A friend of mine has been diagnosed with a lactose intolerance.
This diagnosis was determined without tests, but by a doctor
familiar with her medical history. Though she has been away
from dairy products for several months, she still has some
cramping in her stomach, as well as horrible bouts of diarrhea.
She lives a very stressful lifestyle, and can eat very little
without irritation.
Is there a certain amount of time a person still suffers from these
dietary changes?
From the given information, could there be any other problems?
How long until a more regular lifestyle will resume?
REPLY:
Your post describes a situation commonly seen by physicians who do gastroenterology. There is not enough information to render more than a general opinion but hopefully this will be of help.
If the history suggested lactose intolerance a trial of a lactose free diet was a good idea. Since lactose is used as a filler in other foods which would not be considered as "dairy" the patient should be given a list of do's and don'ts and encouraged to read labels. If a lactose free diet does not lead to significant changes after two to three weeks one can conclude that lactose intolerance may have been only part of the problem (or played no role at all). At this point it would be prudent to investigate further with diagnostic tests designed to prove or disprove other conditions (for example, ulcer disease, gallbladder problems, Crohn's disease or other types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, etc.). Exactly what is suggested will hinge on details unique to every patient including age, sex, etc. Routine bloodwork, analysis of the patient's stool samples, x-ray examinations, endoscopic studies of the stomach or colon might be among the tests offfered to the patient to help reach a diagnosis the treatment of which will give the patient relief from symptoms.
These tests may all be normal and suggest the possible diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (spastic colon, nervous stomach) and this is also a condition which could be treated with good results.
If this patient is not now seeing a GI specialist a referral might be a topic for the patient to discuss with the primary doctor either before or after additional studies are obtained.
Look for articles on Lactose Intolerance, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation, Hiatus Hernia and many other topics on the gopher server of this ofcn Digestive Disease Clinic in the next two months.
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Bruce Sckolnick, M.D.
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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