Lactose intolerant

[cougar14]

Almost 78, never had problem w/milk products before. Had severe gout attack in June, got a week of diarrhea from the medication. Started having bloating, gut gurgling and rumbling, feeling pressure, mild pain.
Gas pill and one Tylonol pretty much takes care of the symptoms for a while. Been going on for close to 2 months now, no changes.

Sound like LI? Can you get this suddenly from nowhere?

 

[LVSteve]

Yes. My wife developed it about nine years ago. She is OK with most cheese and things like pizza, but stuff made with straight milk as an ingredient has a quick and ugly result, usually nausea and throwing up. Have you isolated your symptoms to certain foods? I get a mild case of what you describe with some fried foods these days. Have you seen a GI doctor?

 

[Denverd0n]

I never had a problem with milk products until I got into my 50s. Then my wife noticed that I was getting a lot of gas when I drank milk or ate cheese. Tried not consuming any lactose products for two weeks and clearly saw a dramatic reduction in the gas. Have been avoiding lactose generally since, and using lactic acid enzyme tablets when I do have any lactose products; back to only minimal gas now and then.

So, yeah, it most certainly can appear from nowhere.

 

[Rat458]

Yup,it reared its ugly head when I got in my 50's.
Used to eat ice cream on an almost daily basis .
Gave it and cheese up for a week and the results confirmed it.
Hard to accept since I like ice cream ,cheese and Mac n cheese.
Tried all the alternative dairy products with cereal and couldn't stand the taste of them.
I just keep a healthy supply of Lactaid tabs handy.

 

[Kinman]

I was never into milk like some kids. We ate it on our cereal or mush, beyond that I was not a big milk drinker. I did drink the milk available in school lunch program but I had friends that couldn't walk by their fridge without taking a big hit off the quart jug. I've always been a water drinker if thirsty. I developed psoriasis in my forties, it is an auto-immune disorder that can be tied to an allergy. Without medical proof or examination by a physician and a bevy of testing I have self diagnosed my condition to being lactose intolerant. I have skin issues if I overdo it with milk products like ice cream, they seem to worsen. I use milk products sparingly and splurge on ice cream a couple times a year or in some cases once a week. I have no problems with hard cheeses but have digestive issues with softer cheeses. No problems with goat cheeses and probably goat milk for that matter. My wife is a very intelligent woman, reads up on everything, studied dietary issues in college. She works in the cosmetic industry and has seen people with severe acne become clear skinned by simply laying off dairy. I remember one friend of mine that had the serious blotchy sores on his face from acne, he was one of those guys that drank milk constantly. Oddly we are often attracted to the very things we are allergic to.

 

[WardenRoss]

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How common is lactose malabsorption?​

While most infants can digest lactose, many people begin to develop lactose malabsorption—a reduced ability to digest lactose—after infancy. Experts estimate that about 68 percent of the world’s population has lactose malabsorption.

Definition & Facts for Lactose Intolerance - NIDDK

Learn about lactose intolerance, a condition in which you have symptoms—such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas—after you consume foods or drinks that have lactose.

www.niddk.nih.gov

 

[GnarlsR2]

Chew 2 of these every time you eat or drink anything with lactose.

https://a.co/d/eY93Q7o

 

[cougar14]

Thanks for all the above info, greatly appreciated. I also see probiotics are recommended as an enhancer to a healthier gut. I will go to the drug store tomorrow and get both.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I have been lactose intolerant since childhood. My mom was freaked because I refused to drink milk as a child. All I knew was that it made me sick. She asked the doc what she could do to make me drink my milk. He looked at her and said (more or less) "some people can't digest milk properly. He'll be fine without it."

Strangely, I love cheese - but, yes it does cause me problems.

 

[bamashooter]

My wife developed it out of the blue years ago. Just milk. She began buying the Lactose - free milk which works great and has a much longer use - by date. I can tell no difference in taste. Not watery like skim, etc.