Lactose Intolerance Vanishing

[slpinsd]

I've been a self-diagnosed lactose intolerant for many years. I'm almost at 4 months gluten free. My Celiac diagnosis was inconclusive with borderline bloodwork/neg biopsy. I've just started gaining more weight, and realized that I now have problems with soy (due to cross-reaction). So, instead of soy delicious, to test it, I ate a bowl of regular ice cream, and I had no symptoms! I've eaten ice cream 5 days in a row with no gas/rumbling. This is a miracle!

My question is- if I did not have any biopsy proven damage, how is my gut seemingly "healing" so I could now absorb lactose? It is my understanding that Celiac damages the tips of the villi and so thus, you have trouble absorbing lactose because that is where it is absorbed. When it heals, then you can absorb better? Somehow, I think the gluten intolerance(or perhaps Celiac) caused the lactose intolerance all along.

How many of you have had improvements with lactose intolerance on a gluten-free diet? I know Casein remains a problem for many people.

[aikiducky]

The tips of the vili don't absorb lactose - they make an enzyme that breaks the lactose into more simple sugars that are absorbable. So I could imagine (this is just my theory though) that even if there wasn't major damage, it could be that the vili had stopped making the enzyme. And now that they aren't bothered by evil gluten anymore, they have started making more of the enzyme again.

Great news, anyway! I'm glad for you!

Pauliina

[Guest nini]

If the tips of the villi aren't there because of Celiac (they would be flattened) then yes, you would have been lactose intolerant, so why didn't your biopsy find this? because they didn't take enough samples? maybe because it was only in the beginning stages of the disease and just the tips of the villi had ceased to function??? But to answer your question, yes, I was lactose intolerant for many years and found that about 6 months after going gluten-free, I was able to reintroduce dairy back into my diet and have had not problems with it since. My dr. had even said when I told him I was lactose intolerant, that if I gave the gluten-free diet about 6 months, that I should be able to tolerate dairy again. And he was right!

It is amazing to me how hung up the medical community is on positive biopsy, when in so many cases, a negative biopsy still doesn't mean anything. I think with the biopsy, they are thus far only looking for the most extreme damage, which is total villous atrophy, so if they see inflammation or sporadic damage, they aren't willing to consider that it's the beginning stages of full blown celiac damage. I don't get why they insist on waiting until someone shows total villous atrophy before they are willing to dx this. Why not stop it before it gets to that point? Before the rest of the body begins to shut down due to malnutrition? Don't get it...

[Judyin Philly]

I WILL SOOOOO BE WATCHING THIS THREAD.

NO BIOP FOR ME SO DON'T ABOUT STATUS OF VILLI BUT

AT 10 MONTHS MY LACTOSE INTOLLERANCE IS REALLY STILL BACK AND CAN'T DO TO ..

I DIDN'T MIND THE gluten-free AS MUCH AS THIS.

I TOO DON'T DO SOY ANYMORE...

SO gluten-free FOR 1O MONTHS AND SOY FREE NOW...BUT STILL TRY THE DAIRY LIKE SLICE OF PROVOLONE OR SWISS NOW AND THEN..I CAN STILL TELL WHEN I DO DAIRY...

RATS, WHAT HAVEN'T I GOTTEN OVER THE DAIRY TOO.

MY NUMBERS WERE HIGHER AFTER 8 MONTHS BUT THEY WOULD ONLY DO IGG AND IGA..THAT'S ALL THE LAB REFUSED TO DO THE REST.

HOW IMPORTATN IS THE ITT? OR WHAT EVER IT IS ...HE ASKED FOR 'COMPLETE PANNEL 'BOTH TIMES AND BOTH TIMES SAID NO..FIRST NUMBERS WERE IN 60'S AND LAST WERE IN 70'S SO THEY WEREN'T CONCERNED BUT IT WASN'T THEIR "BUTT' ON THE POT ALL THE TIME.

GUESS I'M JUST DISCOURAGED TODAY.

JUDY

[Guinevere]

i have been gluten free for 3.5 years and lactose free for 2.5 years. i am still unable to simply eat dairy; cheese, milk, cream, etc. i am able to eat it when it is cooked, however, and in small amounts. don't know why, perhaps because the protein molecule has been denatured due the cooking process and is different to digest. i have read into this matter and "they" say that when reintroducing dairy it is best to start with yogurt. makes sense. wish my gut would heal to the point where it could really take in dairy, i miss it terribly.

