For Those Who Gave Up Dairy...

[Christine0125]

How long did you avoid dairy before reintroducing it and were you successful?

I've been officially gluten free since April but semi gluten-free since the beginning of the year (had to go back on for a challenge). I'm at the point I need to admit dairy is causing issues. I was in denial and ate gluten free pizza last night (don't worry - not dominos) and am now paying for it; same issue with a bowl of ice cream a week ago. Up until a few weeks ago I was enjoying dairy without significant issues (maybe a little heaviness in my stomach but very manageable and frankly worth the mild discomfort). Trying to look at the positive side, I'm hoping this is a sign that my system is healing as I've heard dairy intolerance is common early on after diagnosis.

[Skylark]

The first time I went off cow dairy it was at the same time as I went off gluten. It took a year until I could eat it again without a stomachache, though I'm not sure I tried sooner. I tolerated goat and sheep dairy that time.

I have been feeling poorly overall and went back off dairy again after eating it five years. I've been off dairy since last October. This time the reaction is fatigue and sometimes stomach trouble. I did OK with a little goat cheese last month and I can cook with ghee so that was six months. I tried some regular cheese yesterday and it made me nauseous though.

[benXX]

Google for "dangers of milk" and get shocked. You might not want to go back on dairy products now you have learned to do without.

[Skylark]

Google for "dangers of milk" and get shocked. You might not want to go back on dairy products now you have learned to do without.

Look in the legitimate medical literature (which does not show up on Google) and you will get an entirely different picture. Most of the health information on the Internet is garbage.

[Gemini]

I hate to say this but I am still at the dairy "very light" stage and it ain't coming back for me. I do fine with small amounts like milk in my tea and a little cheese sprinkled on food but if I eat ice cream, pudding or any large hit of dairy, I may as well have taken a laxative. It's been 7 years so I no longer am upset about it. Going dairy light feels better for me anyway.

At least I can eat a little, where it counts.

[benXX]

Look in the legitimate medical literature (which does not show up on Google) and you will get an entirely different picture. Most of the health information on the Internet is garbage.

oooops our info on celiac is on the internet too ...

FWIW Asians and Africans seem to do very well without dairy

[Skylark]

oooops our info on celiac is on the internet too ...

FWIW Asians and Africans seem to do very well without dairy

Yep and a fair amount of wrong/inaccurate answers on the forum too. There are quite a few of us who spend a lot of time and effort correcting misconceptions.

Agreed that some people seem to have a better genetic background to eat dairy than others.

[VydorScope]

How long did you avoid dairy before reintroducing it and were you successful?

I've been officially gluten free since April but semi gluten-free since the beginning of the year (had to go back on for a challenge). I'm at the point I need to admit dairy is causing issues. I was in denial and ate gluten free pizza last night (don't worry - not dominos) and am now paying for it; same issue with a bowl of ice cream a week ago. Up until a few weeks ago I was enjoying dairy without significant issues (maybe a little heaviness in my stomach but very manageable and frankly worth the mild discomfort). Trying to look at the positive side, I'm hoping this is a sign that my system is healing as I've heard dairy intolerance is common early on after diagnosis.

So, if I understand right you have gone 2-3 months gluten-free, then tried milk and had a problem with the milk. My suggestion is that you wait another 2-3 months and try again. Assuming you do not have a problem with milk, you still will need your gut to heal before it can handle it. Depending how bad you were, and how quickly you normally heal that could be as much as a year or two. (base on my reading of others experiences on this board) Every one is different.

[Mom23boys]

I tend to agree with the no dairy crowd.

[GFinDC]

I can do a just a small amount of dairy but don't eat it regularly and don't buy it. It just doesn't work out too well for me. But there are plenty of options for dairy substitutes around these days. Some studies have said up to 18 months for healing of the villi. There is also the issue of gut flora being re-establsihed to process dairy. Probiotics can help with that. But everyone has to test for themselves to see how their own bodies react. We are not all the same.

[Christine0125]

So, if I understand right you have gone 2-3 months gluten-free, then tried milk and had a problem with the milk. My suggestion is that you wait another 2-3 months and try again. Assuming you do not have a problem with milk, you still will need your gut to heal before it can handle it. Depending how bad you were, and how quickly you normally heal that could be as much as a year or two. (base on my reading of others experiences on this board) Every one is different.

