Has anyone had intolerance to dairy products? For a couple of years I have been troubled with blockages (ER and all). After Janna from New York suggested to start Lactulose, I stopped all dairy products (just another stab in the dark).

I stopped all dairy products two days ago and amazingly, I have been feeling much better. I miss milk and the other dairy, but it's worth it to feel better.

I'll pick up the Lactulose (prescription) and start it tonight.

I tried cutting milk from my diet when I still had UC (2002) but it didn't seem to help. So I haven't tried that since receiving my J-Pouch in Jan of 2003.

So, if anyone has anything to tell me about milk products causing symptoms like constipation - please share.

Why to I have this intolerance now?

And I know nothing about Lactulose.

I have had trouble with dairy with the pouch---but it gives me watery frequent stools, not constipation. I miss milk, but it is just not workth the discomfort. I can eat yogurt if I stick to just one container per day.

I believe if you don't tolerate something, like dairy or any other food, your body is trying to tell you something. You can develop a sensitivity or allergy at any time, really, but I have noticed post-surgery I am a lot less tolerable to dairy as well. I have a ton of gas and bloating (if I eat dairy) and I truly feel it is due to missing the colon (space).
As well, I do tolerate a small amount of dairy late in the day vs. the morning. If I eat milk in the morning, I might as well hang up my boots because my day is shot. You might want to try rice milk if you really crave milk. It wound up giving me the same gassy symptoms if I ate it in the morning, but it could work for you. Best brand is Rice Dream original.

Milk and ice cream always gave me a problem with my UC so I stopped it. I had tried soy milk for awhile, which worked, but craved regular milk. Someone finally told me about Lactaid Milk. It tastes exactly like milk because it is milk, just with no lactose. I also get the one that has 50% more calcium. It is a little more expensive, but worth it. My 3 year old son has a problem with milk too (severe constipation) and it works great for him. I've never had a problem with yogurt or any kinds of cheeses.

For the ice cream I eat either the soy ice cream, Ben & jerry's frozen yogurt (they have yummy flavors that taste just like ice cream, double fudge brownie....YUM!) or Lactaid actually has several flavors of ice cream too.

Give it a shot and see how it works for you.

Erin

I'm wondering what you are including in the 'dairy'.....are you all not able to have
things like cheese, eggs, pudding..or is it just the MILK that is bothering??

Lately I've been experiencing watery frequent stools after having scrambled or poached eggs in the morning....I used to eat them everyday .and then stopped for about a year...was just sick of them!!....I'm not sure if it's the eggs that are bothering me or maybe the HOT Humid weather!!!!! One thing for sure.... no symptoms like constipation with dairy for me!
..Char..

I concur on the Lactaid Milk. It tastes great and doesn't bother me one bit. After the surgery last month, I tried milk once on some ceral and bloated up so bad I was in bed all day with terrible gas. I switched to Lactaid Milk and everything went down perfectly. Give it a try you will be surprised.

Hi Peggy,

You might want to try some other stool softener such as magnesium sulphate or grape juice if you are intolerant of dairy because Lactulose is actually made from milk.

I do hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted on how the dairy free diet is going.

Take care

Shell :ccol:

I stopped all dairy as of Thursday afternoon and by Friday I was already doing a lot better (no bloating or symptoms of contipation). I had mac and cheese for supper last night (Saturday) and I could feel the symptoms of bloating returning but subsided by 9 p.m.

And last night (Saturday night) I started the Lactulose (2 x daily). I don't know if that's a good idea or not to do both (quit the dairy AND start the Lactulose) at the same time. I might not know if the Lactulose is helping or not, maybe. But you know - like all of us - just want to get better ASAP

So no cheese and no milk. I'm yet to try eggs.

I used to drink Soy Milk when I had UC (thinking staying away from milk products would make me better) and I was fine with Soy Milk. So I'll go back to Soy and/or rice milk (with added calcium). And of course some of the ice cream without milk.

Of course when you aren't suppose to have something you want it even more.

You can always "experiment"......it's all trial and error. But it does seem like you have a real issue with dairy. I'm not familiar with Lactulose but if it is an enzyme, it will really only be of benefit if you are eating dairy, otherwise you might be wasting your time/money.
If I were you, I would stop everything. Give your body time to detox, then add items like an egg, and see how you do.
If you like the soy/rice milk, why not just use that since it seemed to be okay with your system? Yes, when you really crave something that you can't have, you do crave it more. I have found though, after a few days you miss it less and less. Your taste buds adapt to the new item and you forget about whatever you gave up.

I use the Lactaid milk, 100% skim. And it tastes like real milk.

Instead of ice cream, I use frozen yogurt, 100% fat free. It taste 'almost' like ice cream. ;-)

Shelby and Peggy,

Lactulose is a stool softener made from milk. It's not recommended if you are lactose intolerant. Here's a couple of links:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001447.html

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/30002083/

Shell

Milk has been a strange bedfellow for me. Mostly it's not a problem, but some days it rears it's ugly head and I pay the price... not sure why it's hit or miss. Maybe I'm on the fringe of lactose intollerant? I've tried the lactaid version and it doesn't seem to be any different, so it's probably something else.

Johnny

Shell,

Thank you so much for those web sites - lots of good info.

Now I don't know if I should be taking the Lactulose or not.

Last Thursday afternoon I stopped all dairy and started to feel MUCH better.

Last Saturday night I started Lactulose due to a suggestion from a friend.

But, beings I'm quite sure that I'm lactose intolerant, it sounds like I shouldn't take the Lactulose.

Suggestions?

Last Saturd