How Long Does It Take?

[Nic]

My son went dairy free as of this past Saturday. The doctor said to give it 2 weeks to see if maybe he is intolerant to dairy. Does that seem like enough time? For anyone who is also dairy intolerant, about how soon after eliminating it did you start to see some improvement?

Nicole

[goodlife]

Nicole,

I have gone off dairy for several times. I can't speak for what the research says, or what the experts say, so I will give you my experience. My lactose symptoms occur within an hour of eating lactose and I get over them within about 24 hours. If I go off dairy for a few days, I feel pretty much back to normal.

There's a but...I also have some extra mucous production because of dairy. It's not an allergy in the truest sense, but it clearly affects the mucuous in my nose, throat, ears, etc. It took about 10-14 days for those symptoms to clear up. Within about 3 weeks I feel completely clear of this excess mucous. It is great to not have a crackling sound in your years when you swallow, to not have the bad breath (amazing how bad one's morning breath is when one eats dairy), and to have much, much less nose mucous.

Anyway, hope this helps. The author of the bible of food elimination diets (Dr. Jonathan Brostoff), suggests that to test intolerances to food, one must go off them for 7-14 days before challenging with them. This is typically necessary with dairy only if you are testing for a reaction above and beyond lactose intolerance.

[Cynbd]

I have a reaction to dairy that is really fast too. Usually within an hour. With lactose intolerance you have dairy fermenting in your intestine, so your body gets rid of it, for me, once it's gone I am good to go. I would think with a child, it would process much faster. When my son was little, he processed so fast, I never saw such green poops in my life

If you keep him off dairy for two weeks, and he doesn't have any problems at all -- then you start on dairy again, you would know pretty quickly if he had an intolerance.

It is my understanding that the lactose intolerant body can process some dairy with the enzymes it produces, but once it runs out the trouble starts. So, your son could have some dairy and not have any problems -- Also, I don't have problems with yogurts, or some cheeses, but give me whole milk, and I am gone in 30 minutes.

So, I guess I say... two weeks is more than enough time for dairy. If he is completely off dairy for a couple of days and still having problems, I would begin to think it could be something else. poor llittle guy...

[Nic]

Thanks for the help. He does seem to be doing better and we are on day 11. We will see how it goes.

Nicole

[gfgypsyqueen]

I pulled my daughther off dairy (She is 2). And clearly she has a problem with dairy. Over the first weekend I saw a big improvement is stools. Then everytime she has had even trace amounts of a milk product, her bowls are destroyed and she is a mess for days.

I would have to say two weeks is enough time to see an improvemnt and probably a reaction if you re-introduce dairy.

Good luck. Also, I found probiotics help fix her up again after accidental ingestion of milk products.

[Nic]

I pulled my daughther off dairy (She is 2). And clearly she has a problem with dairy. Over the first weekend I saw a big improvement is stools. Then everytime she has had even trace amounts of a milk product, her bowls are destroyed and she is a mess for days.

I would have to say two weeks is enough time to see an improvemnt and probably a reaction if you re-introduce dairy.

Good luck. Also, I found probiotics help fix her up again after accidental ingestion of milk products.

If the improvement is obvious, do you think there is any reason to reintroduce any dairy? I keep saying maybe this is just a fluke and he happens to be going through a good spell right now. But what is the likelyhood that he has not had a good spell in about 2 months but he is having one now at the exact same time I removed dairy from his diet. Rationally I don't think that is likely but there is always that part of me that hopes I am doing the right thing. Off of dairy his appetite has dramatically increased, he is pooping everyday rather that once a week he was doing, there is no more running to the bathroom with the urge to poop and no more rectal pain. Also, no more dark circles under the eyes. I think that all points to improvement.

Nicole

[Nic]

I pulled my daughther off dairy (She is 2). And clearly she has a problem with dairy. Over the first weekend I saw a big improvement is stools. Then everytime she has had even trace amounts of a milk product, her bowls are destroyed and she is a mess for days.

I would have to say two weeks is enough time to see an improvemnt and probably a reaction if you re-introduce dairy.

Good luck. Also, I found probiotics help fix her up again after accidental ingestion of milk products.

If the improvement is obvious, do you think there is any reason to reintroduce any dairy? I keep saying maybe this is just a fluke and he happens to be going through a good spell right now. But what is the likelyhood that he has not had a good spell in about 2 months but he is having one now at the exact same time I removed dairy from his diet. Rationally I don't think that is likely but there is always that part of me that hopes I am doing the right thing. Off of dairy his appetite has dramatically increased, he is pooping everyday rather that once a week he was doing, there is no more running to the bathroom with the urge to poop and no more rectal pain. Also, no more dark circles under the eyes. I think that all points to improvement.

Nicole

[Cynbd]

Hi Nicole,

I think doctors like dairy because of the fat/brain devopment, and calcuim/bone development. You should talk to your doctor about the alternatives. If he is clearly doing better off dairy, then why put him through all that pain.

I have passed out at restaurants (on the can no less, face down right on the floor... ewe) due to the pain and have had severe issues with dairy.

You may find he can tolerate some aged cheeses (cheddar) and yogurts. Also, if it is simply Lactose Intolerance (and not a cassien issue) then the lactaid milk, and Lactaid pills work really great. I use them all the time. The trick is knowing how many to take... because they are adding the enzymes to the body that the body isn't making to process dairy and it depends on how much his body making, and how much additional you need to add. They are really safe, I would imagine they are safe for kids too, but check it out -- at least it's an option either now or in the future.

Good luck