Lactose Intolerance

[2kids4me]

As you can tell from my signature - we have lots going on in our family.

I posted a few weeks back thinking dd had been cc'd at a Calgary restaurant. She had diarrhea, nausea, stomach ache.... then it continued off an on since then, she missed a couple days of school, she's been feeling crappy, then in few hours, it passes and she's better.

I have been reading lots of posts and I read many that talk about lactose intolerance...hmmm...I thought about it and the night at the restaurant she had a big glass of milk... then I started thinking and realized, every time she had milk, ice cream or some other dairy item.... she got nauseous later

Yesterday and today she was fine because I eliminated dairy for 2 days, then I asked her to have milk with supper. She's 13 so we talked about it first and she was willing to do this experiment.

Lo and behold she came upstairs about 2 hours after dinner with nausea and stomach ache. She also said something interesting - her burps tasted gross. I remember seeing somwhere that lactcose intolreance causes "hydrogen breath" or something like that.

Anyway, looks like dairy is the issue. At least there is lactaid and she doesnt have to suffer the GI symptoms anymore!!!!

and here i was thinking dh may have used the wrong toaster - that's about all the gluten he's allowed - toast. I thought it was cc.

Thanks to this board and all the people on it - I was informed enough to try a dairy trial, without any trips to the doc for unneccesary work-up. If eliminating dairy gets rid of symptoms - then at least I know what to do. I think

[Ursa Major]

Sandy, it sounds like it may be much more than lactose intolerance. I suspect it is an intolerance to casein, meaning that just giving your daughter lactaid, rather than avoiding all dairy completely, won't be much help. But I guess you'll find out soon enough which one it is. If lactaid won't stop her from having those symptoms, then I am sure you'll eliminate dairy soon enough.

[happygirl]

2kids---

yes, definitely think about casein! I thought mine was lactose...lo and behold, it was actually casein. Keep us updated---hopefully it is only lactose! You are great to be such a pro-active mom!

Laura

[2kids4me]

THANK YOU, never thought about that! I will definitely look at that possibility. The one dairy she loves is ice cream but the health unit nure I talked to (who is celiac along with her 2 kids) said there are good soy ice cream products out there.

Are there any tests for casein allergey vs lactose intolerance?

[Michi8]

Are there any tests for casein allergey vs lactose intolerance?

You can do a lactose challenge. Don't know if the lactose preparation is free from casein though.

Michelle

[RiceGuy]

You could also do a casein trial, using some soy cheese that has casein. Many of those do so it won't be hard to find. Lots of other stuff has it too, but that's the first thing that came to my mind.

The one dairy she loves is ice cream but the health unit nure I talked to (who is celiac along with her 2 kids) said there are good soy ice cream products out there.

How about this one?:

Open Original Shared Link

I haven't tried it but others say it's excellent. Do check the ingredients first though.

[happygirl]

well, there is a casein allergy and a casein intolerance. (just like gluten)

I think most people on here are intolerant, not allergic to casein. Try having her drink lactaid milk (milk without lactose, but has casein). Or, have her eat dairy products and take one or two lactaids. See what happens. My sister thought it was lactose for the longest, longest time...then realized it was actually casein.

[Michi8]

You could also do a casein trial, using some soy cheese that has casein. Many of those do so it won't be hard to find. Lots of other stuff has it too, but that's the first thing that came to my mind.

Wow! I had no idea. I just checked out Yves Veggie Cuisine soy cheese slices and casein is the second ingredient listed...before soy!!! They also warn on the package that there may be lactose as well.

I'm absolutely stunned that a product that many of those avoiding milk may choose has casein in it. I guess it's yet another case where you have to read labels to know what you're eating!

Michelle

[2kids4me]

Hi guys, dd responded very well to eliminating lactose only, she is feeling 100% and back on track at school. I will keep an eye on things - and if symptoms return, will try no dairy.

Lactose free milk, lacteeze if she has cheese or ice cream and she is symptom free.

Interesting benefit to ds.... I asked him to try the lactose free milk and use lacteeze. He has had an ongoing problem with what he calls "wet toots" ...skid marks in the underwear

He agreed to do it for 2 days then decided he didnt feel like taking lacteeze if he doesnt get sick like his sister...then he had major skid marks today and came to me and told me that when he had the lactose free milk and lacteeze, he didnt have "that problem"..hmmmm so it seems that ds may have an issue with lactose too. He is now keen on going lactose free.

thank you for all your input everyone