Suddenly lactose intolerant?

bnwalker2

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I've never been lactose intolerant. I remember as a kid having tests run for all kind of food allergies and such and remember the doctor specifically saying I was NOT lactose intolerant.
But for about the last 6 months I've been getting an upset stomach if I eat ice cream or drink milk. I've always had a weak stomach so I thought it was just coincidence. But I still avoided ice cream and milk for a while and mostly did ok.
But yesterday, we bought some mint chocolate chip ice cream (My favorite!) and I had to have some. I didn't think I had a lot... maybe 1/2-1 cup of it. When I went to bed, my stomach was feeling a little upset.. and I was getting very gassy... which is highly unusual for me (sorry if it's TMI!). I just woke up, 3 a.m. here, with really bad cramps/gas pains. Went upstairs to the bathroom but it was a few minutes before I could go. And it certainly wasn't "normal". I'm sitting here waiting for awhile before I go back to bed.
My question is, is anyone lactose intolerant that wasn't as a child? And does what I'm experiencing sound like it could be lactose intolerance? I have the same symptoms every time I eat ice cream or drink milk. As far as I know, I'm ok with cheese and stuff like that as long as I don't have *too* much... example: I can have two small pieces of pizza with no problem, but any more than that and I don't feel good.
 

strange_wings

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I wasn't lactose intolerant as a child, in fact I loved chocolate milk and would drink quite a bit of it.


My problems with dairy stated about 6-7 years ago when I had a gallbladder attack and I've steadily became more and more lactose intolerant since.
The pills no longer help me at all, but have you tried them for foods like cheese and smaller servings of ice cream?
A good alternative to ice cream is frozen yogurt, if you can find it locally in many different flavors.
Try the lactose free milk too, if you can drink that and have no problems it's more than likely lactose intolerance and not a dairy allergy.

Best advice I can give you, be careful what you eat. Never eat something that will bother you if you're not going to be home in the next 20-30 minutes.
 

natalie_ca

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Definitely sounds like lactose intolerance.

Start buying lactaid milk or soy milk and soy ice cream and see if it helps. You can also buy lactaid tablets and take a couple before having ice cream or milk and see if that helps.
 

luvmy2cats

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I'm the same way. I was never like this when younger. My case must be mild though because dairy just gives me gas. Sometimes stomach cramps but no ickys in the bathroom.
 
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bnwalker2

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Thanks everyone... guess I need to take it easy on the ice cream from now on!

Best advice I can give you, be careful what you eat. Never eat something that will bother you if you're not going to be home in the next 20-30 minutes.
I do that anyway! We went out to eat at a seafood buffet once at the local casino and I had an allergic reaction to some time of seafood I'd never had before. It hit so suddenly, and we spent an extra hour at the restaurant because I couldn't leave the bathroom. The experience traumatized me and now I refuse to eat out... if we go "out" to eat, I just bring my food back with me and eat it at home... just in case!
 

lunasmom

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I've never been known to be lactose intolerant and can handle milk without problems.

Ice Cream, however is a different story. I feel bloated all the way to my ankles after eating it. I switched to Soy ice cream and no longer get that feeling.

IMO avoid soy yogurt too...I tried that last week and let me say that there were days I should have gone home because of my farts.
 

littleraven7726

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i became lactose intolerant after a very bad case of food poisoning.

i use soy or rice milk instead of regular milk. and i take it easy with cheese (i can eat a little, but i sure know when i've had too much
). ice cream is a big no-no for my now. i do like those fruit ice treats and soy/rice dream "frozen treats". traveling is hell for me because after a day or so the fast food just about kills me. i always take Pepto chewable tablets when traveling.
 

my cat mellow

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I am just that way with ice cream, didnt eat it for a year, then decided to try it again, and the smells that my but was making were so bad, I had cramps and gas but no trips to the bathroom, I only eat icecream in small portions now and occasionally because poor hubby needs gas mask if I eat to much!!! I dont get it with cheese or dairy foods, just ice cream I guess our boddies are strange things

So yeh you can suddenly become intollerant, the best way to self test is to avoid lactose for 24 hours and then drink a glass of milk and see how you feel after that. or of course just eat more icecream and see if it happens again
 

rone

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My sister is the same way. She loves milk as a kid and would drink 2-3 huge glasses a day. When she turned 20 all of a sudden she's lactose intolerant. Now she carries pills just in case.
 

sarahp

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I also became lactose intolerant a few years ago (I was about 23 probably). I drink Lactaid milk (it realy doesn't taste that different), and just avoid dairy products wherever I can.

I keep Lactese tablets at home, some in the car, some in my wallet and some in DH's wallet, so wherever I am, if I have a craving for something dairy, or just don't want to miss out on what everyone else is happening I can take some tablets and I'm fine.
 

catlover19

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I have never been diagnosed with lactose intollerance but I get really sick if I eat ice cream or drink milk (but chocolate milk seems to be fine most of the time). I just tend to stay away from ice cream and milk and I am usually fine.
 

sharky

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It is QUITE common to become lactose intolerant as one gets passed early childhood
 

godiva

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It's pretty common for people to become lactose intolerant as they age because the cells in the small intestine that make lactase (the enzyme that digests lactose) become less active. Babies have this enzyme to digest milk, and production of this enzyme decreases after childhood. Hence, some people end up not making enough later on in life, and lactose causes all the symptoms you're experiencing. It's not a true allergy, just an enzyme deficiency.

Lactaid tablets will help if you take them as directed and it's okay to take more than the normal dose if it isn't enough for you. I'm not intolerant yet, and I don't know what I'll do if I ever become that way. I love milk, ice cream, cheese, everything dairy!
 

sarahp

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Ooooh and I discovered that Breyer's do lactose free ice cream!!!!!


A friend is also lactose intolerant and they had that in the freezer, and we tried it and it tasted just like regular ice cream! Yayyy!!!!
 
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bnwalker2

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Originally Posted by sarahp

Ooooh and I discovered that Breyer's do lactose free ice cream!!!!!


A friend is also lactose intolerant and they had that in the freezer, and we tried it and it tasted just like regular ice cream! Yayyy!!!!
OOO, I like that idea. What flavors does it come in? I'll have to check that out next time we're at the store.
 

sarahp

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Originally Posted by bnwalker2

OOO, I like that idea. What flavors does it come in? I'll have to check that out next time we're at the store.
No idea, haven't found it yet - they had vanilla bean and it was goooood!

They said they've only found it in Whole Foods and Nob Hill and the more fancy grocery stores, so you may need to check them out.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by sarahp

Ooooh and I discovered that Breyer's do lactose free ice cream!!!!!


A friend is also lactose intolerant and they had that in the freezer, and we tried it and it tasted just like regular ice cream! Yayyy!!!!
Be careful. Some of that "lactose free" dairy makes me sicker than regular dairy.
 
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