes. Once you have had it for a while I suppose you get used to it....

Joshyy

[CanadaCraig]

Hi Julz!!

I hope you're having a dandy day.

I have to confess - when I first saw the subject line of your message - I read it as 'Lacrosse Intolerance'!! LOL Why would anyone hate lacrosse THAT much?! LOL

YES!! I used to be lactose intolerant. It hit me all of a sudden. Many years ago - I ate something called 'Tuna Melt' at a restaurant. Not sure - even to this day - why I ordered that - but that's what I ordered. I was with a friend and after dinner we went for a long walk on a beach. The tide was WAY out and we walked as far as we could. All of a sudden my stomach started gurgling. And a few seconds after that - I had severe stomach cramps and then broke out into a sweat. I absolutely had to find a bathroom - and like RIGHT NOW!! I ran as fast as I could - in a desperate attempt to find somewhere more private!! I was about to EXPLODE!! lol What a horrible feeling. That panic in me was fierce!! And I was slipping on wet rocks and almost fell twice. As I got closer to the beach - I saw what looked like heaven. In other words - a BATHROOM!! I JUST MADE IT!!

It was THAT moment that changed my life for the worse. I had no idea WHY I was so sick - and why it 'hit me' so suddenly. So in an attempt to avoid that from ever happening again - I decided that I would eat better. So every morning I had cereal and MILK. And every day - before lunch - I would have yet another attack. There were a few times - I hate to say - that I wasn't home - or anyone near a bathroom when I was 'attacked' and didn't make it to a bathroom. That experience was the beginning of my panic attacks and anxiety problems. Most people who have panic attacks fear that they're going to have a heart attack. I fear that I'm going to have a bowl explosion!!

This awfulness went on for about half a year or so before I finally figured out that the problem was an intolerance to lactose. And that my 'healthy breakfasts' were the culprit to my problem. [Plus any other meals I might have had with lactose in them] As soon as I started taking Lactaid - my problem almost disappeared. I had a few more lactose intolerance attacks - but nothing like what I was having.

I could eat yogurt and REAL cheese. [Not Velveeta or some other processed cheese] In fact - most people with a lactose intolerance can eat REAL dairy products. But it's a trial and error type of thing to find out how your body reacts. Someone then recommended that I take acidophilus pills. I think that's what solved my problem with lactose. I haven't taken Lactaid in years and often eat all sorts of things with lactose in them. But I still don't want to push my luck. I won't have a glass of milk just before I go out. But I probably could - and be fine. There fear is still there though and it makes it tough to go anywhere. For years after that first attack - I NEVER went to a restaurant or to a movie theatre and felt sick [Emotionally] if I was trapped anywhere. [Especially if I was expected to eat something] Still feel that way - but I'm much MUCH better.

So I recommend taking Lactaid pills BEFORE you eat anything that might have lactose in it. And I also recommend buying acidophilus pills to help balance out the bacteria in your 'gut'. Acidophilus is what you will find in most yogurts.

GREAT BIG HUG
Craig!!

[Thirteen]

Well Craig, of course depending on the severity of the lactose-intolerance, you CAN have cheeses and yogurts. During fermentation of such products, part of the lactose will go away. I can eat tiny bits of cheese or yogurt. But too much yogurt for me is about 100mg, or two of the small cups. And cheese, well, even 2 grilled cheese sandwiches with the process cheese slices will make me cramp up.

And Josh, indeed. You do adjust. I knew for years milk never sat right, and it got worse overtime, til I finally mentioned to my parents that I was getting sick from dairy. Thats when Dad mentioned he's the same way, and Mom started buying me Silk so I could try it (since they have a guarantee on it for a refund if you don't like it). Been drinking Silk since, and as far as things with cheese go, I do eat some, but I just make sure to take it easy, to avoid the bathroom situation. o_O