Yes... About 2 months gluten free since my last gluten challenge. I seemed to tolerate dairy without issue until the last 2 weeks. Of course it's right before vacation and gluten-free and dairy free will be even more challenging. Bummer! I am ready for a break thru without these roller coaster symptoms. The endoscopy showed subtotal villous atrophy but I am just not a patient person by nature.

[deb445]

I'm not saying this to create conflict...I have found with personal experience breast feeding my children...what you eat, ends up in your milk. One little slip up in MY diet, would result in vomiting, rashes, gi distress in my son.

And I think with that being said, all the grain sludge that cows consume, inevitably ends up in their milk.

IF you are sensitive ( I think it has been established that some are more sensitive than others...) then I would recommend coconut milk or almond milk as opposed to dairy.

But, I fear this is not a popular belief or topic.

Sorry - had to share.

If you're concerned about not getting enough calcium, isn't it funny how the countries that eat the MOST dairy (for calcium) have the lowest bone density? It is very curious.

[lucky28]

I haven't given up dairy BUT I rely heavily on lactose enzyme pills and probiotics. I am very, very sensitive and usually have to take at least 1 pill even for a little butter on a potato or a cup of yogurt etc. But after 10 months gluten-free I was pleasantly surprised last night when we made gyros with feta cheese and greek yogurt sauce, didn't take any enzyme and I was fine!! No reaction what-so-ever! A small step, I know I can't do more than that yet (last week I ate a yogurt pop and had horrible pain!) But hoping I'm on my way!

[Skylark]

I'm not saying this to create conflict...I have found with personal experience breast feeding my children...what you eat, ends up in your milk. One little slip up in MY diet, would result in vomiting, rashes, gi distress in my son.

And I think with that being said, all the grain sludge that cows consume, inevitably ends up in their milk.

IF you are sensitive ( I think it has been established that some are more sensitive than others...) then I would recommend coconut milk or almond milk as opposed to dairy.

But, I fear this is not a popular belief or topic.

I'm a little surprised that you would post false and frightening rumors in a thread where we are talking about misinformation on the Internet. Maybe you were trying to help my point? Cows have a wildly different digestive system from humans and they fully digest grains and grasses. Studies have shown that there is no trace of the grains cows eat in their milk.

[love2travel]

It took six months for me. I still limit my dairy to aged cheeses (or goat's cheese).

[deb445]

Enzymes only seemed to work for a few months.

[Christine0125]

I haven't given up dairy BUT I rely heavily on lactose enzyme pills and probiotics. I am very, very sensitive and usually have to take at least 1 pill even for a little butter on a potato or a cup of yogurt etc. But after 10 months gluten-free I was pleasantly surprised last night when we made gyros with feta cheese and greek yogurt sauce, didn't take any enzyme and I was fine!! No reaction what-so-ever! A small step, I know I can't do more than that yet (last week I ate a yogurt pop and had horrible pain!) But hoping I'm on my way!

YAY! Thanks for sharing. I am happy for you.

[deb445]

I'm a little surprised that you would post false and frightening rumors in a thread where we are talking about misinformation on the Internet. Maybe you were trying to help my point? Cows have a wildly different digestive system from humans and they fully digest grains and grasses. Studies have shown that there is no trace of the grains cows eat in their milk.

Truly, my experience is not false.

If I slipped up in my diet while I was breastfeeding, (I kept a journal) I would spend the night rubbing tummies, backs, cleaning up vomit and changing diapers that couldn't contain what they should have.

I haven't intended to offend - I just wonder if there is still science that hasn't been discovered yet, because this has been my experience.

And since I thought the thread was about dairy - not misinformation on the net - I maintain that coconut milk and almond milk has been a great subsitute in our house.

[Skylark]

Truly, my experience is not false.

If I slipped up in my diet while I was breastfeeding, (I kept a journal) I would spend the night rubbing tummies, backs, cleaning up vomit and changing diapers that couldn't contain what they should have.

I haven't intended to offend - I just wonder if there is still science that hasn't been discovered yet, because this has been my experience.

And since I thought the thread was about dairy - not misinformation on the net - I maintain that coconut milk and almond milk has been a great subsitute in our house.

Yes, stuff comes through human breast milk. You can't extend it to grains coming through cows milk though. Cow dairy is completely safe in terms of being gluten-free, even if the cow is being fed wheat.