Do i have IBS or Lactose intolerance? - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

Gene123 · 04-11-2004, 04:02 PM

Im not sure if i have IBS or lactose intolerance

I used to drink 2 and a half cups of milk in the morning before breakfast and in the evening after working out and just recently i reduced it to 1 cup per day in the morning before breakfast. because i would feel like i was bloated all day and i would flatulate like crazy and it would smell really bad, and i owuld go to the bathroom like 2 or 3 times a day but it would still feel like i didnt completely get rid of everything. Now i started eating 2 eggs in the morning for breakfast and 2 slices of wheat bread with jam and rasin bran cereal and i drink some orange juice. After aboutan hour or two my stomach would started to rumble a little bit and i start flatulating like crazy and it smells really bad like rotten egg caused by the eggs i think, and then at midday when i eat an apple and banana, i think the apple makes my stomach feel even worse. My flatulence smells even worse. When i go the bathroom i still feel like my stomach isnt fully evacuated. I started eating 23-26 grams of fiber a day for the past 2 weeks but i feel like my symptoms get worse.

Could someone please suggest what i could eat in the morning or what i might add or get rid of so i get a nutritious breakfast but not feel bloated and flatulate so much throughout the day and when i go for a bowel movement it actually feels like everything is gone?

bulletinboard25 · 04-11-2004, 04:12 PM

first of all i would go to the doctor to see if you were lactose intolerant or you had ibs... no one here can diagnose you.... and it would be worth checking out to see if you were lactose intolerant, someone i know just found out they were lactose intolerant at age 35, only reason they got diagnosed was b/c their side was hurting, turns out they have liver disease, caused by being lactose intolerant.

as far as what you could eat, that may provide something with a little bit less gassy result... well... i think some things you could eat, might be the REAL kind of oatmeal w/ a little soy milk, lactose free...... and you could sprinkle on some cinnamon for flavor... snacks, you can get flavored rice cakes that are pretty good, butter toffee is really good actually.. and dinner, a great meal is grilled chicken with some vegetables, yams, sweet potatoes, or maybe some steamed green beans. don't eat big meals... eat small.. probably heard it before, but you probably won't feel as bloated afterwards anyways.. umm... mushrooms are really good for you, and are supposed to have healing properties in them. you may wanna continue w/ fiber... maybe take a scoop of a fiber supplement for a week like metamucil, and then move it up to like 2 after a week or two... hope things work out

adso · 04-15-2004, 07:56 AM

I dont fully understand Lactose Intolerance. Im led to believe many of us have some level of intolerance, but will never know it (as the symptoms arent severe/clear enough)....

I have to say though, Ive stopped drinking milk these past 3 weeks (as part of a dietary change to try and aid my digestion). And for someone who drank Full-Cream Milk only, and hated skim/light.... Ive been drinking Lite Soy milk on my cereal each morning, and I dont miss regular milk one bit...

Mind you Soy cant replace a milkshake or proper chocolate, but of all the things im missing on my diet, milk products barely rate.

Ibsux · 04-15-2004, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulletinboard25

i know just found out they were lactose intolerant at age 35, only reason they got diagnosed was b/c their side was hurting, turns out they have liver disease, caused by being lactose intolerant.

I've never heard of lactose intolerance causing liver disease. Lactose intolerance is actually the norm, certain enzymes aren't produced as efficiently as we age--which turns out OK because from an evolutionary perspective, milk isn't necessary for growth any more.

sawbuck44 · 04-15-2004, 12:45 PM

You could try to take a lactaid pill before each digestion of dairy. My son had terrible stomach pains which led to bm's starting about when he was 6 years old. After months of not knowing and bringing him to emergency once - which on the way there he fell asleep and once awake was no longer in pain - we started on our own with no doctor's advice (we were in the doctor's office a lot with this and the dr didn't even tell me to try this or do lactose intolerance testing - got a new doc now!). Anyway, he would get these horrible stomach pains, get hot and cold sweats, most of the time would go lay down and sleep for at least an hour, get up, have a bm and then be fine. This started really noticably when we were on vacation and eating ice cream every day. Now he is 14 and still takes lactaid pills with every dairy, he only eats eggs maybe once or twice a month. Give it a shot! If you feel better, then that's great.