Dealing with lactose intolerance?

hiddenwolf11 said:Hey everyone... please help... I'm new here... So, the thing is, I've realized lately that after I eat something like Cheese... I really feel sick afterward... I get this mucus feeling in my throat and feel like I'm going to throw up... And honestly, while I'm eating pasta with Cheese, my stomach feels so heavy I can barely sit, let alone stand... But this just started recently (I've been having thyroid issues lately, do you think there's a connection?) I've lived my whole life avoiding milk and Cheese (and mayo), and even though I feel much better if I skip them and eat something else, they're still the first things I reach for when I'm REALLY hungry. I was wondering if anyone could help with suggestions for substitutes? Though personally, I don't think any of them measure up... You have no idea how much of a shock this is... My brain still thinks it's the best food in the world, but my stomach just rejects 😢 I'm lost on what to do
thanks guys 🙂

It is very possible that those things are linked. If, for example, you have reduced kidney function, then it could be that your metabolism has slowed down, making it harder to process certain substances. But it doesn't necessarily have to be directly caused by the kidneys. You might be what... "an autoimmune person"? (Gosh... I don't know how to put it properly...). The thing is, if you have an autoimmune disorder or disease, there is an increased likelihood that other autoimmune issues will coexist with it—not that one causes the other, but rather that both are stemming from the same underlying systemic cause. Now, as for why that happens, or what the specific trigger is... well, that's entirely individual.
Maybe take a deep breath and try not to worry too much; perhaps your lactose intolerance is just temporary, or maybe it becomes more pronounced during periods of high stress or when your body is feeling run down. You'll eventually see how it affects your digestion personally. By the way, how do you fare with yogurt? As for me, yogurt, Cheese, and goat milk seem fine as long as I don't overdo it—and if I exercise a lot, my metabolism speeds up, so I actually enjoy milk after a run. Plus, I eat tons of broccoli and oranges, fish, and nuts (so delicious, but I just can't stop, and I don't eat meat), and some legumes here and there. I don't take supplements, though I probably will eventually because my bone density is a bit low.

You really ought to check with your doctors to see if lactase enzyme tablets are available here in the States. I have this friend who lives in Switzerland, and she deals with lactose intolerance. It’s actually pretty easy for her over there because they have access to "standard" dairy products that have been specifically processed to strip out the lactose. I’ve tried some of those products myself—they tend to taste a little sweeter than the regular stuff.
Whenever my friend goes out to eat, she always makes sure to bring her lactase tablets along—I think she takes them right before the meal—just so she doesn't end up feeling miserable if there's dairy in her food.
When she was visiting me, we actually scoured the entire city of Chicago looking for lactose-free dairy options, mostly because she found the soy milk from Whole Foods to be a bit bland. But we couldn't find anything at all! 😠 It honestly broke my heart seeing her having to struggle through the whole trip relying on those tablets!!!

It’s just so frustrating. I’ve tried everything—visiting different herbalists, drinking endless amounts of sweet and bitter teas, meditating, doing yoga... basically trying to focus on myself from every angle. But the problem hasn't budged. Someone mentioned stress or nerves being a factor, and honestly, they might be right. I've noticed that whenever I get even slightly anxious, my bloating just gets worse and worse. For instance, last night, I felt like I was already 😁
six months pregnant.

ironlynx41 said:You really ought to check with your doctors to see if lactase enzyme tablets are available here in the States. I have this friend who lives in Switzerland, and she deals with lactose intolerance. It’s actually pretty easy for her over there because they have access to "standard" dairy products that have been specifically processed to strip out the lactose. I’ve tried some of those products myself—they tend to taste a little sweeter than the regular stuff.
Whenever my friend goes out to eat, she always makes sure to bring her lactase tablets along—I think she takes them right before the meal—just so she doesn't end up feeling miserable if there's dairy in her food.
When she was visiting me, we actually scoured the entire city of Chicago looking for lactose-free dairy options, mostly because she found the soy milk from Whole Foods to be a bit bland. But we couldn't find anything at all! 😠 It honestly broke my heart seeing her having to struggle through the whole trip relying on those tablets!!!

Sadly, you still run into doctors in America who haven't even heard of people being unable to handle milk. 👎
I'm currently hunting for those tablets myself; they used to carry them at Twinlab, but they're out of stock now. 😠

Can these pills actually be harmful if I take them long-term, or is there a limit to how much I should be using?

