That's not a stupid question at all. If anything, It is a much welcomed question- i just spent the past few minutes praying to the porcelin gods...so at this point i'm miserable and willing to try just about anything. I haven't really tried much soy, because it's a bit more expenseive than the groceries i usually buy....but it might be worth the investment if i can keep it down. I will definitely try the soy ice cream and see how i do. my ice cream cravings are unrealOriginally Posted by lookingglass
I realize this may be a stupid suggestion, but how do you react to soy? Soy ice- ceam tends to have less of a reaction with people with IBS. Also, I've found through some research that it may not be the lactose that you are allergic to, it's quite possible that you are reacting to the bovine growth hormone that is fed to cows to produce more milk. I know that Ben and Jerry's doesn't use it, and if you get really creative, you can make your own ice-cream with hormone free milk.
I had a battery of allergy tests done about a year ago...and nothing showed up on those...but i do have contact allergies to wasp stings,dust, timothy hay, grass (if i sit on grass i get huge red rashes on my legs), smoke- goodness, i get the worst astmah attacks from that, penicilline, agumitten,codine,cephlosporins, and i'm super allergic to Silicone- haha no boob jobs for meOriginally Posted by lookingglass
Wild Oats is a great place to find hormone free milk! In fact, that is where I do the majority of my grocery shopping. Soy may be slightly more expensive than regular dairy, but if the alterative is throwing up all night, I'd say it's worth the extra dollar or two.
Also, at Wild Oats you can find a whole bunch of dairy free things, like muffins, cakes, and cheese. If it is the lactose that is the problem, the alternatives are out there.
Another stupid question, how are you with wheat gluten? If you have suddenly had an extreme sensitivity to lactose, wheat gluten is usually the next step in the allergy woes. If that's the case I'd go to an allergy specialist and get myself checked out. This could be the symptom to a underlying problem like celiacs disease.
Here's some info about that: http://www.celiac.com/index.html
EDIT: Your cravings could be from a lack of calcium. Have you tried taking a supplement?
Goodness, that is a lot of milk optionsOriginally Posted by Rachey
aaww you poor thing!! Im currently off work sick with a stomach ulcer or gallstones, so im having to cut out spicy food, alcohol, milk etc and it is hell!
See if its ok for you to have soya milk, oat milk or rice milk tho, you might be ok with them
I understand the "issues" thing full well! Last night i accidently had some coffee and it had sweetened condensed milk in it- (you know, things you wouldn't even think of if you're not use to a lactose problem.) and i drank it. I was sick on both accounts if you know what i mean. When i woke up this morning i was still really sickOriginally Posted by sarahp
Oh man, something in my lunch must have contained lactose... I've been having "issues" for the last 6 hours!!!
I can imagine what it must be like have gluten issues as well!!!
Hopefully you can find plenty of cost effective ways to eat yummy foods still.