Thank you I will look into it.

The truth hurts but also sets you free.

I just finished this today and would give it even more stars if I could!

I'm severely LI, so I actually carry lactase enzyme pills (lactaid) in a small lip balm container in my front pants pocket. If I have anything with even dehydrated milk in it (many pre-packaged and processed foods use milk products and by-products), I need to take the enzyme pills. For anything with cheese/milk/yogurt, etc I usually have to take more than one 9,000 caplet per serving. My intestines still complain, however.

Timing of when I take the enzyme is very important. Some of the very fast-acting enzyme supplements are almost too fast-acting in that they don't last long enough for me to finish a meal. Others, especially "original" which don't start working as quickly require that I take them several minutes before I eat any dairy. When you switch brands of enzyme supplement, you will likely notice a difference as well. Also note the strength on the bottle before you buy - some will have only 3,000 lactase units and require 3 caplets per serving, and others put 9,000 units in each caplet. It makes a difference when you need them a lot and need to consider how much you want to spend each month on enzyme caplets. Chewables may work at a different speed, and also may be more expensive, though can be nice if you don't want to always have water on hand to swallow pills.

CVS brand caplets called "CVS Dairy Relief Caplets Fast Acting" that come with 125 caplets per bottle, 9,000 units per caplet, and a clear little pill holder (which I find quite useless) cost about $18.00 in the store and $13.00 online. That's the best deal I've found so far for someone who needs a 9,000 dose per caplet and uses them all the time.

The lactase enzyme caplets and chewables can be somewhat sensitive to temperature changes, so I suggest keeping the big bottle at home and taking what you need for a few days with you, in your purse or pocket or whatever suits you. That way you don't kill the enzyme in all of your caplets by leaving them in a hot car in the summer! : )

And emailycath... is right - if you didn't take the enzyme before the dairy, you might as well reach for the Pepto Bismol / OTC of choice for the inevitable consequences.

I don't think the enzyme fully cancels out the negative affect of lactose on the GI tracts of those who are intolerant, but it does *help.* In the long-run, however, general GI inflammation and discomfort can be more long-lasting and lead to diagnoses of IBS and such. Consider the risks and benefits when it comes to continuing to intake dairy products.

Feel free to ask questions. I've been using lactase supplements for years and would be glad to help as much as I can. Hope this helps!!

TGG

I used to take those Lactaid pills, but over time they seem to not be as effective. I used to take 4 every time I thought there was any dairy in my foods. It just became too much of a hassle and way too expensive. All I do now is stay away from dairy, which I truly hate!!! Any suggestions for an alternative to that?

I finally got lacataid to work with pizza! I took 1 lactaid chewable with the first bite and 3 more chewables with the course of the food until i was done. It's working, beans & cheese were fine. However, I am not running to get ice cream or milk! Just the stuff I really want, I take 4 chewables per meal, but if i don't swallow the first lactaid with the first bite - it does not work. And i think the Lactaid chewables are more effective. Just my opinion.

I find that when I really want ice cream (once or twice a year), I can tolerate the symptoms if I have 4 chewable lactaids and 2 Gas-X before I start. Without these aids, I'm in total pain. I had sworn off ice cream for years due to the pain.

Lactose milk worked for awhile but not anymore. Soy also give me problems. I now use Rice or Almond milk.

It's funny, sometimes Lactaid works for me but other times it doesn't. It doesn't work at all for my husband. I always carry it with me because I'm an ice cream junkie. I did find a local frozen yogurt shop that has a lactose-free yogurt.

My little friends:
Lactase Enzyme Supplement
Gas-X
Beano
Pepcid AC

Amen! With these in my purse, I'm ready to conquer the world!!!!

CHEESE ALTERNATIVES
Sometimes I'm able to find "vegetable cheese" in Wal-Mart (in the veggie section, near the broccoli!) or health food stores. Doesn't taste great, but it works when you need cheese and can't have it. Some veggie cheeses are better than others, but it's a very subjective call in terms of taste testing! Different brands have differing amounts of dairy product in them - they use the dairy cultures to make the veggie cheese, so some folks might still be sensitive to this. I'm very Lactose Intolerant, yet it doesn't bother me. But to each his own in this regard.

