<p>For a while now, I've been having stomach pains, along with various other symptoms. At first, I thought it was the effects of a virus I had in Spain this summer ... I went to the gastroenterologist, who also thought it might be the virus and gave me some drugs to ease cramping. They haven't helped much.</p>
<p>Today, a teacher suggested that I might be lactose intolerant. I kind of shrugged it off - I've had milk my entire life with no pain before.</p>
<p>Then I read up on lactose intolerance this afternoon - and I'm beginning to think it sounds like me.</p>
<p>Is anyone here lactose intolerant? When did you find out, how bad is it, what do you have to do? (Can you have lactose products at all, or do you have to avoid completely?) How did you find out you had it?</p>
<p>Also - what race are you ...? Supposedly Asians are more prone?</p>
<p>Thanks - even if you don't have LI, actually, any information is welcome and appreciated.</p>
<p>Hey Lavender,
Ok, if you think you are lactose intolerant (entirely possible, since symptoms usually begin to present themselves in the teen years), what I would recommend is to stop consuming any milk products for a day or so and see if the cramps go away. The pain in the lower abdomen and bloating generally starts about 30 minutes to an hour after eating milk products, so if the pains do go away when you stop drinking milk and such, go get tested.
Your doctor will probably perform a hydrogen breath test. Hydrogen is created when undigested lactose reaches the large intestine, so this tests for abnormally high levels of hydrogen in your expirated breath after drinking some milk.
And no, not all lactose intolerant people have to completely stay off milk products. Depending on how much or how little lactase your small intestine produces, you may be able to have limited amounts with large intervals.</p>
<p>I'm not lactose intolerant, but I know some people that are. Basically, LI is when your body cannot produce lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose. When you ingest milk or other lactose containing products, you get cramps and become bloated. LI can be diagnosed by a few tests that your doctor can preform. But you can verify if you have LI by not eating milk containing products for a few days, and then beginning to eat a lot of milk. You should notice the differences in how your stomach reacts during these times. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>I'm lactose intolerant and I can definitely still eat dairy products through taking lactase pills right before eating/drinking dairy products which contain lactase (that I don't have) to break down the lactose.</p>
<p>I have been lactose intolerant since I was born (Suppoosively the worst kind of it :( )
I drink Lactaid Milk and use Lactaid pills before I consume anything that contains lactase. Usually it is fine but sometimes it can get bad even when I take the pills. Lavenderdream.... Stay off any milk products for about a week, then after that week is done drink a full glass of milk and see if there is any bloating,etc. If that is the case, then you are 99% likely to be lactose intolerant</p>
<p>I don't do well with heavy creams, any type of milk besides fat free, real ice cream... anything really that is a heavy dairy product. I can do skim milk and some cheeses but sometimes I'll still feel ill after consuming those. I've never been tested although I have talked about it with my doctor and gotten some pills for it. He says I'm probably mildly LI.</p>