Anyone become lactose intolerant after surgery?

stevie · September 13, 2005

Can't remember where I read it and I did a search but I remember reading that sometime people can become lactose intolerant after LB surgery. Anyone experience this?? I

JulyBandster · September 14, 2005

Yes, I did! Just mildly so. I noticed it when I was home from surgery and began the shakes - many of which were milk based. I always enjoyed milk in my coffee and in my tea - for Breakfast with Cereal - so I certainly drank milk-just not glassfuls! Anyway, I would drink my proteinshake during days 5 - 10 and suffered with terrible gurgling and indigestion. But it was hard to decipher the difference between this and what I figured was gas. I began chewing the Lactaid pills with my shakes and the gurgling went away....for the most part.

Fast forward a couple months - and I am not as bothered. I can actually drink a glass of milk and have mild gurgling that is short acting....not a big deal. I wonder if it is going away, or my perception is off? Anyway, to answer your question, YES, I experienced lactose intolerance post op.

stevie · September 14, 2005

I am really worried I have become lactose intolerant, even if temporarily. Had a shake last night and had terrible grumbling and diarreah, was miserable for awhile. Had one today just to see if it was gonna be a problem again and same thing. I will ask about it tommorrow at postop check up.

alatina · September 14, 2005

I am definitely lactose intolerant now-milk,ice cream all of it gives me a whole(sorry if this is overshare but hey we do that here)bad case of needing to use the restroom ASAP. so I stay away from ALL of it-sadly too with the ice cream-sighhhhhhh.

JulyBandster · September 14, 2005

Try lactaid - it comes in a pill form or a chewable - Pretty simple to use, and it works! It allows you to enjoy all dairy products again....I pop a chewable on the first or second swallow of my dairy product..........and no grumbling/no diarrhea. If you want, you can take 2 of the chewables....one at the beginning, and another at the end. These things are great!

Lactaid supposedly also comes in a liquid form - you can put a few drops into the food you are about to eat - but I can't find it that way here. chewables or tablets work fine too....(My doctor said swallowing the pills is fine - his advice to me is anything the size of a tack or smaller is fine to swallow. Obviously, follow your dr's advice....)