GOAT CHEESES
I LOVE soft goat cheese! Many people ask me what it tastes like. The best way I've found to describe it is to say that it tastes like a combination of Feta cheese (which can be made with goat's milk - check packaging) and Philadelphia cream cheese. My favorite way to eat it is on top of Sociables crackers or on top of my salad. The good stuff is flavorful and can be given even more flavor by adding basil, chives, etc.

Goat cheese does contain lactose, but the lactose molecule is much smaller than that found in cow's milk. Therefore, many people who suffer from LI can actually digest the lactose in goat cheese without a problem.

The goat cheese you will find at Wal-Mart is expensive, flavorless, and not very fresh. I've not been impressed. Rather than spending so much money on a poor product, I prefer to get my goat cheese locally from the farm whenever possible. I also save a whole lot of money going this route.

My favorite goat cheese comes from Holly Grove Farms near Goldsboro, NC. You can see their website here: http://www.hollygrovecheese.com/
The cheese is so fresh and I put tubs of it in my freezer to save it for up to a year. But I tend to go through it quickly and have to return every few months to restock!! The farmer can ship the cheese to you if you order it online I think...I just drive there and pick up the cheese myself, and transport it home in a cooler.

Give goat cheese a try - I doubt you will regret it if you get the good, fresh stuff. Don't spoil your tastebuds on the sad "goat cheese" at Wal-Mart - save your money and get the real stuff!

Trader Joe's grocery stores also carry a different variety of goat cheese. It is a hard cheese which I enjoy on the top of whole wheat homemade pizza! It has a zingy taste and shreds almost like cheddar. The cheese is hard like cheddar. Tastes excellent!

TGG

I read the comments on this post and was VERY surprised at the extent of research and information shared from fellow suffers :)

The ONLY thing that has helped "cure" my lactose intolerance is, "Digestive Advantage" from a company called Ganeden.

These are over the counter caplets that, if ingested only once in a twenty four hour period, gives you the freedom to consume all dairy products.

Now mind you, each person is different and while one persons intolerance maybe more severe, other users of this caplet may feel zero uncomfortableness freely ingesting dairy again.

Personally, while taking this caplet once a day, I have experienced the once in awhile occasional mild cramping, but NOTHING at all compared to the past days before I medicated for my intolerance. Again, with other users of this product, their dairy diet maybe less than mine.

I myself, am satisfied again with the freedom from worry about ingesting dairy, or having to restrict my dairy intake or dealing with the unbearable pain and inconvenience I experienced after ingesting it before Digestive Advantage...

The only really reliabe place I have seen that regularly stocks Digestive Advantage is Walgreens, though I have seen some Walmarts carry it and I think I may have picked it up at CVS pharmacy stores.

Note: I tend to run a little on the dehydrated side...I absolutely LOVE caffeine...anyway...If anyone else is like this AND lactose intolerant, once I feel even the slightest cramp, I drink drink drink water...it works...lol.

The pills work for me, but occasionally I will still get sick. Processed cheese whip is something that I just don't deal well with at all.

I have use Lactaid in the past, it was ok, (nothing spepcial). I have found the Kroger brand Lactoose Intolant milk. I like that better. I feel it tastes like the real thing.

I've used lactaid pills a bunch of times, but although they've worked about 75% of the time, I decided to just stop eating dairy altogether. I only use them if I come across a little bit of butter on fish or something like that.
The last time I ate a little bit of pizza and a couple of bites of key lime pie. I took the lactaid pills but the next day I felt like I had a terrible hangover; I didn't drink at all though! So I figured my body just didn't want me to eat dairy, and I feel soooooo much better when I don't eat any.

My son LOVES lactaid milk. I guess you never miss what you never had. It allows him to eat ceral and I cook w/it to allow him to eat certain meals that he won't be alotted to eat w/out it! Since it's $6 per 96 oz we all drink it at home. (too expensie to buy regular milk too) He's only two so I haven't tried to pill. I'm nervous about that.

I tried lactaid twice and I got no results from it. I drink soy milk and take calcium pills. BUT I still eat pizza, cheeseburgers, and foods that I do not big reactions from. Milkshakes are for the nights that I am by myself and I know I do not have to go anywhere for several hours. Sorry, I am still weak when it comes to certain foods with dairy products. Oh! Yogurt helps too for me.