Crohn's Disease and Dairy Free

[Anonymous]

:roll: I have had Crohn's disease for 6 years now and have had 3 operations in that time. I now believe that Dairy products may have been the cause (Although not yet proved). I am recovering from my latest op, in which I have a temparary stoma. I have now started a dairy free diet, using replacement products, inplace of dairy products but have not yet found a good replacement for cheese. I have tried a few Soya cheeses but they are not to my taste. I would like to try Goat's Cheese but I am not certain about it, as it is not technically a Dairy product (Cow). So I am not sure. Anybody know anything about this ?

Thanks

[Steve]

Hi,

I'm not actually dairyfree myself, although my girlfriend is and she swears by some of the dairyfree cheese alternatives now.

On our Non Dairy Foods section of the site there are several cheeses you can try. You may have to try a few of them before you find one you like, but Leanne swears by the cheesly.

Here's the link
http://www.dairyfree.org.uk/list_prods.php?cat_id=9

If you need any further help, please get in touch.

Steve

[Pam]

There seems to be a lot of conflicting advice on the differences between cow's milk and milk from goats or sheep. The scientists tell us that the milk proteins are structured in the same way and would probably cause the same problems but there are so many stories about goat's milk being the wonder cure for many sufferers. I think it is basically trial and error to see whether it works for you - if you are willing to take the risk. I've never bothered to try any other animal milks with my daughter, we manage ok with the soya alternatives.

[Lan]

When I was cutting out dairy products, I was told that goats and sheeps milk are not totally free, and do contain a small level of lactose (Milk Sugar).

Whether you could and would try to tolerate the small amount of lactose in them, I feel would be totally a personal decision. I know I don't eat them anymore.

The soya cheeses available are quite nice, and a list can be found on this website.

Good luck.


Lan :P

[Lunar]

:unsure: We have, in the past, been advised to try Joe on goats or ewes milks products, but he reacted to them too.
Whatever you choose I do hope you recover quickly from your op:)

[linny]

Hi, I've got to go in hospital to be tested for Crohns next week. I suffer with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the rheumatologist said peolple with these are more prone to Crohns. I have been dairy free for a year due to an intolerence test showing I have a high dairy intolerence. Giving up dairy doesn't seem to have helped my stomach but has helped the swollen joints and bloated stomach. If they find Crohns they want to treat it so I can go back on disease modifying tablets and maybe anti-inflammatories again. Ugh! I've never tried other cheeses as I can't bear the thought of having any more stomach ache! I tend to unadventurous!

[matt]

i'd heard that crohns usually caused by gluten, this can then make you dairy intolerant as it stops the intestines from being able to digest the lactose hence bloating and all other symptoms.

in theory if gluten is removed the intestines should return to normal ish depending on how bad they were. and eventually you should be able tolerate dairy again.

[linny]

Oh well, I'll wait for the results before I start worrying about anything else. One more week of stomach ache to go, well hopefully!

[matt]

if it is due to wheat don't expect a quick recovery. can be several months before the intestines recover, but in meantime you should hope fully be feeling better. atleast you'll know whats wrong with you and won't think you're going nuts. keep going and good luck:)