[Devsmom]

I've been a self-diagnosed lactose intolerant for many years. I'm almost at 4 months gluten free. My Celiac diagnosis was inconclusive with borderline bloodwork/neg biopsy. I've just started gaining more weight, and realized that I now have problems with soy (due to cross-reaction). So, instead of soy delicious, to test it, I ate a bowl of regular ice cream, and I had no symptoms! I've eaten ice cream 5 days in a row with no gas/rumbling. This is a miracle!

My question is- if I did not have any biopsy proven damage, how is my gut seemingly "healing" so I could now absorb lactose? It is my understanding that Celiac damages the tips of the villi and so thus, you have trouble absorbing lactose because that is where it is absorbed. When it heals, then you can absorb better? Somehow, I think the gluten intolerance(or perhaps Celiac) caused the lactose intolerance all along.

How many of you have had improvements with lactose intolerance on a gluten-free diet? I know Casein remains a problem for many people.

My son was able to eat dairy again after wfdf for 8 months. Skin prick test showed allergies to wheat & dairy. Then we found out he was celiac. During the 8 months he was wheat free he got glutten from 2 cereals is all I can think off, and still healed enough that we asked the allergist for a repeat skin prick for dairy(lactose&casein) He was soo depressed with the food restrictions that I read & read, on here of coarse , & found that some people could go back to dairy. Allergist did not think so but did a repeat & he didn't react- he was so happy. Loves his milk, cheese & ice cream!!

Devsmom

[manxasthehills]

I WILL SOOOOO BE WATCHING THIS THREAD.

NO BIOP FOR ME SO DON'T ABOUT STATUS OF VILLI BUT

AT 10 MONTHS MY LACTOSE INTOLLERANCE IS REALLY STILL BACK AND CAN'T DO TO ..

I DIDN'T MIND THE gluten-free AS MUCH AS THIS.

I TOO DON'T DO SOY ANYMORE...

SO gluten-free FOR 1O MONTHS AND SOY FREE NOW...BUT STILL TRY THE DAIRY LIKE SLICE OF PROVOLONE OR SWISS NOW AND THEN..I CAN STILL TELL WHEN I DO DAIRY...

RATS, WHAT HAVEN'T I GOTTEN OVER THE DAIRY TOO.

MY NUMBERS WERE HIGHER AFTER 8 MONTHS BUT THEY WOULD ONLY DO IGG AND IGA..THAT'S ALL THE LAB REFUSED TO DO THE REST.

HOW IMPORTATN IS THE ITT? OR WHAT EVER IT IS ...HE ASKED FOR 'COMPLETE PANNEL 'BOTH TIMES AND BOTH TIMES SAID NO..FIRST NUMBERS WERE IN 60'S AND LAST WERE IN 70'S SO THEY WEREN'T CONCERNED BUT IT WASN'T THEIR "BUTT' ON THE POT ALL THE TIME.

GUESS I'M JUST DISCOURAGED TODAY.

JUDY

Hi,

My son 11 yrs old, fell ill august 2005, lost a stone and half weight in 2 weeks, which he couldn't afford to lose,,

he was finally diagnosed as celiac, by then he couldn't cope with dairy, or potatoes or potato starch, now 8 months on a gluten free, dairy free diet, he can now eat dairy anytime and is slowly getting potaoes into his diet with no reaction, we presume this is because his gut is repaired. He has put all his weight on, grown 3 inches, and is a happy & healthy kid now.

What i don't get is why everyone says the have soy, i live in the UK and we were told not to give him soy as this has gluten in, but soya is fine. I am confused in the states do you call soya- soy?

[NicoleAJ]

I was lactose intolerant for years, and I was still having some problems after going gluten free, so a year after my diagnosis my doctor had me do a lactose intolerance test--I just had to drink something with lactose and breathe into a bag at regular intervals--very non-invasive compared to all of the other tests I got. Turns out the test was completely negative, and I'm back to drinking tons of milk, eating cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc.

[eKatherine]

I've been gluten-free for a couple of years, and if anything, my lactose intolerance has gotten worse.

[Guinevere]

I've been gluten-free for a couple of years, and if anything, my lactose intolerance has gotten worse.

=======================================

try taking probiotics and enzymes for a while, (in fact, do not stop taking them - they'll help heal up your gut) then try reintroducing lactose slowly with yogurt.

[eleep]

I think I'm another one of those temporary lactose-intolerant people. Right now, I'm eating small amounts of dairy -- like really good parmesan on my Tinkyada pasta once a week -- and using lactaid when I do. This seems to have been a successful strategy for me.

[eKatherine]

=======================================

try taking probiotics and enzymes for a while, (in fact, do not stop taking them - they'll help heal up your gut) then try reintroducing lactose slowly with yogurt.

