Crohn's Disease with Lactose intolerance - Lactaid?

Hi,

I will go to a social dining event tomorrow at an Italian restaurant (Chateau).  I am lactose intolerant (i.e.  no milk or cheese).  I am a little concerned about the milk or cheese in the food, as I know nothing about their recipe.  Do you think if I take Lactaid before I eat might help?  Also, I looked at the menu, which includes "Fish and Chips".  Maybe I can order "Fish and Chips", as I can eat fried food.  Any suggestions or experience?  Thanks

Thank you, PB4, for getting back to me.

I have never taken Lactaid pills before.  Does Lactaid cause any side effect such as stomach discomfort?  Can I get Lactaid over the counter without a prescription, as I need it in a hurry?  Thanks.

Paul 

Thank you, PB4.  I will try either "Fish n Chips" or spaghetti pasta with tomato sauce & meatballs.  I suspect Tomato source may have milk ingredients in it.  By the way, which one of the two would you thinnk is safer bet?

Paul 

Hey Paul
Is being lactose intolerant new info? How have you managed this in the past?
Personally, I would not be experimenting at a social occasion.
I limit some foods also. I
1) Call ahead and speak with the chef or general manager. In a polite way I let them know that I can not take certain foods and that if this is not possible, then that is OK. I tell them I would much prefer to go hungry than to be sick. This is a much better option than trying to get this all figured out at the table.
2) I sometimes bring my own food
3) I get them to make a salad and if anyone asks just let them know I am not very hungry.
4) I eat nothing.


I try to be as discreet as possible and I find that having something in front of you is better than nothing. If it is a good resaraunt, then your issues should be solved by phoning ahead if possible
Dave

@dave - No offense, but rather than go through all that, I just simply wouldn't go to the restaurant in the first place. Restaurants are for food and the enjoyment of it; what you describe is punitive joylessness. I'm not suggesting you eat food which makes you sick, but how can you sit there with nothing in front of you, hungry, and watching everyone else chomp down plates of delicious food??

@EruditePaul - If it was me, I'd be taking the lactaid and going for broke...

Actually forget what I said; maybe a large restaurant meal isn't the best place to experiment with lactaid for the first time :-/

No cream-based sauces followed by ice cream for dessert, then. But something like fish and chips or spaghetti and meatballs shouldn't have a lot of milk in it really; little enough that lactaid should presumably cope with it.

Hi NCOT
I appreciate your perspective. Many, if not most feel the same as you. However, my circumstances are different, so that is why I see this situation differently.

I eat amazing tasting food every day, An example is the organic spinach, organic tomato, onion, cumin and garlic dish, cooked and then pureed. It turns the dish to the best creamed spinach ever. I could go on but you get the picture. There are almost no restaurants that serve crazy healthy and tasty food like I eat daily. So when I go out I know that food is likely to be worse than what I eat daily. I still go out but I go for the company not the food. Additionally, I am so sick of being sick that I do the steps I suggested and do not feel uncomfortable.
Dave

Dave - Fair enough. That spinach dish *does* sound nice. I'm on a grim elemental diet at the moment, so a tableful of folks all chomping their way through various dishes in front of me is like torture - the company is not enough to make up for it <_<. But I can see it would be different if you had food to look forward to at home. I really, really miss having food to look forward to; even only being able to have soups and shakes would make a big difference.

Thanks for checking back, pb4.  It was actually lunch yesterday, an 1.5 hour lunch with about 20 of my colleagues at work.

I chewed one tablet of "Dairy Relief Fast Acting" with my first bite of Fish and Chips.  We had long conversations at the table and my bosses were there too.  I was very happy that my stomach was very quiet throughout the day, and nothing embarrassing happened.  I am extremely grateful for the valuable advices provided by you and others.  Thank you.

I often travel to China on those long flights of 13+ hours.  When I eat the cakes and other foods with cheese on the airplane, I sometimes got into trouble.  So I am thinking that I should bring those "Dairy Relief Fast Acting" tablets with me on those long flights.

I haven't eaten any slice of pizza or ice cream during the last 18+ years since I was diagnosed of Crohn's and lactose intolerance.  I am still note sure if it is worthwhile to give it try, because ice cream and pizza contains far more lactose than Fish n Chips.    

Paul

I'm glad it went well. I love fish and chips, it's one of my favourite dishes when done well. Does seem strange to have fish and chips in an Italian restaurant, though >_>.