To be sad I might have a dairy intolerance?

[MsMarvel]

For the last while (if I'm perfectly honest, it's been a few years now) that I've been noticing a bad reaction to dairy products.

It's usually more noticeable if I'm eating out, for example I can't have carbonara if I'm out for dinner, or any other rich creamy sauces. A cheese burger will disagree with me as well. I'll end up vomiting a few hours after eating, as well as my stomach churning for the whole of the following day.

I've tried to just put up with it and pretend it's normal, but I seem to be constantly either feeling sick or actually vomiting, so have realised that I need to cut out dairy. But it makes me sad that there's going to be so many things I can't have any more. Also, how strict do I need to be? Should I go to the doctors about the stomach pain and vomiting first, or will they just tell me to cut out dairy and see how I get on?

Any tips on the best way to cut out dairy without having a complicated diet?

[MsMarvel]

I had always thought it was a sensitive reaction to caffeine, but I cut out caffeine recently for lent, and was still randomly suffering from stomach aches/sickness. What's strange though is that if I have coca cola, then I'll also get sick. I noticed that first when I was using it as a mixer, and thought I was just sick because if been drinking. But I changed my mixer to lemonade and I'm totally fine. Still drink obviously, but I don't actually get sick. So there's also something in coke that sets me off as well.

There's never a clear enough pattern to see it's definitely one thing or another. For example, I'm on with cheese to a point, but melted cheese sets me off. Any sauce with cream in it is now a total no no, but butter etc seems ok. Milks seems to be becoming a no no as well.

I had thought it could be gluten or wheat or something, but wanting to try other things first, because I think needing to cut our wheat or gluten would be much more difficult.

Being sick so frequently is something that I've just got used to over the years, but it isn't normal is it?

[dancersdad]

Butter is often OK with lactose intolerance because there's not actually that much lactose in it. Same with different types of cheeses- could that explain the cheese thing? DW also has a caffeine allergy and was gluten free for a few months post anorexia- it could be a combination of allergies. It can also take a while to leave your system.

[WilsonFrickett]

It's not normal, and of course regular vomiting is very bad for teeth, throat etc. I know a lot of people have suggested that the GP isn't very good for this sort of thing, but I would go anyway and push for some sort of referral/further testing.

[mistlethrush]

Coke has caffeine in it.

If you cut out all dairy but carry on with the wheat etc - and are improved, the chances are its something that you've cut out. Gradually add things back one at a time, and the first time you react by being sick again - that's likely to be a culpret - you may have others of course.

[MsMarvel]

The thing with coke though is that I'm ok with red bull, it's just coke that doesn't agree with me.

[sashh]

But if I exclude it myself and notice a difference, what else will they be able to do other than say 'cool, keep it up'?

What would you want them to do?

That's why I have no formal diagnosis, if I have milk I bloat, feel sick and sometimes am sick, though a runny bum is more likely.

If I don't eat it, I'm OK.

If I have small amounts I'm OK.

[dancersdad]

Having a formal diagnosis makes absolutely no difference whatsoever, DW only ended up with one because she was in hospital at the time and it was difficult to work out what really was making her ill and what she was saying made her ill so she didn't have to eat it. If you can find a solution that works for you then no need for a diagnosis.

[GarlicAprilShowers]

I had to go dairy-free after routine blood tests showed an intolerance. Bugger :( I developed a full-on allergy to wine at the same time, as well, so that's two of my all-time favourites out the window!

I can't have anything made from milk. This includes ingredients like 'whey protein' and 'lactose'. There are no good substitutes for cheese & butter, imo. I make do with peanut butter & sunflower margarine. I'm supposed to avoid soya, but sometimes eat soya yoghurts and chocolate desserts, as they're lovely! I make a good whipped cream substitute with coconut, but it's expensive. Soya cream's just fine. Chocolate has to be high cocoa, no milk.

It'll be worth trying out that lactose-free milk, Marvel. If it doesn't upset you, that means you're only intolerant to lactose (not milk itself) and widens your options quite a bit.