I'm sensitive to milk now, too. It has started causing swelling in my ankles and feet. I'm just going to let it go.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I have been lactose intolerant since I was litte and it has gotten worse even though I have been gluten-free for a few years.

[jerseyangel]

I went dairy free with positive results 2 years ago. I have been gluten-free for almost a year now, and I am more sensitive to dairy now than I used to be. A little bit will make me ill.

[carochip]

I think I'm another one of those temporary lactose-intolerant people. Right now, I'm eating small amounts of dairy -- like really good parmesan on my Tinkyada pasta once a week -- and using lactaid when I do. This seems to have been a successful strategy for me.

What's Tinkyada pasta? I am a new gluten free person and love pasta. So I want to know every pasta out there!!!!

Thanks

Caroline

[smack]

I became lactose intolerant after my two week outtrip at age 14 while at summer camp. Before I went on my canoe trip I had no problem with dairy, when we came back to camp I had the runs every time I drank milk. I didn't really think much of as my mom was also lactose intolerant (and I suspect she also has celiac disease!) Then 11 years later I found out I had celiac disease, went gluten-free and about two years after that I could eat dairy again no problem. I still drank a ton of lactose free milk during that time, the taste took some getting used but I did get used to it, now I don't drink regular milk even though I can because I don't like the way it tastes!! Congradulations!

[Mango04]

What's Tinkyada pasta? I am a new gluten free person and love pasta. So I want to know every pasta out there!!!!

Thanks

Caroline

Welcome to the gluten-free world, where words like "Tinkyada" are normal. Tinkyada is the best gluten-free pasta! You won't know it's gluten-free.

[jkmunchkin]

I have been told my previous GI who diagnosed me that often times someone with Celiac is lactose intolerant because of the damage to the villi. Once the villi heal a lot of people are able to tolerate dairy more. I definately found that was the case with me. Although dairy will still occassionally bother me, it is a more rare occurrence.

[Marcus]

I've been gluten free for about 2 years now and just realized about 1 year ago that I was no longer lactose intolerant. I have a bowl of ice cream after lunch every day with no ill effects and I'm lovin in.

M

[Becky6]

My daughter was dx'd celiac by pos response to diet. she had been lactose intol and off dairy for a year, we then went gluten-free and 4 months later she is eating all dairy again!!

[Guinevere]

thank you for all of your replies. i saw my general practioner today who said that the gluten-free diet is diagnoses itself. i have so many other health issues that i (after reading abstracts posted here and at the www.brain.hastypastry.net) feel relate to celiac; psoriasis, arthritis, that Dr's want to pump me full of drugs for. i want to see a celiac specialist before i put another pill in my body - its been 27 years of this stuff and i'm 43, my stomach is trashed. want to get my kids diagnosed too so we can avoid finding out the hard way down the road. so will stay the course until i'm "officially" and medically diagnosed for the records.

[ladyx]

I'm sensitive to milk now, too. It has started causing swelling in my ankles and feet. I'm just going to let it go.

I have probably posted this several times before...but I was very lactose intolerant...almost killed me as a baby...probably had something to do with gluten as well...but it was formula so I don't think there is gluten in that. Anyway, my intestine was distroyed. I used 100% aloe vera juice to heal my intestine. (3-6 oz a day till you drink at least a gallon) I know of four other people who have healed there intestines with aloe so they could use dairy again. One was a fellow employee at the studio I worked at and two were my customers...my custormers both had diagnosed celiac and my fellow employee had stomach ulsers. My lactose intolarace was gone almost instantly. Good luck.... PS If you try the aloe...don't eat try dairy until you finish of a gallon of the stuff...by the way it tastes terrible but it is so worth the results...

[eKatherine]

I understand you were able to overcome your lactose intolerance, but I seriously doubt that I can heal a milk sensitivity with aloe.

[ladyx]

I understand you were able to overcome your lactose intolerance, but I seriously doubt that I can heal a milk sensitivity with aloe.

I was just trying to encourage you and give you some more ideas...sorry if I offended you by trying to help. When you have celiac...your villa get damaged and don't produce what is needed to breack down the lactose if you heal the villa with something (aloe vera) then they can break down the latose again. but if you have some other kind of milk sensitivity that is different. Anyway, like I said just trying to share what worked for me and several other people I know..and give a little encourgement.

[quantumsugar]

After years of lactose intolerance and about a year of being gluten-free, I can finally eat dairy again! (I've eaten cheese almost every day this month, it was so exciting for me). Until I started taking probiotics, I was still having a hard time digesting (lots of) foods, though.... I really think those helped.