Basic lactose intolerance question

I can gas a small town if I drink fresh milk. Aged cheese and yogurt no so much. We have a drink here based on fermented milk that I love, but no amount of lactase pills can prevent the catastrophe that ensues.

Like a lot of other people I was lactose intolerant for a long time before I figured what happened on my own. At times (and after a few failed medical tests) I was sure I was going to die after any dairy-heavy meal, it took me years to make the connection.

Or in their pre-teens. Or in their teens. Or in their 30’s. Or in their 40’s…

The onset of the loss of lactose defends heavily on one’s ethnic heritage, and in inverse correlation. If you are from a group that historically has very high levels of lactose intolerance, you will tend to start losing lactase early. If you are from a group that historically has low levels of lactose intolerance, you will tend to start losing lactase late. But it can happen at any age from 3 to 73. There is no “often.”

I too developed an intolerance in my early twenties. Characterized by intense cramps, horribly painful gas and bloating and diarrhea. I self-diagnosed but had a hard time controlling it, so I went to see a gastroenterologist. Turns out I have IBS but I’m also lactose intolerant. For a long time before I got the IBS diagnosis I couldn’t understand how I could completely refrain from dairy and yet STILL have those symptoms. Dairy makes my stomach immediately rebel, and the IBS is an on and off sort of thing that’s more related to stress. It’s a sucky combination. I tend to politely tell people I have “a sensitive stomach.” It’s better than saying I shit a lot.

But as a slight hijack to all of the other lactose intolerant people here, I have a very hard time with Lactaid pills or other lactase enzyme pills. On more than one occasion I have taken those pills and had, say, coffee with cream. I then have an hour or so of intense nausea and extreme stomach pain. This doesn’t happen every time, but usually when I use the pills to combat a high lactose food, like the aforementioned cream or ice cream. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

I can only surmise it’s one of two things happening: 1) the Lactaid cannot bind with all the lactose and my reaction is just the reaction to the lactose and high fat content of the dairy, or 2) My reaction is to the pills and I need to avoid them. Any thoughts?

I guess it was about 15 years ago that I started using SlimFast to lose weight, and noticed these symptoms. I thought that more fiber would help, but it didn’t. Gave up SlimFast.

Then about a year later. I saw some Egg Nog in the supermarket. I love the stuff, and drank a whole quart of it. I did make it to the bathroom in time, but just barely. Finally put two and two together, and had a whole bunch of Lactaid on my next try.

Definitely. I can handle 8 ounces of milk at breakfast with no problem, but no more than that. Having more milk at lunch is very risky, but by dinner I’m okay for another 8 ounces.

Lactaid solves everything, though. Unfortunately, I have to be better about taking some with me when I’m on the road. I drive a lot, and often look longingly at the various varieties of chocolate milk that are in the convenience stores…

I became lactose intolerant around 7ish, my mother and sister had(have) it, so they were expecting me to as well. This was the severe type too, any kind of milk (cheese, butter, anything with whey) and I’d be in the bathroom within an hour. However, that didn’t sit right with me, so around puberty, I started to consume milk products again. This wasn’t just putting a toe in the pool either, I did a frippin canonball. Pizza, Ice Cream, Cheesecake, sure, I got sick once or twice, but soon, I didn’t. 6 years later, I’ll get sick about once a month while my mother has to run to the bathroom if she even thinks about milk.

Please note, there is a huge difference between being “allergic to dairy” (very rare) and “lactose intolerant” (fairly common).