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Lactose Intolerance Symptoms?

mathieml

By mathieml
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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mathieml Apprentice
mathieml
Posted

Are lactose intolerance symptoms for a celiac the same as for everyone else? I'm trying to figure out if my Celiac daughter is also lactose intolerant.

I don't have Celiac disease (blood test confirmed), but I am lactose intolerant and my symptoms are nausea and bloating about an hour after eating lactose, then gas a few hours later, then diarrhea the next morning (it's always the same set of symptoms after I eat dairy). On the other hand, my daughter doesn't have any of those lactose intolerance symptoms. No diarrhea, gas, bloating, or abdominal cramps. She does have nausea, but it is constant (doc says from celiac disease) and the nausea does not increase after having dairy. I'd like to be able to give her dairy products to broaden her food options.

Anyway, I was wondering what symptoms other celiacs had that made them know they were also lactose intolerant?

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cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I would start your daughter on dairy.  Start with items that have the least amount of lactose like hard cheeses and yogurt.  Then step up to soft cheeses, milk or  ice cream (my fav is Breyer's since they have a gluten free line).  You can even try lactose free milk.  

Many celiacs can be lactose intolerant due to damaged villi which may resolve with healing.   But many people who do NOT have celiac disease (like you) unfortunately are genetically predisposed to being lactose intolerant.  It is a big chunk of the world's population who are lactose intolerant.  I think your symptoms are pretty common for lactose intolerance.  Sounds like your doctor is right that your daughter's symptoms might be related to celiac disease.  Remember, it takes time to heal a damaged  gut.  Eating ANYTHING can hurt to digest while healing.    The good news is that kids tend to heal faster than adults.   How long has she been gluten free?  

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Think about when you have the flu.  What did your mom give you?  The old brat diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) or chicken soup, bone broth?  Why?  These foods are normally easy to digest after some intestinal  illness.  Your daughter has celiac disease, so skip the toast.  But choose foods that are whole and easy to digest -- at least until her symptoms resolve.  If she is still nauseous, skip the hard-to-digest food like nuts, popcorn, crunchy veggies, etc for now.  I resort to stews and cooked fruit after a severe glutening.  Kind of like baby food.  I guess you could chew it up first like so many mamas in nature!  ?. No....I really do not recommend this as we are not animals like birds, etc!  I think you get my drift......

mathieml Apprentice
mathieml
Posted
  • Author
On 9/3/2016 at 6:04 PM, cyclinglady said:

I would start your daughter on dairy.  Start with items that have the least amount of lactose like hard cheeses and yogurt.  Then step up to soft cheeses, milk or  ice cream (my fav is Breyer's since they have a gluten free line).  You can even try lactose free milk.  

Many celiacs can be lactose intolerant due to damaged villi which may resolve with healing.   But many people who do NOT have celiac disease (like you) unfortunately are genetically predisposed to being lactose intolerant.  It is a big chunk of the world's population who are lactose intolerant.  I think your symptoms are pretty common for lactose intolerance.  Sounds like your doctor is right that your daughter's symptoms might be related to celiac disease.  Remember, it takes time to heal a damaged  gut.  Eating ANYTHING can hurt to digest while healing.    The good news is that kids tend to heal faster than adults.   How long has she been gluten free?  

Well, my daughter and I decided to "test" her lactose sensitivity and she drank a big glass of lactose filled milk over the weekend. She did not get any lactose intolerance symptoms and said her nausea actually got a bit better. So, I don't think she has lactose intolerance.

She has been gluten free since August 19th and still has constant nausea (usually about a 4 on scale of 1 to 10). She said she has been feeling a bit better since she stopped eating so much popcorn, but that it's hard to tell. I emailed her GI doctor who said it could take 6 weeks for the nausea to go away.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Wow!  Your test paid off and fast!  :lol:  Now, it sounds like you are doing everything right.  You just need time..... to heal.  The good news is that she is young and should heal much faster than an older adult.   If symptoms continue to bother her, try a whole foods diet.  Maybe that popcorn was just a simple case of gluttony!   But, let's face it, corn can be hard to digest!  Kids need treats (to feel normal).  If she is not lactose intolerant, then go for some Breyer's ice cream.    They have a whole like that is gluten free (dedicated line).  

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