For some, not to eat dairy is a personal choice, but for others eating dairy is just plain out of the question. Dairy intolerance often sneaks in, usually disguising itself as irritable bowel syndrome or constipation and can go undiagnosed for years. Intolerance can develop at any age and to anyone.

Here are the personal stories of some dairy intolerance sufferers.

 

“I was in my mid twenties when I started suffering from bouts of constipation. I never had a regular bowel so this came as no surprise. I went to the doctor and he prescribed senna tablets and lactulose syrup.  Later, I started getting excruciating sharp pains in my pelvis. They came on without warning and stopped me mid-sentence, doubling me over. I went back to the doctor who referred me to the hospital.

They did a barium enema and colonoscopy but couldn’t find anything wrong with my bowel other than constipation and so I was sent home and told to eat more fibre. I muddled through the next few years eating plenty of fruit and vegetables as this gave me bad smelling loose stools but that was better than being constipated. 

By now, I felt lifeless, weak and bloated most of the time and embarrassed by very foul smelling wind. In conversation with my mother she recommended that I varied my diet to see if it made any difference so I did a week of no dairy and no wheat. By day three the difference was so obvious and dramatic that I knew I had found the culprit, so by introducing them one by one back into my diet it was apparent immediately after I had milk again that this was the cause.

I cut dairy out of my diet immediately, but then I was so surprised at all the hidden dairy in foods, usually because of my reaction after I had eaten it. I would immediately feel a bit nauseous and get a gassy tummy, I would burp a lot and then my digestive system slowed right down and I would struggle to go to the toilet for the rest of the week.  Now I have to be very strict with what I have and sometimes it’s difficult to get the message across to others. I can’t tell you how many people have said to me ‘there’s only a bit of dairy in it’ as they pass round the cakes. I’m in my thirties now and I have found just how much being dairy intolerant has changed my life for the better. I now pay very careful attention to what I put in my mouth, I eat lots of lovely home cooked foods and it has opened my eyes to the lack of awareness towards dairy intolerance. I frequently meet people who express similar symptoms but just won’t entertain the idea of giving up dairy. I can only say that being dairy intolerant has opened up a whole new world of foods, tastes and lifestyle choices I would never had discovered otherwise.”

Annie –Jo Kingsley, Bracknell, Hampshire (DFP Contributor)

 

“I went on a backpacking holiday to Thailand in 1998. I loved it, and I love Thai food so I ate as much of it as I could while I was there. I stayed in Chanthaburi for two months helping at a children’s school before returning to England. The day after I arrived back I felt nauseous, gassy and weak. I thought it was just travellers tummy but it persisted for months. By now I was constipated as well and felt half of the active, dynamic person I used to. I then read an article on dairy intolerance and it occurred to me that while in Thailand I had eaten virtually no dairy the whole time I was there. During that time my body had stopped producing the enzyme, lactase, that breaks down the milk protein and now I was dairy intolerant. It wasn’t all bad though, I married my Thai girlfriend and now she cooks lovely dairy free Thai meals for me every day.”

Bob Shotter, Milton Keynes

 

“I have been dairy intolerant since I was a child. My mother said that from the age of three I always cried and said my tummy ached if she gave me cow’s milk so I’ve had soya ever since. I find it really frustrating that restaurants don’t cater for dairy free. I was in a restaurant last week that had no dairy free alternative on the menu. I asked them what they could cook for me and the waiter just shrugged.”

Claire McKeown, Belfast, Northern Ireland

 

“I realised I was dairy intolerant after a holiday in the Mediterranean. I had eaten fresh fish and vegetables in olive oil the whole time I was there. When I got back I tucked in to tea (with milk), yogurt and a cheesy pizza and I thought I would throw it all up again. Now I only have a bit of dairy as when I have a lot I get queasy.”

Mrs Dawn White, Glasgow, Scotland

 

 "I get a very stuffy nose after I eat any dairy. I feel very congested and heavy. I have found that goats cheese in small quantities is fine though."

Mr John Keyhoe, Salisbury, Wiltshire

 

Are you dairy intolerant? We want to hear your story. Contact us and tell us what your diagnosis, treatment and solutions have been.

 

 

 

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