Lactose intolerance??

[Magic.]

This is really gross and embarrassing ... hate talking about this kind of thing

Over the last few months I've had a lot of stomach and bowel problems ... I've tried correlating what I eat and drink to see what might be causing it. All I've noticed is that when I drink milk I feel very sick and it's soon followed by diarrhoea for a few hours. I figured I might be lactose intolerant, but it doesn't happen if I eat dairy products in general, have milk on cereal or in drinks like tea/hot chocolate. But as soon as I have the smallest glass of milk I get sick.
Obvious answer is don't drink milk I know. Is lactose intolreance something that can develop? And is it even likely seeing as it's only plain milk? If I have got lactose intolerance could it get worse, like having to stop eating all dairy products??

I know it's not the biggest deal, just it grosses me out ...

[LittleMiss]

It is possible to become lactose intolerant but the best way to find out if you are is to see your doctor.
Lactose intolerance is very common and comes in a variety of different ways from mild to severe.

I went through a stage of assumed lactose intolerance for two weeks once but it cleared up after I avoided dairy completely for that time.

[Fairy Poppins]

Originally Posted by Magic.

it doesn't happen if I eat dairy products in general, have milk on cereal or in drinks like tea/hot chocolate. But as soon as I have the smallest glass of milk I get sick.

This is quite common, actually. Some of the children I used to work with could have milk as an ingredient, but couldn't drink a glass of the stuff.

If you can eat other dairy products without any adverse affects, there's no reason to stop. However, if you want to drink glasses of milk, try a lactose-free milk (they're available in the milk section of most supermarkets).

[Magic.]

Thanks guys. I was gonna go to my doctor here, but they keep telling me I'm overreacting to things, then working out I wasn't. Don't exactly trust them.
I've been avoiding milk for the past couple of days and it's okish. A few time when I've had yoghurt / cheese I've felt a bit off. But I guess just avoid them still ...
Sounds stupid but is there anything that can be done apart from avoiding the foods? Like meds of balancing out another food? Sounds dumb in my head, but also strangely possible :/

[escape_thereal_world]

There are over the counter pills that will allow you to eat dairy products without symptoms. I've developed lactose intolerance and it has gotten increasingly worse (probably because I don't care to avoid them ). My doctor recommended looking in the drugstores for it.

Lactaid is the mot popular, but there are several on the market. I've linked you to their website Q&A.

[Verità]

Lactaid is amazing.

I just want to put my personal experience in here, I'm lactose intollerant, and pure milk gives me the worst reactions. However, I seem to react more to certain dairy products, like mozarella cheese and ice cream. Thing like yogurt don't cause me to react.

I read in a health magazine that you can develop a tolerance to lactose. If you start by ingesting really small amounts of dairy, then slowly work up, then supposedly you're body can readjust to it, and you can eat dairy again. However, I haven't tried it myself, so I don't know if that is credible or not. It is worth a try, though.

[LittleMiss]

Originally Posted by Verità

Lactaid is amazing.

I just want to put my personal experience in here, I'm lactose intollerant, and pure milk gives me the worst reactions. However, I seem to react more to certain dairy products, like mozarella cheese and ice cream. Thing like yogurt don't cause me to react.

I read in a health magazine that you can develop a tolerance to lactose. If you start by ingesting really small amounts of dairy, then slowly work up, then supposedly you're body can readjust to it, and you can eat dairy again. However, I haven't tried it myself, so I don't know if that is credible or not. It is worth a try, though.

Forgot to tell you about enzyme additives. You can either buy tables to eat with the dairy or you can get drops to add to milk and cream to make it lactose free.

Not sure about building tolerance. If you're completely lactose intolerant, it may not work. But there shouldn't be any harm in trying.