For those of you with a sensitive stomach what do you eat?

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I think my stomach is getting more sensitive as I get older, is this a thing?! Early 40s and a couple of times recently I have woken up in the night with a stomach ache and needing the toilet and both times it’s randomly been after eating jacket potato and I have to admit quite a lot of cheese. Also once after having a cream tea with quite a bit of clotted cream. Randomly other times if I just have a small amount of cheese it seems to be ok. Is this a thing? Anyway it’s made me think I want to look at my diet a bit and stick to more gentler foods/ snacks… any tips?

I cut out all dairy and gluten, been so much better and also no bloating. It was tricky to get used to at first but dont notice it now. Occasionally Ive gone out for meals and had dairy or gluten and Ive been so bloated and had a painful stomach so I know its helping.

Sounds like you can't tolerate dairy? Experiment with lactose free products perhaps

I did wonder that. Randomly I seem to be ok with yoghurt though? Sounds stupid I know but those of you who have cut out dairy and gluten what sort of things do you like to eat?

Dairy and gluten are the obvious. Eliminate both and gradually reintroduce one at a time to see the culprit

I sympathize OP. Its taken me a year to find the culprit.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/4910149-lactose-intolerance?reply=129658494

It could be the amount of fats.
I'm grand with dairy and gluten. But if I eat too much cheese, say melted in a toastie I get tummy trouble. I can have a scone and cream but an afternoon tea with lots of rich food would have me on the loo all night.
I can eat a burger OR chips but never both at the same time.
If a meal out seems very "rich" I have to get a vegetable side etc

That seems to be a bit like me @70sDuvet . I’ve always loved cheese annoyingly!

My Dr told me the way we eat should change after 50 as the stomach can't process the same amount of food as it used to . Eat little and often was her suggestion . I used to have a cast iron gut now anything too fatty too sugar results in pains and reflux .

I've recently cut out dairy and feel much better. I do very much miss cheese and tea though! I have started drinking earl grey with lemon and am enjoying that as an alternative

Obviously try cutting out foods etc but I did read that waking up in the night to empty your bowels is a sign of something more serious going on with the bowel so don't assume it's just food intolerance if it doesn't settle down with cutting foods out.

I cut out gluten and dairy last year and felt great after having low-level stomach ache every day for the last 20 years! Cutting both out was very tricky (and expensive!) but now I just avoid lactose and feel a lot better for it.

Lidl sell lactose-free milk cartons and I buy Arla lactose-free cheese (red packet, about £2.50 a block from Sainsbury's). I also have oat milk in coffee.

Oatly sell a nice creme fraiche too, and a cream alternative - Sainbury's sell both.

I started making ricotta which is really simple. You just bring full-fat lactose-free milk to the boil, add herbs if you like them, turn off the heat, then add lemon juice until the curds and whey separate, then drain most of the liquid away. I use a muslin cloth in a colander and give it a gentle squeeze. It sounds fiddly but is really easy once you've tried it!

I really miss mozzarella, brie, goat's cheese, and chocolate, but I'd take a limited choice over the daily stomach ache/upset any day!

For a treat I have dark chocolate now. That took a while to get used to but I look forward to it now.

Someone recommended lactase tablets to me so you can eat lactose and the tablets break it down in your stomach. I bought some from Boots and they're a bit hit and miss (I seem to have to take them exactly 20 minutes before eating, any sooner or later and they don't work) but worth a try if you don't want to cut out certain foods.

Good luck!

Waitrose also sells lactose-free halloumi and feta but I've found both still seem to disagree with me. Worth trying them though if you would miss them!

Ive recently (drs advice) cut out gluten as my stomach troubles were very bad. Terrible pain, bloating and loose bowels that usually led to bleeding. After checking for bowel cancer and cleared she suggested cutting out gluten.

48 hours it took before the difference was life changing. It's only been a few weeks but when I have accidentally had gluten within a couple of hours the cramps and diarrhoea comes back. This afternoon I thought 'a little won't hurt' and ate a mini stollen bite around 3 pm. By 6.30 I was in agony on the toilet.

But it is worth going to the GP to check nothing more sinister as well.

Ive tried both oat milk and almond milk and neither agree with me. I have the Arla lacto free milk with Beanies coffee at home
My coffee shop days are over. Ive asked four well known chains whether they do lactose free and they tried to fob me off with plant milks , two of which ive already tried as ive mentioned above. All very well for hospitality to want support especially after Covid but im not willing to risk diarrheoa to do that.

I have horrendous heartburn every day especially after meals. I started taking Omeprazole which works instantly but really should be addressing the underlying cause. It started up the same time as my peri symptoms so put it down to this, but cutting out certain foods and wine helps.