Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance 

How do you know if you have severe lactose intolerance? It is sometimes difficult to get a diagnosis because symptoms do not show up early in life in most cases, and even when the symptoms are present, they can be confused easily with irritable bowel syndrome. For starters, everyone who gets an upset stomach does not suffer from lactose intolerance. Abdominal pain can occur for a variety of reasons. 

However, it is a good idea to see your doctor if you feel miserable every time you consume: 

• milk;
• cheese;
• yogurt; and/or
• ice cream. 

Diagnosis usually begins with a typical physical and blood work, along with the suggestion of cutting out all milk and dairy products over a two-week period. If symptoms go away during that timeframe, you may be suffering from lactose intolerance. As you slowly reintroduce these foods into your diet, you should notice how they make you feel. Often milk is more difficult to digest than yogurt and cheese. Take notes on how your body reacts when reintroducing each of these to your diet.