August 2023 I was tired all the time, spending a lot of time on the toilet (TMI) and feeling generally unwell. Previous months my immune system was weak as I was picking up every bug going. Feeling fed up with not feeling okay I dragged myself off to the doctors. The doctor took some blood tests and stated I had low iron. I started taking iron tablets straight away but I still couldn’t shift this awful lethargy and bloating. I noticed that my symptoms got worse after eating certain foods and started to think carefully about what food could be the cause. When discussing this with my doctor she simply said we can’t test for intolerances. You have to eliminate and then gradually add food back into your diet. Due to my love of chocolate and cheese and not having the will power to eliminate this food for long, I soon became aware that dairy was my problem.
I went to my local health food shop where the lady at the checkout explained that it is common for coeliacs to develop a lactose intolerance- I was not overjoyed by this. In fact, this was the worst news ever! My favourite food was anything with a creamy sauce and of course cheese and chocolate. I can remember telling my mum when I was a child – “at least I can have dairy, all my favourite things are dairy”.
Despite not being overjoyed to find this out it did provide me with answers, it did explain things. I was at the point where enough was enough and I didn’t want to feel this rotten anymore. I invested in some lactase enzyme tablets which helped to digest the lactose. I took up to 5 tablets before I knew I was about to indulge in some yummy dairy, This seemed to work a bit although I still felt groggy after eating it. I think my digestive system was still having to work too hard so from that point on, I decided that I would follow a strict lactose free diet alongside my gluten free one!
To sum it all up….
I am struggling with chocolate. The best ones so far have been the Galaxy vegan classic and the Nomo cookie dough vegan and free from chocolate bar. Easter time proved to be difficult- not being able to join in with the favourite easter egg chat and how quickly they’re eaten or where they are hidden so the rest of the family can’t find them.
In general, it is more difficult to eat on the go. For example, I cannot expect to walk into a shop and select a gluten and dairy free sandwich unless of course there is an M&S with it’s one suitable chicken and bacon sandwich.
There doesn’t seem to be any coffee shops offering lactose free milk as an alternative and I cannot have oat milk so I tend to take my own in my flask or have a herbal tea.
As it turns out there are some positives:
Lactose free milk tastes the same as normal milk,
Lactose free cheddar cheese tastes the same as normal cheddar,
Dairy free Ice- cream is just as good if not better!
Taking a packed lunch saves the pennies!
I’ve been enjoying cooking and trying out new recipes.
Curry’s made with coconut milk taste creamy. Chicken satay is a firm favourite at the moment.
The gf blogger has recently written some gluten and dairy free recipes: I have made some wonderful focaccia bread and shared it with friends
There is a new book out by Becky Excel: Air Fryer gluten free. All her recipes state if it’s lactose free or not and how to change it to make it so.
No naughty snacks for me when someone brings a pack of chocolates in to share in the staff room!
I find myself making healthier choices as it’s easier.
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