Possible Dairy Problem

[Samanthasmomma]

I am feeling better since going gluten free, but I am still having D. Im thinking of going without dairy for awhile to see if that is a problem as well as gluten. How long do you think it will take to feel better if dairy is a problem? My quess is one to two weeks. Can I use soymilk as a substitute for milk? My last question is what else do I need to watch out for on a dairy free diet? I hope this makes sense...

[Lisa]

I am feeling better since going gluten free, but I am still having D. Im thinking of going without dairy for awhile to see if that is a problem as well as gluten. How long do you think it will take to feel better if dairy is a problem? My quess is one to two weeks. Can I use soymilk as a substitute for milk? My last question is what else do I need to watch out for on a dairy free diet? I hope this makes sense...

It does take some time to feel better and I'm glad that you are. If you villi are damaged it is very hard to digest dairy, so that is why it is recommended to at least be dairy light or eliminate it all together.

Some people feel better almost immediately and others like myself it took 2 months for the D to subside in order to leave the house. I have been gluten free for two years and still find it a challenge.

There are always things ready to get you. I have been cooking for an elderly friend and using her pots and pans and have been sick for several days now. Gluten can hide everywhere.

It is hard to tell in the beginning when you will be able to feel better. Your intestines needs to heal. It took some time to do the damage and equally, time to heal.

Soy milk would be a good substitute for milk and look out for "whey" when you are reading labels - it is dairy derived.

Keep it up and one day you will realize that you DO feel good.

[Rosewynde]

Check labels like crazy for any of the non dairy products. Soy, rice, or almond milks are a good substitute but often have gluten as a part of their processing or are made in a factory that makes other gluten containing products so there is potential for cross contamination.

There are the obvious dairy things to watch for such as, milk, cheese, and butter. You also have to watch out for whey and lactose. There's also another one that can be problems for some that is a milk protein but can't remember the spelling . . . cassien?

[sfm]

Check labels like crazy for any of the non dairy products. Soy, rice, or almond milks are a good substitute but often have gluten as a part of their processing or are made in a factory that makes other gluten containing products so there is potential for cross contamination.

There are the obvious dairy things to watch for such as, milk, cheese, and butter. You also have to watch out for whey and lactose. There's also another one that can be problems for some that is a milk protein but can't remember the spelling . . . cassien?

It's casein - a protein in milk. Sometimes you can have a sensitivity to casein, also (I do) - which means that I'll always have a problem with dairy (I think I miss that more than the gluten).

Sheryll

[sherryGF]

I definately think that it would be wise to leave off the dairy products for now, until your small intestine heals further. I've been gluten-free for 7 years, and until the past 6 months, had never had any problem with dairy foods! However, testing shows that I have an immune response to casein, so I've had to give up dairy, which is at least as difficult as giving-up gluten! The soy milk wasn't bad at all, but I got sick with it, too, so I'm just trying to deal with it--haven't tried rice milk or hemp milk yet! Good luck!

[jlr]

I am so glad that I happened on to this thread - I have been gluten free for 2 years now but I still have bouts of D - I never made the connection that the damaged villi would have problems tolerating other items. I thought if the villi were healed I would back to normal (whatever normal is?).

Is lactose the next thing on the elimination diet for me to get rid of?

I am sorry to hear that others are stilling having D as well - but it is comforting to know I am not the only one.

Thanks,

Janet

[TrillumHunter]

I gave up dairy as well. I have tested it a couple of times and it is the culprit. I even bought some Lactaid to see if it was lactose. I choose to avoid for now but if I am really wanting ice cream I know I can have it with the Lactaid. So far I've been able to resist. I figure my poor intestines need a break after all those years of damage!

[somegirl2004]

In order to test for lactorse intolerance, my doctor suggested that I completely get rid of it for three days and then have a giant glass of milk on the fourth day to see if my symptoms (diarrhea and lots of gas) came back.

Too bad I'm from Wisconsin (born and raised with some of the best dairy products around) and haven't yet brought myself to try testing for lactose intolerance! I made it about 13 hours before someone was shoving cheese down my throat!

Anyway, good luck!

-- Erin

[Samanthasmomma]

Thank you everyone, for your help. I have been dairy free for one week and am feeling better. This too is a learning process and has had quite a few setbacks, but those have just reinforced the need to stay dairy free. I am hoping that someday I will be able to add it back to my diet, but I am gratefull to be feeling a little better right now. I just cant wait untill I feel great again.

[HannahHannah]

Thank you everyone, for your help. I have been dairy free for one week and am feeling better. This too is a learning process and has had quite a few setbacks, but those have just reinforced the need to stay dairy free. I am hoping that someday I will be able to add it back to my diet, but I am gratefull to be feeling a little better right now. I just cant wait untill I feel great again.

I love this forum :)!! It's so good to have people who know what we're all going through, and aren't embarrassed to talk about the more unsavoury symptoms of being glutened!

Dairy is a problem for me also - nowhere near as much as gluten, e.g. I don't get pain when I eat dairy. I decided to test it out one day and drink a load of milk (about 2 pints) and see what happened! And lo and behold, our old friend D turned up!

Isn't it something to do with the enzyme used to break down dairy (or lactose) is impaired by the damage to the intestines?