Bryan Chavez37 said:Ugh... I’ve got a mountain of issues here. Honestly, I just need to vent for a second. Everything makes me bloat—literally everything, even just a couple of sips of water. It doesn't feel like an intestinal issue because the bloating hits the moment I swallow something; it feels like it's definitely happening in my stomach. And don't even get me started on the gas... it's awful. Digestion is relatively okay, though—no major struggles there. Is anyone else dealing with something similar?

I really hope you aren't consuming much milk or dairy. Maybe try keeping a food diary? It might help you spot if there's any sort of correlation... You know, stress can be a huge factor too—like, really massive. Also, just make sure you're actually eating well. Maybe try some multivitamins or calcium citrate to give your immune system a little boost. And honestly, it wouldn't hurt to get your liver and kidneys checked out...

I’ve been taking calcium and vitamins for a while now, plus I drink aloe vera on an empty stomach every morning, and I can honestly say things feel slightly better overall. I only really have milk in my coffee, though that doesn't seem to bloat me nearly as much as actual meals do. I eat small amounts more frequently, I don't rush through my food, and I generally stay away from greasy stuff or fast food. You make a good point, though—I think I’ll go ahead and get my liver and thyroid checked out, even if I'm totally clueless about what those tests actually involve. Does anyone here happen to know how that works?

Bryan Chavez37 said:I’ve been taking calcium and vitamins for a while now, plus I drink aloe vera on an empty stomach every morning, and I can honestly say things feel slightly better overall. I only really have milk in my coffee, though that doesn't seem to bloat me nearly as much as actual meals do. I eat small amounts more frequently, I don't rush through my food, and I generally stay away from greasy stuff or fast food. You make a good point, though—I think I’ll go ahead and get my liver and thyroid checked out, even if I'm totally clueless about what those tests actually involve. Does anyone here happen to know how that works?

Well, from what I understand, for the liver, they usually start with an ultrasound—though I'm not entirely sure in which specific cases they'll bother testing enzyme levels—and for the thyroid, you typically do blood work. Your doctor will be the one to decide if you need an ultrasound as well.

Bryan Chavez37, hey, let me know once you get those liver and kidney tests back so we can figure out what's actually going on with you. I went through a phase where my stomach issues were just brutal—pretty much exactly what you described here—but I could never pin down the cause. I had my liver and kidneys checked via blood work and everything came back fine, though that was quite a few years ago now. Hmm... It's funny because things have settled down quite a bit lately. I always feel like I've tweaked something in my diet, but I can't quite put my finger on it... Maybe it's just a healthier environment overall, or less stress on my system... I have to admit, I've been snacking on quite a bit of dark chocolate lately, and I've been avoiding all those foods I know mess with my stomach (there are so many types of fruits and veggies like that). Plus, I tend to spice things up with chili or peppers pretty often—and I always throw some cumin in my beans... Could that be part of it?

I won't be doing any more research for about a month since I'll be out of the country🙂
🙂but once I'm back, I'll let you guys know

Honestly, I'm terrified of doctors and all their medical gadgets... I wish I at least knew what a thyroid exam actually looks like. So far, I've only ever had an ultrasound.

As for diet, obviously it’s important to listen to your body and figure out what triggers it. The problem is, my body reacts poorly to basically everything with massive bloating 😢. And I don't mean just a little puffiness—my stomach gets so hard, I look like I'm pregnant. *Sigh* 😢

It really wears you down when you're stuck feeling like this🙂

Bryan Chavez37 said:Can these pills actually be harmful if I take them long-term, or is there a limit to how much I should be using?

Nah. The bottle tells you exactly how to take them—a couple of pills right after you have any milk or dairy.
I grabbed some pills from Germany once—took up to five a day—but I'm out now and honestly? They didn't even do much. Now I'm totally screwed. It's summer, everyone's walking around in crop tops, and I'm just sitting here stuck with this constant bloating.😢

