Symptom Control

[Lan]

Have you got any tips that you would like to share? Anything that helps you control the symptoms you have?

For instance, I find that herbal teas help me, I drink camomile and peppermint (soothing), nettle (Cleans your system), evening primose (just like the taste). Most have no calories at all and I find the tastes very nice.

I also find that ocassionally using Andrews salts, helps relieve the bloating and sick feeling that I sometimes get.

If you have any useful tips, please share them with us.

Lan.

[Odette]

Hi

Good to see a forum for this topic. i have only just got round to looking on the web for dairy related topics!

I developed an intolerance to dairy a couple of years ago. I seem to have extreme changes to my skin condition! Seem to be ok with butter but cheese or milk is very bad! Chocolate is ok in very small amounts!

Depending on whether its cheese/milk or chocolate different areas of my face are affected. I kept a food diary for a while, introducing each food group back into my system. I thought it was lactose intolerance but i bought some lactase enzymes and last night had a cheese based meal with these enzymes! Only to find that an hour later that i had bad reactions!

What happens is that either my lips or the underneath of my eyes will swell up, become red and inflamed, become burning and itchy and then can even become weepy. The more i consume the worse these effects are. It usually spreads across my face if i dont cut out the dairy, and imm pretty sure the effects are becoming worse! I dont have any breathing problems, but am unsure as to what is exactly the cause of this if its not the lactose?!

I may look for somewhere do have a test of some kind to actually pinpoint it. But if anyone has the same things happen, i would be interested if they find any way of reducing these symptoms!

Odette

[Lan]

Hi Odette,

I know how you feel. The symptoms I get are diarrhoea, sickness, bloating and cramps.

I know there are 2 different aspects to milk i.e milk proteins and lactose. Lactose apparently is not an allergen but what is contained in it. I am unable to eat any dairy at all.

Steve my partner has been doing a lot of research on this recently and have asked him to post a message for you.

Take care,

Lan. :D

[Copper]

Originally posted by Lan@Apr 26 2002, 08:13 PM

For instance, I find that herbal teas help me, I drink camomile and peppermint (soothing), nettle (Cleans your system), evening primose (just like the taste). 


I have thought about trying some of these herbal teas BUT as I am allergic to ordinary tea I am scared to try them :(

[Lan]

Hi all,

I know with herbal teas that most are caffeine free but you have to check. I am however unsure as to whether they are tanin free. Most of the pure ones just show i.e. peppermint in the ingredients list, but would not like to say definitely, as have never found out.

Your best bet would be to go to your local health food shop and ask them. I may be near one tomorrow and if I am, then I will ask them for you.

Kind Regards,


Lan. :D

[Copper]

Thanks Lan you are a star :D I won't be visiting my health food shop until next week.

I am reluctant to try anything that might make me feel sick for hours!

Copper

[Pam]

Odette

It sounds from your symptoms that you have an allergy rather than an intolerance and possibly to cow's milk protein rather than lactose. Any immediate swelling should be taken very seriously as this can become progressively worse and as the body becomes more sensitive could turn into anaphalactic shock. I think you should ask your doctor to arrange skin prick testing so you can be sure.

You might find that an anti-histamine would relieve your symptoms. You can buy these over the counter or get them on prescription. Ask the pharmisist which one would be most suitable as some eg. Piriton tend to knock you out a bit, some are one a day whilst others are as and when required.

Pam

[Lan]

Hi Copper,

Unfortuanetly I was unable to visit the local Health Food Shop as went no-where near it. I should however be going there sometime in the future. That's the trouble with living in the valleys, the shops are all so far away.

I can't see any problems with them as from the ingredients list they say pure peppermint etc, and most will state whether or not they are naturally caffeine free.

Will do a bit of research and let you know.

Kind Regards,


Lan. :D

[Odette]

First appointment i can get next week and ill arrange for the test with the doc. Thanks for the advice, i could have left it longer and longer with worsening effects. It will be good to know exactly. Thanks for that Pam.

Odette

[Copper]

I have been to my local health food shop and asked about herbal tea. They could not advise me about the probability of it making me ill. They suggested I asked a pharmacist. I did not have time. The last time I told a pharmacist I was lactose intolerant he said that it could only be proved with a test. Luckily for me my doctor believes me without the test. The thought of drinking lactose makes me feel ill.

Back to the herbal tea problem - I guess I will just have to try some on a day when I have time to be ill :(