Lactose Intolerant

[duqette]

No, not me. My 13-year-old boy just got the unofficial diagnosis. Apparently it's his first big present from the puberty gods. We have to go dairy-free for a while, then he gets to binge, and if he gets better, then really sick, voila! Mr. Lactose Intolerant.

Poor kid! He lives on cereal with milk, cheese, and big glasses of milk with every meal.  He's just stunned right now, although since we immediately cut out all dairy, he's also feeling much better. When I say "we," of course, I mean "him."

Any other non-lactase producing types out there? Any advice, suggestions for a non-dairy lifestyle? I bought a carton of soy milk, which he tried, and rejected. Can't say as I blame him .... 

[stopintime]

I can't give detailed advice (I'm not in your country), but there is Lactose free dairy milk (US?) and several other varieties of soya milk, chocolate included, and rice milk. Cheese made from soya - tastes as good if not better.

He'll get used to it - let's hope.

Good luck

[Punx Clever]

The good ol usa has laactose free milk too!

[somegirl]

Keep trying different alternative milks and different brands as well...besides soy, there is almond milk, hemp milk, rice milk, coconut milk, not to mention the lactose-free dairy milk mentioned (get the 100% lactose-free).  Try different flavors and sweetened vs unsweetened.

There are lots of cheese alternatives, they have gotten better at making them.   There are plenty of lactose-free ones that are not vegan, they have milk protein in, so they are closer to the real thing which he might prefer.

Look for hidden dairy ingredients in just about any type of food, unfortunately.  Most breads, crackers, other baked goods have dairy.  Many restaurants put butter in just about anything.  You really have to question them.  I have had waiters try to tell me that butter was olive oil and that parmesan cheese was garlic (wtf?).  I usually tell them I am very allergic which generally gives me the best results (I am vegan, severely lactose-intolerant, and allergic).  Fortunately the bay area has some good options for dairy-free eating out and natural food stores. 

It will be a tough transition at first but he should get used to it over time.  Getting sick every time you eat something is a good incentive to avoid it.  And he may learn that he can tolerate a little bit of certain types of dairy, who knows.

Good luck and hugs to him!

[rgramjet]

My wife talked me into having lactose intolerance for about a year.  It was so bad, one spoonful of ice cream would literally clear my half of the ice cream parlor.  I could feel the dairy travel through my innards until its hideous/violent expulsion usually accompanied by severe cramping.  Lactaid didn't work, the only thing that worked was avoidance.  F that, I loves me some ice cream!

Id like to think I talked myself out of having LI.......what worked for me was not avoiding dairy, just limiting my portion.  Over time, I could eat/drink more.  I would know within 5-15 minutes if I went over my threshold.  Don't ask me about the Starbucks Frappachino episode while driving back from PA.

Long story short, I can now drink an entire milkshake or ice cream sundae.  I consume milk and cheese daily with no adverse effects.

Good luck!

[JBubble]

Good info here: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/lactose_intolerance.html#

Mother is extremely lactose intolerant, most likely due to his asian persuasion. We still eat dairy products but in limited amounts. We do occasionally splurge but plan appropriately (i.e. only large amounts of dairy if he's not working on the ambulance that night). Good luck!

[Duck-Stew]

I can sympathize with the above comments.  I've been LI now for about 12 years or so...  Drank milk, ate cheese like it was going out of style before this... 

Now it's soy-yogurt (really tasty BTW), Rice-Milk on cereal, Tofutti-Cuties when I'm splurging, and a SERIOUS list of questions when dealing with waitstaff.    They lie, I want to die.  Totally sucks that they have NO idea what they're serving up.

I still have butter in small amounts as I don't like the taste of the substitutes (never have, it's just me...).  Sherbert and Sorbetto become good friends too.

Life w/o dairy can be really good, but somethings do suck about it...

[Stella]

Try goat's milk?

A friend of mine has several dozen families he delivers his goat's milk too where there are allergies and store bought cow milk intolerances.

Just another option to consider.

Good luck!

[stopintime]

About butter: can you get Gee, cleared butter, without the milky stuff in it. I made my own, but I don't know if it's possible to remove enough.

[DRKWNG]

My wife talked me into having lactose intolerance for about a year.  It was so bad, one spoonful of ice cream would literally clear my half of the ice cream parlor.

Don't ask me about the Starbucks Frappachino episode while driving back from PA.

Doood!!  You seriously think you can get away with dropping that bomb (pun intended) and not elaborate? 

[Grampa]

get checked for gluten issues... lots of people (myself included) think/thought dairy was the problem only to find out that its the gluten thats the turd in the punchbowl.

[erkishhorde]

Trying some of the Asian brands of things will help you get around lactose intolerance a bit. They're pricier and harder to find but a lot of the try to keep the lactose content low since a lot of Asians tend to be LI.

I loves me some Maeda-en brand Lychee ice cream.

[rgramjet]

Doood!!  You seriously think you can get away with dropping that bomb (pun intended) and not elaborate? 

Let's just say I now make it a point to carry EBW with me on all long trips.  Decorum prohibits me from elaborating any further.......

[Le Pirate]

Something I've lived with for years.

I went cold turkey off the dairy for a while, but I've found that I can handle small amounts too. I don't eat cereal anymore...period. Soy milk sucks, but the amount you have to have to wet your serial will make me call in sick for work that day  (think that, but the other end).

I can tolerate some though. I'll have a slice of cheese on my sammich, or burger. I'll eat pizza if I know I'll be somewhere near a restroom in the next hour....you know....incase 

I've switched to using fake butter at home...unless I absolutely need it for something I'm making, but then I'll just reduce the amount a little and I'm usually okay. Alfredos still get me though 

I cook alot more asian style meals now, but for the most part...it's been fine. I'm much happier now than before when I was getting bad cramps in my stomach every time I ate, and couldn't figure out why.

[derby]

Let's just say I now make it a point to carry EBW with me on all long trips.  Decorum prohibits me from elaborating any further.......

this story, coupled with your screen name, makes me snicker.