Can you develop lactose intolerance?

[LAMom]

I've been trying to drink more milk because it's supposed to be good for you and I know I don't get enough calcium but every time I try to drink more than about 1/2 cup I get lots of unpleasant symptoms; gassy queasy and one I won't mention that keeps me running to the bathroom. Has anyone else had this happen to them. Cheese doesn't seem to bother me, I haven't eaten much yogurt recently so I don't know about that but the milk thing is bumming me out. I finally have decided I like the taste of FF milk and now it seems to make me sick! Any suggestions?
Susan

[Parham91x2]

My brother suddenly developed that in H.S. He was fine until then. You can get Lactaid tablets over the counter and that will help you out.



Chris

[newme7]

Yes, you can develop many food tolerances as we age. Milk and acid(especially tomato based) are usually the worst for most.=(

[LAMom]

Thanks for the good info. It's kind of ironic that my brother was born with a milk allergy and out grew it and now I seem to be developing a sensitivity to it! Guess I'll just have to drink beer instead. (hahaha)
Susan

[flutterby]

Susan, the same thing happened to me a few years ago. I've never been diagnosed as lactose intolerant, but I'm pretty sure that is what has happened. I cannot eat ice cream now, it gets me the worst. I'm fine if I only have a small cup of milk, but if I overdo it, the same. Also cheese in general doesn't bother me, but swiss cheese does for some reason. You might want to watch that!

I've never taken lactaid or anything, I just avoid these foods or have smaller portions of them.

I'm sure I really need to be on some type of calcium supplement, but haven't picked anything up yet. *jotting on the to do list as we speak*

Good luck!

[Christena]

Hey, sorry to hear about your trouble. You can develop lactose intolerance later in life. I didn't develop it until I was about 20. My problem is especially milk, cheese and yogurt but not so much ice cream. :) I buy Lactaid milk...it is skim milk with lactaid (the lactase enzyme) added to it. You can also buy regular milk and add the lactase enzyme yourself, as some one else suggested. Be sure to follow the directions on the box if you buy it because concentrations vary. There is also lactose free milk (which I have personally never tried) and soy milk which doesn't contain lactose. Soy milk is good but it doesn't quite taste like regular milk. The lactaid milk that I buy tastes EXACTLY the same as regular milk.

If you eat lots of other lactose-containing food that bothers you, you may be better off getting some lactaid and adding it to your food. For me, I just buy the milk and stay away from yougurt and lg amounts of cheese.