rholmes01
29-11-2011, 12:59 PM
Probably since around last Christmas, I became aware, more or less subliminally, that I was getting 'griping' pains during the day - even first thing when driving to work.
Being a male, I successfully ignored the early warning signs and put it down to my IBS (had it 12 years) and carried on regardless.
However, the pains just continued, I even said to my wife "why do I always feel so bloated after I eat" (bear in mind that I am not of a svelte build, quite the opposite in fact) - "you need to drink more water" was the general consensus as most of my H2O consumption was of the coloured variety and rarely 'straight'.
So I upped my water intake and yes, the pains and discomfort did go.
** Warning - if you're eating, skip the next line!! **
However, I did notice that after lunch (usually a sandwich and a 'Rachels' yogurt') I would have to go to the loo for what would be a very slimy ring-stinger (apologies for terminology) - most uncomfortable and with it's own 'nasal signature'.
Even so, I failed to take heed and carried on with my usual intake.
And then, around a month or so ago, on a Saturday morning, I had my weekend cornflakes and milk and within 30 mins had extreme bloating, gripes and had 'been' with a fury twice.
"Milk's off" said I so went out, eventually, and got some more.
Same results on Sunday...surely it can't be the milk now??
....and that's when the light came on!!
A quick google of milk intolerance pointed me to the NHS site where 7 symptoms of lactose intolerance were listed - and I had 6!
So now I'm as lactose free as I possibly can be. I don't know how badly intolerant I am, but, for example, I utterly forgot yesterday that Cheese and Onion crisps would have lactose in so I got all the old symptoms back and they're only just leaving me now, 24 hours later.
Enzyme tabs are very much my friends now, but only those from Holland and Barrett seem strong enough.
So I have gone from a milk/dairy/cheese monster to virtually complete abstinence (lactose free cheese is ok'ish if had with something else). I also tend to eat only ciabatta bread, simple meats (salads obviously), fortunately Mayonnaise is ok but ghee is an issue.
So there you are, it crept up slowly, I ignored it, it didn't go away. It is life changing but only on a small scale, one that is easily catered for (pun intended).
One thing that did annoy me, when I first went looking for enzyme tabs, the amount of ignorance out there is amazing - "are they for cats and dogs??" I was asked at one Sainsbury's pharmacy, followed by "our Pharmacist has no idea what you're talking about - lactose intolerance? what's that?" So to find this forum is good news
One final thing, I said at the start I got the classic griping symptoms first thing in the morning when driving to work and drinking water helped. Well, the gripes were because the tablets I have to take daily anyway all have lactose in so now I take an enzyme capsule first and have no more early morning issues, and the water 'helped' as I stopped drinking tea - so lowered my milk intake.
Being a male, I successfully ignored the early warning signs and put it down to my IBS (had it 12 years) and carried on regardless.
However, the pains just continued, I even said to my wife "why do I always feel so bloated after I eat" (bear in mind that I am not of a svelte build, quite the opposite in fact) - "you need to drink more water" was the general consensus as most of my H2O consumption was of the coloured variety and rarely 'straight'.
So I upped my water intake and yes, the pains and discomfort did go.
** Warning - if you're eating, skip the next line!! **
However, I did notice that after lunch (usually a sandwich and a 'Rachels' yogurt') I would have to go to the loo for what would be a very slimy ring-stinger (apologies for terminology) - most uncomfortable and with it's own 'nasal signature'.
Even so, I failed to take heed and carried on with my usual intake.
And then, around a month or so ago, on a Saturday morning, I had my weekend cornflakes and milk and within 30 mins had extreme bloating, gripes and had 'been' with a fury twice.
"Milk's off" said I so went out, eventually, and got some more.
Same results on Sunday...surely it can't be the milk now??
....and that's when the light came on!!
A quick google of milk intolerance pointed me to the NHS site where 7 symptoms of lactose intolerance were listed - and I had 6!
So now I'm as lactose free as I possibly can be. I don't know how badly intolerant I am, but, for example, I utterly forgot yesterday that Cheese and Onion crisps would have lactose in so I got all the old symptoms back and they're only just leaving me now, 24 hours later.
Enzyme tabs are very much my friends now, but only those from Holland and Barrett seem strong enough.
So I have gone from a milk/dairy/cheese monster to virtually complete abstinence (lactose free cheese is ok'ish if had with something else). I also tend to eat only ciabatta bread, simple meats (salads obviously), fortunately Mayonnaise is ok but ghee is an issue.
So there you are, it crept up slowly, I ignored it, it didn't go away. It is life changing but only on a small scale, one that is easily catered for (pun intended).
One thing that did annoy me, when I first went looking for enzyme tabs, the amount of ignorance out there is amazing - "are they for cats and dogs??" I was asked at one Sainsbury's pharmacy, followed by "our Pharmacist has no idea what you're talking about - lactose intolerance? what's that?" So to find this forum is good news
One final thing, I said at the start I got the classic griping symptoms first thing in the morning when driving to work and drinking water helped. Well, the gripes were because the tablets I have to take daily anyway all have lactose in so now I take an enzyme capsule first and have no more early morning issues, and the water 'helped' as I stopped drinking tea - so lowered my milk intake.