HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lactose Intolerance

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/27/2011 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
how many of you are also lactose intolerant and when/how did you start thinking you might have that?
Posted 5/27/2011 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
When I first started to show signs at 13, my mother's doctor (mom had CD) told me I was just lactose intolerant. I was pretty good for the next 10 years as long as I stayed away from milk products.
Posted 5/27/2011 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Lactose intolerance was really my first symptom. It came upon me suddenly during my 1st pregnancy. It was after that child was born that I started passing blood and mucous.
Posted 5/27/2011 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Im only lactose intolerant when flaring, and when I'm not then I can eat or drink anything. Even when I'm flaring its only milk and ice cream that bother me, not cheeses or anything like that including yogurt.
Posted 5/27/2011 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
I became lactose intolerant after my first resection. I can have some ice cream and cheese, but a glass of milk will do me in.
Posted 5/27/2011 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I was actually lactose inotlerant as a toddler, then my mom tried milk with me again when I was past toddler stage and I didn't seem to have any issue with it for most of my life....then in my mid 30's (along with CD since my early 20's) I became severely lactosse intolerant....my GI even tested me for it and it was for sure LI...I found that taking a good probiotic daily has aided with lactose intolerance issues, and also helps my CD and my IBS. Daily and indefinitely is what my GI suggested.
Posted 5/27/2011 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I was tested for it when I was 1st Dx with CD. At that time it was negative so They had me eating ice cream etc to try and gain weight after that. Theu the yrs I have noticed I suffer after eating certain things such as lasagna (my homade so I new it wasnt the sauce or noodles) but attributed it to the meat since in the past I was not lactose intolerant. As time progressed and I had my surgeries I asked my doc about it he wanted me to try the elimination diet with just elim dairy and see if that helped but sadly my will power where food goes sometimes isnt the best especially where I am so limited with foods because of this DD and oral allergy syndrome. Back in Oct I asked my GI out here and he regave me the same breath test I had back when I was 8 for the lactose intol and yes I am def lactose intolerant. my symptoms are

nausea
diarhea
severe abdominal bloating
gas
pain
Posted 5/27/2011 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I too only experience any lactose problems when I am having a bad flare. I guess this makes sense as lactase (enzyme that breaks down lactose) is present in the intestines, and I guess while a flare is occurring there is probably not enough lactase being produced? I am just guessing based on my own symptoms and experiences, but talking to your Dr. is the best thing to do.

I can still usually eat cheese and yogurt (frozen yogurt is one of my go-to-foods during a flare!) as the lactose content is low, but milk and high milk fat foods just don't work. I just trade my regular skim milk in for lactaid milk during the flare.

My GI said it is totally possible to become lactose intolerant with Crohn's though from the constant irritation, so getting tested or doing an elimination diet is a good way to go! I now see a dietitian and keep a food journal, and it really helps during flare ups smilewinkgrin
Posted 5/28/2011 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
I can tolerate small doses of Ice Cream, and put up with the resulting gas, but a bowl of cereal puts me into full on flare mode. Maybe it's something in the ice cream that dulls the effects of milk.


Sucks because before my first major flare and diagnosis, cereal was my mainstay meal. I ate cereal for breakfast, cereal for lunch if I was home, and cereal for dinner. I still eat it, but I can't have it with milk, so I just keep a tupperware tub around to snack on.
Posted 5/28/2011 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your input! This has crossed my mind the last couple days when I noticed that certain dairy foods gave me possible additional issues, hard to tell though.
Posted 5/28/2011 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
ah Bane, cereal was how I survived before Crohn's. Carnation instant breakfast and cereal was how I got by, especially with the shifts I worked at the hospital. I still eat it (with lactaid milk) but not nearly as often.

Do you think ice cream maybe works ok for you because it is frozen? I realize of course that by the time it reaches the problem areas it is no longer cold, but maybe the freezing process changes the lactose?

Also, are there any cereals that bother you? I am trying to avoid the really high fiber ones as I seem to have a problem with that, but I am eager to add some new cereals in the mix!
Posted 5/28/2011 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
I did the lactose breath test and I am not lactose intolerant. I'm lucky that way!
Posted 5/28/2011 9:01 AM (GMT 0)
just for info,, one of our washingon state dairy princesses is lactose int.. and shes a front runner for the state dairy queen! go figure huh?
Posted 5/28/2011 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
bahaha randynoguts that is pretty ironic, but a good laugh as well.
Posted 5/29/2011 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
No, I haven't noticed any cereals being particularly troublesome, but I've been flaring pretty bad anyway so it's hard to tell.

I think it's gotta be some kind of change in the molecular structure or something, because cheese usually doesn't bother me either. So I guess I'm partially lactose intolerant? lol
Posted 5/29/2011 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
The fermentation that occurs when cheese is being made uses up most of the lactose. Soft cheeses have more lactose present than hard cheeses.

You can try to eat your cereal with Lactaid milk. that's what I do and it's fine!

Here's more info about lactose intolerance: [http://www.cigna.com/healthinfo/hw177971.html]
Posted 5/30/2011 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I've often heard that people with lactose issues can tolerate hard cheese like cheddar (which apparently have very little if any lactose in them) but they do also sell lactose-free cheeses I believe in a few varieties anyways.

Also goat milk is lactose-free as well and easy to tolerate for sensitive guts...it's sweeter than regular milk, similar to lactose-free milk like "Lactaid".

Good luck to everyone with their lactose intolerance issues, I know how very easily it can be masked when you have an IBD and/or IBS as well...it can be hell for sure!
Posted 5/30/2011 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
PB4, goat milk does have lactose. Lactose is the sugar that is present in any kind of milk. Goat milk differs from cow milk in the structure of the casein protein.
Posted 5/30/2011 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
OOOOPS, You're correct kazbern, it contains about 7% less lactose than cows milk and it has an alkaline PH so it doesn't produce acid in the intestinal system or blood and it doesn't produce a stimulated immune response like cows mild does so there's no mucous formed....generally it's much easier on the gut and like you said the casein structure is diffrerent than cows milk along with containing some different amounts (generall higher in some cases) of minerals than cows milk.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply