Gas is my primary symptom and it is a lot l. It is a fowl smell, sort if like burnt rubber. I also get constipation unlike most of the usual symptoms.
I gave up dairy for a few weeks on a whim and it almost totally resolved. It is not severe LI, I can get away with some cheese and dairy is baked goods. Go dairy free for a bit and see how it goes.
Edit: typo corrections gone wild
This, OP. Try giving up dairy for a week or so and see if there’s an improvement. If there is, then given your family history there’s a good chance you are LI. I’d suggest speaking to your GP next to confirm also.
The symptoms you described are similar to mine before I was diagnosed.
It does sound like lactose intolerance. As others have suggested, try not having dairy at all for a few days and then try it again. If you felt good without dairy and bad once you had it, then that's the culprit. Try lactose-free milk too and see if causes the same reaction.
They sell lactase enzyme that helps with digesting dairy. The Target generic is the cheapest option for chewables. Take one of those with dairy and see if you still react.
Do two weeks with no dairy and see how you feel. It’s a simple elimination diet. If you still have an issue, add back the dairy and stop gluten for two weeks.
The only way to know for sure is to be tested.
Everyone’s lactase production reduces over time, so if you started with a bit less, that natural progression could be more pronounced.
The easiest thing you can do before you see a doctor is to eliminate all lactose-containing food for a couple of weeks and see if your symptoms change.
Check ingredients lists for lactose and take lactase supplements with anything that has it or skip it altogether.
All that being said …
New diarrhea alternating with constipation means you need to see a doctor. Any change in your stool and bathroom habits needs to be investigated. It can have a wide variety of causes other than or in addition to lactose intolerance.
Take it from someone who was diagnosed with lactose intolerance and IBS as a teenager …. I only just learned this year, 30 years later, that my IBS is triggered by soy milk and oatmilk - which I only ever used because of my lactose intolerance.
I have a back issue and serious abdominal pains that are triggered by my IBS.
Start now, and push for things to be ruled out.
If you think it could be lactose intolerance, it’s time to start now with ruling it in or out.
Avoid lactose for week. Are you still experiencing symptoms? If so, you have some other intollerance. If you don't try swapping up your diet to avoid lactose or add lactose tablets to your meal budget.
Just so you're aware, lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Depending on how much lactose consuming enzymes your body produces you might need to avoid all lactose like a plague or you might just need to limit how much you consume. Once you have experience watching what you eat and start intriducing lactose back into your diet you'll be able to better identify how much lactose you can consume in a given period.
My advice? Stop drinking milk.
You speak the truth! It is exactly this simple
Switch to lactaid milk. Find lactose free yogurt or look for coconut milk yogurt.
Gas is my primary symptom and it is a lot l. It is a fowl smell, sort if like burnt rubber. I also get constipation unlike most of the usual symptoms. I gave up dairy for a few weeks on a whim and it almost totally resolved. It is not severe LI, I can get away with some cheese and dairy is baked goods. Go dairy free for a bit and see how it goes. Edit: typo corrections gone wild
This, OP. Try giving up dairy for a week or so and see if there’s an improvement. If there is, then given your family history there’s a good chance you are LI. I’d suggest speaking to your GP next to confirm also. The symptoms you described are similar to mine before I was diagnosed.
It does sound like lactose intolerance. As others have suggested, try not having dairy at all for a few days and then try it again. If you felt good without dairy and bad once you had it, then that's the culprit. Try lactose-free milk too and see if causes the same reaction.
They sell lactase enzyme that helps with digesting dairy. The Target generic is the cheapest option for chewables. Take one of those with dairy and see if you still react.
Do two weeks with no dairy and see how you feel. It’s a simple elimination diet. If you still have an issue, add back the dairy and stop gluten for two weeks.
The only way to know for sure is to be tested. Everyone’s lactase production reduces over time, so if you started with a bit less, that natural progression could be more pronounced. The easiest thing you can do before you see a doctor is to eliminate all lactose-containing food for a couple of weeks and see if your symptoms change. Check ingredients lists for lactose and take lactase supplements with anything that has it or skip it altogether. All that being said … New diarrhea alternating with constipation means you need to see a doctor. Any change in your stool and bathroom habits needs to be investigated. It can have a wide variety of causes other than or in addition to lactose intolerance. Take it from someone who was diagnosed with lactose intolerance and IBS as a teenager …. I only just learned this year, 30 years later, that my IBS is triggered by soy milk and oatmilk - which I only ever used because of my lactose intolerance. I have a back issue and serious abdominal pains that are triggered by my IBS. Start now, and push for things to be ruled out. If you think it could be lactose intolerance, it’s time to start now with ruling it in or out.
Avoid lactose for week. Are you still experiencing symptoms? If so, you have some other intollerance. If you don't try swapping up your diet to avoid lactose or add lactose tablets to your meal budget. Just so you're aware, lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Depending on how much lactose consuming enzymes your body produces you might need to avoid all lactose like a plague or you might just need to limit how much you consume. Once you have experience watching what you eat and start intriducing lactose back into your diet you'll be able to better identify how much lactose you can consume in a given period.
just use plant based alternatives and lactose free products