No cheese, though :( :( :( :(

[Gileswithachainsaw]

You may surprise yourself just how much better you feel. It's actually not that hard. Soya ice cream is lovely. As us hazelnut milk which I take in coffee. I've no formal diagnosis it wasn't even something I thought about til I had dd2 and realised how much better being dairy free was for me.

I'd been putting up with bloating and "heavy" feelings for years and never linked it. Luckily I'm not sick and it's fairly mild I guess but two slices of a lake away pizza soon reminds me why I don't consume it :o

It's worth a shot you will either notice an improvement or not.

[mistlethrush]

I was specifically tested for paracetamol allergy through a blood test - that, and the skin prick test all said I was OK. So they fed me some - sent me home as OK - but I got home and went back in and they confirmed the allergy... So even some of the tests don't prove things

[sooperdooper]

I had the same, when I saw my doctor he suggested a diet diary, and then exclusion, I've never seen a dietician there's no need really

I now know dairy sets me off, but I have soya milk in tea, and limited cheese - I just limit myself and know not to have too much. I can't have yoghurts, much cream or butter but I can have a little if I hadn't had any other dairy that day.

If it's an intolerance rather than an allergy you can figure it out yourself with some common sense :)

[wowfudge]

I'd speak to my GP if I were you - there could be some other underlying condition and you could be treating a symptom instead of finding out what is really wrong and dealing with that. It could be to do with acid, for example, even a stomach ulcer - more to do with rich food than dairy - given your examples.

[GarlicAprilShowers]

Another thing I've regretfully discovered - ghee is lactose free, but still gives me the squits. So no more curries. If, however, you're lactose-intolerant but OK with milk proteins, you can melt ghee 50/50 with coconut oil and it makes a good butter substitute for cooking & toast, etc. It actually tastes of butter :)

[MsMarvel]

My dad and uncle both have stomach ulcers, could things like that be genetic?

[MsMarvel]

Bump?

[GarlicAprilShowers]

Everything's genetic, one way and another 8 out of 10 stomach ulcers are caused by infections, though.

[Impatientismymiddlename]

As someone has pointed out, it could be something other than dairy. Have you considered coeliac? Do all types of pasta cause problems or just when it is served with carbonara sauce?

[MsMarvel]

Thank you for that link, that's really helpful!

[MsMarvel]

Pasta is fine, I now have it either with a tomato based sauce or an oil based sauce rather than cream, and I'm fine.

I'm only 23 years old, would it be unusual to have a stomach ulcer at this age?

[GarlicAprilShowers]

No. Go see your doc!

[MsMarvel]

Garlic I have an appointment on Monday, was the soonest I could get an appointment, and tbh I'm pretty happy with that seeing as it isn't too urgent, I wouldn't want to take up an on-the-day appointment.

[Sandthorn]

Wilsonfrickett, that's exactly what I was thinking. You say you'll miss milky tea, but haven't indicated that it affects you at all. Maybe milky tea is fine. Maybe you have gallstones, or an ulcer, either of which could be enraged by rich restaurant food. Dairy intolerance is a bit of a leap.

[GarlicAprilShowers]

Good for you, Marvel. Hope it turns out to be something you can fix with a bit of medicine :)

[McPie]

Watch white wine as milk and eggs are used to clarify some wines but all wines produced after mid 2012 have to tell its allergens so I stick with 2013 wines as I know they will be safe.
I dropped wheat many moons ago and most dairy (can have semi-skimmed milk and fat free Greek yogurt) about 3 years ago as it made me bloated, sore and breathless. My food choices are tougher than the rest of my families but it is so not worth the pain I suffer when ever I eat any.
Shopping takes longer but sometimes things surprise you like Tesco value dark chocolate which is only 30p and has no milk in it!

[GarlicAprilShowers]

Eggs aren't dairy! I have to remind my mother every time, they're in the dairy section but they aren't made of milk

Wine contains sulphites, which are a violent allergen for me these days. Even organic wine has them - as do sausages