I totally get you 😢

I’d also go for a nice, slim-fit feminine tee 😢

Seriously, if you stumble upon any lactase enzyme pills anywhere, please 🙂

coppergardener said:It is very possible that those things are linked. If, for example, you have reduced kidney function, then it could be that your metabolism has slowed down, making it harder to process certain substances. But it doesn't necessarily have to be directly caused by the kidneys. You might be what... "an autoimmune person"? (Gosh... I don't know how to put it properly...). The thing is, if you have an autoimmune disorder or disease, there is an increased likelihood that other autoimmune issues will coexist with it—not that one causes the other, but rather that both are stemming from the same underlying systemic cause. Now, as for why that happens, or what the specific trigger is... well, that's entirely individual.
Maybe take a deep breath and try not to worry too much; perhaps your lactose intolerance is just temporary, or maybe it becomes more pronounced during periods of high stress or when your body is feeling run down. You'll eventually see how it affects your digestion personally. By the way, how do you fare with yogurt? As for me, yogurt, Cheese, and goat milk seem fine as long as I don't overdo it—and if I exercise a lot, my metabolism speeds up, so I actually enjoy milk after a run. Plus, I eat tons of broccoli and oranges, fish, and nuts (so delicious, but I just can't stop, and I don't eat meat), and some legumes here and there. I don't take supplements, though I probably will eventually because my bone density is a bit low.

Thanks for the reply... My main issue is my kidneys. I had an ultrasound done and they said everything looks pretty normal, or whatever that means. My primary care doctor is honestly kind of dim, so I really don't feel like asking her again just to get that blank stare. This whole stress thing makes total sense, though... but I still have the problem of what to swap my sandwiches with for breakfast and dinner when I'm short on time and just need something filling. I tried soymilk... but believe me, you know what that's like. And something else about cheese—I'm not sure where it's coming from in my gut, but the left side of my abdomen (opposite the appendix) hurts sometimes for no reason at all. I'm totally out of shape right now, and I'm definitely not interested in being treated, obviously. I was thinking about yoga, but could that help with strength? I used to do it more intensely three years ago, but only enough so my muscles wouldn't wither away, haha. Don't even try to talk me into running, though—that's just not my thing. I just want to feel strong again... my muscles are basically screaming at me, lol. I don't really know anyone great for yoga, since my previous instructor was basically just an ex-aerobics instructor, so we all know how that goes... thanks for the help, everyone! 🙂

I’ve started noticing some really unpleasant symptoms when it comes to lactose—though, strangely enough, yogurt, sour cream, or ice cream don't seem to trigger them.
I cut out milk entirely and VOILA, I feel better.🙂

Does anyone actually know what those lactase enzyme pills are called?

silverfalcon7 said:Oh yeah, because I have such a visceral aversion to milk, I can't even bring myself to touch yogurt, pudding, or any kind of creamy porridge, semolina... or anything like that...

In my opinion, it feels more like it's rooted in my head than in my actual body...

I can handle fruit flavors and stuff like that. But those "plain" yogurts? No thanks, absolutely not.😲

boldhound81 said:Hey everyone,
is anyone else dealing with this?
Has anyone here actually tried those Milk Gestant lactase enzymes from Twinlab?
I’m a bit hesitant to even try—dairy usually wreaks havoc on my system.
Does anyone know where I can find some lactose-free milk around here?

I usually drink the Lactaid brand light milk. It has about 99% less lactose and the flavor is actually quite nice. It tastes just like regular milk, just a little bit sweeter. Give it a shot; it works wonders for me! 😍

Have you dealt with this intolerance your whole life, or did it start recently?
For me, it all kicked in once I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome... 😢

Excuse me, I was wondering where online I might find some information regarding treatment for lactose intolerance? Also, if anyone here has any personal experience or insight they could share, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance...

boldhound81 said:Look, driftinggull13, don't get worked up, but some people genuinely struggle with milk and lactose. Plus—and it's just a fact—humans are pretty much the only mammals that keep drinking milk into adulthood, and we're drinking someone else's milk at that.
To be honest, I wouldn't even be thinking about whether milk is harmful if it didn't make me feel like crap first.😉

This is from a pharmacy website. It’s talking about infants, but the logic still applies.
"Natural breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed infants. To ensure this happens, international organizations like the World Health Organization and UNICEF have implemented measures such as the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

Every container of formula must clearly state that 'breast milk is the ideal nutrition for infants.'

Breast milk is best for babies; breastfeeding is recommended for at least the first 6 months before gradually introducing other foods. Breast milk contains the exact balance of nutrients a baby needs for growth and development. About 80% of the cells in milk are macrophages—cells that kill bacteria and viruses—so breastfed children are protected from various illnesses.

WHY IS COW'S MILK A POOR CHOICE?

Cow's milk is designed for calves, which grow much faster than humans and need higher fat stores. It's a terrible nutritional choice for the first 6-8 months. The excessive amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, combined with a lack of iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E, can trigger allergies, kidney issues, and sensitive digestive linings in infants."
source:http://www.pharmacy-example.com/advice=infants

And what other mammal can suck on another one? haha =D