Lactose intolerance following food poisoning

[Sooverthemill]

Anyone had any experience of this? I seem to have very severe food poisoning ( lasting over 2 weeks) and after loads of tests as I’m still suffering gastrointestinal symptoms my GP says she thinks I’ve developed lactose intolerance. But no advice on how long it may last or when I should start feeling better? Ive had no lactose ( reading all the small print) for over 48 hours and still feeling rough. Am I being impatient? Googling suggests it could be up to 2 years. I’ve also cut out wheat on GP advice

Have you tried taking probiotics to boost your stomach fauna? That will likely help. Also, I find I'm more tolerant of lactose when I'm getting enough B and D vitamins, don't know why, but it definitely helps.

DM ended up permanently affected. That said, it was a long time ago and wasn't diagnosed for a long time either so the damage was done. She's also gluten intolerant.

HI OP it is common to develop lactose intolerant after an illness. Paediatrician told me this when DS was getting diagnosed. And don't be in a rush to reintroduce dairy - it can take years. DS age 7 can now manage ordinary yoghurt, cheese and chocolate but we still have to buy lactose free milk - 6.5 years on.

Arla lactose free products are really good as they are normal dairy with lactase enzyme added - so great for cooking (soya milk is vile IMO). tbh I don't think we will ever go back to dairy as a family as we all feel better with the lactose free stuff ...

So helpful, thank you. I will look did probiotics ( any suggestions @haba?) and arla products online . Do you think that after 48 hours I should still be feeling bloated/ crampy/nauseous and so so fatigued? I feel like my GP suggested this as a last resort ( she’s been great but I’ve been ill fir 6 or 7 weeks having phone appointments a couple of times a week plus 2 A&E visits and scans and so many tests. ) if this doesn’t work she will get endoscopy done in case it’s inflammation of the bowel but when do I know if lactose intolerance is the culprit? Sorry for so many questions

Sorry, I don't have a recommendation, but Holland and Barrett definitely have them. I can recommend the arla products though, because DD also is intolerant of lactose and wheat, and we have the organic ai-skimmed milk, the mature cheddar and the soft cheese- they're all really good and taste like normal foods (unlike plant-based dairy products). She used to have their yoghurt, but it's just too sugary, so we now have Sainsbury's own lactose free yoghurt, but sadly they only do strawberry or natural (they used to have vanilla which she loved, but they stopped it at our branch).
I eat the greek-style natural one myself, and it's good, usually with fruit.
Re wheat-free, I try to cook meals that don't have wheat as a component rather than replacement products (breads are often not good, though they're getting better!) so curry and rice, chili and rice, tajine and rice, roast dinner, chicken casserole, etc etc

I think it's likely you will feel rough for a good few days yet, btw, so don't panic if it doesn't immediately stop. Lots of processed foods have lactose in- even bread etc.

I hope you're feeling better soon

There's also soya-based dairy products by alpro...but we dont have those because my other child can't eat soya!

It can take several weeks. All the villi (finger like projections) in your intestines get damaged when you have diarrhoea and it takes time for them to heal. You need these to help digest lactose. Don't rush reintroducing it.

When diagnosed with coeliac disease which also damages the villi, the advice is lactose free for a year after diagnosis!

@gretagreengrapes oh! I haven't been tested for coeliac disease but GP has mentioned inflammatory bowel disease. Coeliac is an autoimmune illness isn't it? Hoping this is merely an intolerance which I will get over ( because I love cheese and all the ones that are high lactose...) I have read though that after severe food poisoning it can take years

@haba our tesco that delivers ( we are shielding because I and DD are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid ) has some area products so I'm going to try those. Thank you. I'm not enjoying the soy milk in my morning cuppa (my kind neighbour picked some up for me)

@Sooverthemill I was just using it as an example of having to avoid lactose when your gut lining has been damaged.

Hopefully you'll be able to eat all the Christmas cheese!

Commiserations- it doesn't really work in tea, does it?

@haba no! I’ve tried oatly too and that’s not right so I’m sticking to herbal tea until my Arla arrives Tuesday. Yea pigs peppermint ( also brought by kind neighbour) is pretty good and hopefully good for my tummy

Hi OP - lactose free is much much easier these days - 6 years ago there wasn't so much stuff but now - lacto free mozzarella (tesco), cream (also arla), dark chocolate (70%) doesn't have lactose.

you will become obsessed by labels and continually surprised what does contain lactose and what doesn't ...

I also find coconut milk great for somethings too - smoothies, curries and the like

This happened to me after a nasty tummy bug on holiday - probiotics and slowly reintroduce is all you can do. It took a few months for milk to stop bothering me but things like cheese, butter etc only a few days

The Arla is a success! It tastes similar to long life French milk which I don’t mind ( camping holiday nostalgia) so thank you for that recommendation @haba.

Any idea how long to leave it before trying a bit of dairy? Weeks? Months? I am feeling significantly fewer gut symptoms but am still totally knackered (7 weeks from onset of food poisoning).

Hi OP
The Arla lacto free milk from the Chiller cabinet is way nicer than the long life stuff which is just on the shelves.

I would give it 6 months before you even try dairy and go with hard cheese, then yoghurt then milk at the end.

Thanks for this, I have been struggling with wheeziness and bloating since starting a new medication. I was already on lactose free milk but will try the cheese too!

@IwishIwasyoda only just come back to this, apologies. Yes it's the fresh cartons of area semi skimmed I'm using which to me tastes like long life milk. I'm used to organic semi skimmed fresh milk and in fact normally only use organic dairy so getting used to not it weird. I'm still totally dairy and gluten free and have no symptoms whatsoever and in fact I think that I may always have had a mild intolerance as now I am never bloated ( tummy as flat when I go to bed as when I get up) whereas I often used to be. DH keeps asking when I'm going to stop this ( he finds it tiresome remembering not to use the normal milk for me) but I'm not sure I will.

Look into post-infectious SIBO

@Sooverthemill. Just train your DH to use the lacto-free milk himself!
We all converted in our family and tbh all of us felt better for it - think both me and DH had mild intolerances. It's pretty common.

@VanillaSheHer thanks but my symptoms have completely cleared by going lactose ( and gluten) free so I'm content with that. I have a very sick daughter who has several chronic illnesses and my life is already shit so as long as I can get through each day I'm happy!

I thought that at first too. Substantial initial relief by cutting out gluten and dairy, but a few months later realised something still wasn’t right.

I hope you’re correct but if you run into trouble down the line, look into post-infectious SIBO.

@VanillaSheHer if I do ( but I'm months in now) I will but I'm totally certain this is the correct diagnosis.

And I have no issue at all cutting out gluten and lactose from my diet, it's very easy and no hassle at all, don't miss any of it

@makingitupaswegoon haha yes well he only uses milk if I make him tea. He doesn't use it all all. But he does love his full fat Greek yoghurt, the Greek brand. He would die sooner than use lactose free anything