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Lactose intolerance?



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Hello everyone! I'm 2 years post op and I was wondering if any bypass veterans out there developed an intolerance to dairy this far out after surgery. I've never had a problem before, but now it seems like anytime I eat dairy, especially milk or heavy milk based foods, that I have terrible gas and my tummy rumbles like crazy. Sorry for the info!! I'm blushing as I share this, but I need advice. I bought fat free Lactaid and it was too sweet! Yuck!! I've noticed some weight gain too and Constipation issues. Today I got some light unsweetened soy milk and it was pretty good. I'm going to try it in a shake tomorrow. If it is lactose intolerance, I'll be bummed. Yogurt, string cheese, and skim milk are some of my faves. However the gas part is embarrassing and uncomfortable at times. Thanks in advance for any input!!! :)

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The possibility was discussed in my pre-op education classes. They said it wasn't uncommon.

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My surgery was Nov 2012...I have not had SPECIFIC lactose intolerance, but I have noticed there are TIMES when lactose-containing foods produce cramping or just don't "sit right" with my gut.

As Terry1118 said, the MD told me it was VERY common,due to (as I understand it) loss of some of the mucosa that secretes lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose).

I would imagine most of us will have "issues" at some time...either due to "overload" of lactose-containing products, consuming certain products, or (for the unfortunate few) consuming ANY lactose product. I seem to be more on the "overload/certain products" list...I can have milk (usually) with no problem. I eat quite a lot of cheese and it rarely, if ever, bothers me. The main time I have "issues" of cramping, etc. is if I have "other" fat/fried/sweetened products at/near the same time.

As with sweets, I do best if I have dairy (mainly to drink) relatively on its own...like a latte, etc. Milk in Cereal sometimes is fine, other times produces those "unwelcome" effects!! I eat cheese regularly in meals and have no problems. If I am having something with milk, cheese (any dairy product), I try to be VERY AWARE of sweets and/or fats that might be lurking in other products I eat at the same time...that way I USUALLY avoid any of the abdominal issues.

That's just my experience...and I'm sure it could change at any time...it was known to me at the time of surgery to be a fairly likely outcome.

Good luck...I hope you can find a "happy medium" so that you don't have to completely give up the things you love!!!

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My nut said lactose intolerance tends to develope over time in gastric patients. She suggested lactaid, it has the nutrients milk has, just no lactose to upset the tummy.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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