Why did no English Docs suggest it?

[Laurence]

Suffered for years with indigestion, particularly during the night- Rennies by the bed etc. Doctors in England told me an assortment of reasons such as "being an artist you are more likely to emotional anxiety" !!!!!!!!!!! also "try putting bricks under the head of your bed so you are not lying too horizontal" Really!! then "Eat a little, but often". I've been prescribed all sorts of medication to remove the symptoms of indigestion, but only when I moved here to Germany did someone suggest try giving up all dairy products for 7 days and see if it helps. The improvement to my well being was instant and enormous; in the last four months I havn't needed any indigestion tablets whatsoever and fell so much better. I came accross the interview by Mike Adams of Dr Robert Cohen on www.newstarget.com/002684.html (http://www.newstarget.com/002684.html). I take it you have all read this? Wow!!!!!!!:o

[jill]

Hi Laurence and welcome. When I first read your post I was thinking that you have more of the symptoms of a hiatus hernia, but if by cutting out dairy you have found a dramatic improvement then at least you are getting there!

Afraid most of us on here have had to suffer for quite a while before we knew what it was that was affecting us. I have a Lactose intolerance, but it took about 15 years before I discovered it. Like you I was told - its'all in the mind, stress, IBS etc, etc. Afraid most people in the medical profession don't have a clue, (apart from Yvonne & Haylie's consultant - See Yvie Posts). Hope we can be of assistance to you. Are you managing to find lots of dairy free alternatives in Germany?

[Copper]

Welcome Laurence. I was born with lactose intolerance which did go away once I was a couple of months old. I was ill again when I was about 8 and got better after a couple of years. Finally I got ill again when I was in my late 40s and discovered for myself that it was latose intolerance. It was only then I realised why I was sick at birth and again when I was 8. I have developed some other intolerances over the years :(

I have yet to convince my GP that this lactose intolerance is not going away this time.

[Helen01]

Hello Laurence (see I spelt it right! :) My son is called Laurence too.),

A very high proportion of the population is lactose intolerant as it's not natural for us to drink milk after we have been weaned (can't remember the actual figures). I think a lot of covering up goes on on the medical profession because the drug companies don't make any money if we change our diet. (always cynical me). This is another interesting story about how a man cured himself of ms by cutting out wheat, dairy eggs etc and that was 50 years ago!!

http://www.direct-ms.org/rogermcdougall.html

[Laurence]

Dear;
Jill, As this amazing personal discovery happened here in Germany 4 months ago, I don't know what dairy free shopping is like in England,but it is very well catered for here in even the smallest shopping outlets. Alpro soya products seems to be the most prevelant alternative.
Copper,
Perhaps you should change your GP.
Helen01,
I think you have apoint about the drug companies, but the main problem is the massive force of the dairy producing industry. Why should cow's milk be in almost everything we consume? My doctor here in Germany tells me it is difficult for him to avoid prescribing medicines which don't contain something containing it.

[jill]

Laurence, pleased to hear that you have already discovered some Dairy Free items, my sister lives in Belgium and I know that Alpro Soya items are available there. I'll be going there in just over a week so at least i'll be able to get my milk and yoghurts. Last time I went I had some bread rolls from Spa that had 18% milk in, I don't think i'll make that mistake again!

[Copper]

Hmmm I have not convinced my GP as I have not seen him for a few years :) I try to avoid the doctors :lol2:

I think that I have developed an intolerance to soya now. I must test this again soon. I have been almost soya free for weeks now and feel better. I don't worry about things like soya lecithins in foods as they don't seem to affect me. I will have to try some of my soya ice cream sometime - perhaps on Wednesday as I don't have to go anywhere on Thursday.

[Laurence]

As individuals differ, it's hard to see how we can pass on helpfull info. I can only say that Alpro products seem to suit me. You can also buy such items as 'Lactose free (cows) milk' here, but I haven't tried it and prob. never will. As Dr (file://\\r) Cohen said (in the above mentioned interview) "If I offered you a glass of pigs milk, or probably worse sounding - dogs milk, you'd be rather horrified", n'est pas?. So why are we accepting such huge quantities of this Cows stuff into our food, like what's so special about this animal?

[Copper]

We can help each other with dairy alternatives. Knowing what is available in Germany might help somebody planning a trip to Germany.

Do you find eating out difficult? It is a challenge here in the UK.

I recently spotted some new dairy free items in my local Tesco. I was able to let everybody here know what I had found. Sadly most of us our very interested in chocolate alternatives :lol2:

[cnc]

Welcome to the site :) Hope you find it helpful.

[Penelope]

Hello Laurence, its a pleasure to meet you.

I had to laugh at bricks under the mattress to avoid laying flat !!

Youre corect in saying that its very dificult to give one another advice as we're all different, but someone might just touch on something that works for you.

I just read Helen 01's MS link, and Ive found that being lactose free has done nothing to help the condition, nor has being Wheatfree (not that Ive had much choice in the matter on both counts). Therefore what works for one doesnt necassarily work for another.

I think we are conditioned toward Cows milk as it entered the consumerised foodchain (whichever year). Probably when Tea drinking became the norm I suppose as its not as pungent as Goats Milk.

Plus Cows don't try to eat your clothes when youre milking them Lol.

[rebecca c]

Welcome to the site Laurence.

One doctor once told me to use steam baths to unblock my ears. When he asked me about a year later if I used steam baths I said no it makes my nose and hence my ears worse and he said yes it does make them worse doesn't it. ?!?

After my dermatologists could not find out what was wrong with my face unless I had patch tests again which made me very ill (although of course they said they didnt) I asked if it could be salicylates - his response well thats your business. Same doctor 5 years later after still not being able to find out what was wrong with my face said "you could investigate if it is salicylates"

Aha - laugh/cry....

[amber]

mention of hiatus hernia makes me realize that since taking milk out of my diet i have not had any problems with my supposed hiatus hernia and it must be getting on for nearly 2years since i had my repeat prescription of gaviscon.all that medication i didnt need

[jill]

Thats interesting Amber, I mentioned hiatus hernia initially as my dad has one and Laurences symptoms reminded me of those that he has. I thought it was supposed to be more acidic foods that aggrevate it, so its intersting about the milk.