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Original poster

How to determine intolerance, dairy or gluten

13 replies

AMY676767 · 28/01/2022 12:50

So at the moment I am experiencing extreme bloating that don't go away. I was told it was IBS after having a stool sample taken by the doctors, I am trying to determine weather it is dairy or gluten, what's the best way to determine this? Any tips would be appreciated x

I am also type 2 diabetic

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 28/01/2022 15:12

Keep a food diary of everything you eat (check the ingredients for key allergens) and symptoms. If you really want to test if it's one or then eliminate them one at a time for a few weeks. It might not be either! There's a way of stripping your diet back to absolutely the most basic bland foods (think chicken & rice) and then reintroducing things gradually but with your diabetes I wouldn't do anything without advice for your diabetes nurse or a nutritionist.

Original poster
AMY676767 · 28/01/2022 15:23

@emmathedilemma

Keep a food diary of everything you eat (check the ingredients for key allergens) and symptoms. If you really want to test if it's one or then eliminate them one at a time for a few weeks. It might not be either! There's a way of stripping your diet back to absolutely the most basic bland foods (think chicken & rice) and then reintroducing things gradually but with your diabetes I wouldn't do anything without advice for your diabetes nurse or a nutritionist.
Thank you!!
OP posts:
Salamander91 · 28/01/2022 15:34

I'm also type 2 diabetic and stomach issues started about a year ago with reflux, bloating and excessive burping. I did a food diary to see what I reacted too. Gluten, dairy and soya for me. I also struggle with reflux so have to avoid a lot of food because of that too. I'm feeling a lot better though and my blood sugars are much better.

Original poster
AMY676767 · 28/01/2022 15:41

@Salamander91

I'm also type 2 diabetic and stomach issues started about a year ago with reflux, bloating and excessive burping. I did a food diary to see what I reacted too. Gluten, dairy and soya for me. I also struggle with reflux so have to avoid a lot of food because of that too. I'm feeling a lot better though and my blood sugars are much better.
Thank you!!
OP posts:
poliif · 28/01/2022 15:42

You've had blood tests done to exclude other things as well I'm guessing? Ca125 for new unexplained bloating for sure.

handmademitlove · 28/01/2022 15:45

Also ask GP for coeliac screen - IBS should be a diagnosis of last resort after all other things have been ruled out. Don't give up gluten until you have been screened.

Original poster
AMY676767 · 28/01/2022 16:02

@handmademitlove

Also ask GP for coeliac screen - IBS should be a diagnosis of last resort after all other things have been ruled out. Don't give up gluten until you have been screened.
I've had stool sample, ultrasound and blood tests:)
OP posts:
handmademitlove · 28/01/2022 20:55

I would check with GP if they tested for coeliac disease - it is not part of a standard panel?

Original poster
AMY676767 · 28/01/2022 23:18

@handmademitlove

I would check with GP if they tested for coeliac disease - it is not part of a standard panel?
Doctors have done bloods but I'm not 100% they checked for that
OP posts:
GettingStuffed · 28/01/2022 23:21

I get it from eating saturated fat.

HumourReplacementTherapy · 29/01/2022 09:13

If you're wanting a proper diagnosis you'd need to keep gluten in your diet in order for the tests to work.
So if you're going to try and eliminate don't do it with gluten.

FlamingRoses · 29/01/2022 09:41

The only way to know is to cut it out.

You can start by cutting out one or the other, or cutting out both and reintroducing several weeks later and seeing if you get a reaction.

Personally I did the former, and started with gluten due to family history. All symptoms gone within 3 days, so I never tried to remove dairy. Good luck.

(I recorded all symptoms and what I ate for the week before removing and then after removing).

coronabeer · 29/01/2022 17:04

It can take quite a long time to get dairy out of your system - think 6-8 weeks. It would be relatively easy to exclude dairy products from your diet with all the non-dairy substitutes currently available. Personally, I like oat milk. Thankfully, milk and whey are highlighted on food labels, so it's easy to check quickly on any other products. Try it - what have you got to lose? (Bloating, maybe? If it doesn't work for you, at least you'll be able to rule it out).

Worldwide, around 65% of people are lactose intolerant.

I used to suffer with morning diarrhoea - an urgent need for the loo at around 7am every day (and I mean urgent!). I was basically okay for the rest of the day, although at times I was embarrassingly flatulent (had to keep making excuses to leave the room!)

I gave up dairy mainly for ethical/animal reasons - I was vegetarian for years before that. After about 3-4 weeks, things started to improve - the urgency decreased and things were more formed. By around 8 weeks, I would say my bowel habits were more or less normal and I rarely fart - despite the increased volume of fruit, vegetables and beans in my diet.

I can honestly say this wasn't a change I was expecting. My constant runny nose and watery eyes have also cleared up.

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