Lactose Intolerant? Indeed, I can't stand it!

[MBell 80]

Wow - thanks for all the feedback people!!

 

To address several running themes, I'm not really "new" to Germany, as I've been here since early 2010 and was previously problem free. My life is relatively "stress-free" (with the occasional bits and bobs that pop up), as it consists of work (which I like) and home (which I love) and not much else. The reason I started this thread was because after reading about lactose intolerance and talking to my temp from China I was intrigued. I do not know if this is what's plaguing me (in truth, that is a bit dramatic), but it seems that only after having milk am I bothered.

 

Typically, I feel as though my throat is closing... Like I have a golf ball stuck in it. This is problematic in that it triggers my gag-reflex, and if I've eaten anything it's subject to be "reintroduced" to me via acid reflux. ;-) This happens after I have coffee (which I originally attributed to the coffee itself, and therefore cut it out for a while) or after having milk with something. The funny thing is that it isn't 100% present, but seems to be most often after morning coffee with milk. Therefore, I started taking coffee without milk but it still happened (albeit fewer and further between). Being so random, I thought it might be gluten, and started eating things like Quinoa and healthier options. This helped with the "gagging", but not the throat feeling. I even sacrificed my beloved beer, but it didn't go away.

 

The long and short of it is that I'll likely have to go to a doctor/nutritionist. It's too early for me to be worried about it being a serious health problem, but I could definitely do without it. Thanks again for all of your replies.

[chaos_amoeba 2,724]

 

I know that I should be tested by Doctor for Gluten intolerance or would endoscopy be a good idea? What tests one would suggest?

 

Go to your doctor. Unfortunately there are at least three kinds of "gluten intolerance". The first is coeliac disease. There is a clear test for this: a biopsy to see if your intestinal lining is damaged in a characteristic way, and a blood test for certain antibodies. Please be aware that both of these tests can show a false negative if you have eaten no gluten for a sufficient period before the test. Then there's Non-coeliac gluten intolerance (NCGI). NCGI can be indicated by the presence of elevated amounts of antibodies in a stool sample. However there's no definitive test for it and it is diagnosed if cutting out gluten relieves symptoms, which return if gluten is consumed, but you don't test positive for coeliac disease. So it's a negative diagnosis. Please be aware that the medical community is now beginning to accept that NCGI can be as serious as coeliac, so don't let your doc be dimissive or think that it's ok for you to eat gluten, if this is your diagnosis. The third possibility is an actual allergy to wheat. This is quite rare and can be tested like any other allergy, but has somewhat different symptoms to the other two. Like aI say, talk to your doctor and do get tested!

 

Oh, and there are genes that raise the liklihood of developing both coeliac and NCGI (in fact some drs think NCGI might be coeliac that has not been fully "triggered" but this is a very dubious opinion) - you can be tested for those, too, but they aren't conclusive on their own, as you can have the genes without developing the problem.

 

 

Is it possible to go back to lactose/gluten tolerant?

 

Sorry - the short answer is No!

however, If you have coeliac disease, then a very strict gluten free diet (and this is hard) will allow your gut to recover, and produce lactase again. So in that specific case you might regain tolerance to lactose. But the coeliac itself will be lifelong. And if you eat gluten by mistake, you'll probably havbe problems with lactose again for a whle afterward.

[AmandaUCSC 1,152]

 

Is it possible to go back to lactose/gluten tolerant?

 

Not entirely, but I found that after years of nothing and slowly re-introducing a little bit of dairy (the cheese) I have been OK. Mind you, I know nothing about severe allergies with lactose or the gluten stuff (but have a good friend who can't even have a little bit after nearly two decades of having the disease), this is only regarding lactose intolerance and in my personal experience. This will take time (years perhaps) and there are, of course, the tablets. Ask your doctor, keep a food journal and try to figure out your tolerance level (or lack thereof).

 

 

The long and short of it is that I'll likely have to go to a doctor/nutritionist. It's too early for me to be worried about it being a serious health problem, but I could definitely do without it. Thanks again for all of your replies.

 

To me it sounds like you have an allergy not an intolerance because of the gagging/throat closing thing. I would definitely see a doctor. He or she will test you. If the test comes back negative you will likely be told to keep a food journal and report back.

[Tap 8,460]

 

Very interesting. Did you go to your regular doctor for the tests or a specialist clinic? How does that sort of stuff work in Germany?

 

What happens is, your family doctor sends you to a gastroenterologist. You have to blow into a machine and your breath is tested. Then you get a glass of water with fructose stuff to drink. Every half hour for 2 hours, you have to breath into the machine. At the end, the tests are evaluated and they knew if you are intolerant or not.

[dessa_dangerous 13,315]

 

Typically, I feel as though my throat is closing... Like I have a golf ball stuck in it.

 

that sounds more like an anaphylactic i.e. allergic reaction and can be life-threatening. Unbeknownst to many, peanuts are not the most common food allergy, but rather milk, with eggs coming in second. In other words, get thee to the doctor, asap.

[Tap 8,460]

 

that sounds more like an anaphylactic i.e. allergic reaction and can be life-threatening. Unbeknownst to many, peanuts are not the most common food allergy, but rather milk, with eggs coming in second. In other words, get thee to the doctor, asap.

 

Agree, that doesn't sound like an intolerance, but more an allergy to something. The only way to be sure is to be tested.

[chaos_amoeba 2,724]

With Dessa and Tap, I'd say the reaction described sounds like an allergy which *could* be dangerous. The Boy and his mother both have nut allergies where their throats close up as you describe. The first few times, it was just that and no other symptoms. After more exposure, if they eat the problem foods now, they also go white with red cheeks and get a high temperature and struggle to breathe. Please get tested. Especially if your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

But don't panic It's not time to worry yet - but I think it is time to get checked out.