avoiding milk or just lactose

I get almost daily bouts of severe pain in the abdomen that is thought to be gastroenteritis despite a clear stool test.b  X-rays and an internal (as I have suffered severe abdominal bloating for at least a year) displayed nothing of concern. The pain often lasts six hours and tremadol plus paracetamol still leave me in intense pain. After the pain I have excessive tummy rumbling. This has lasted at least 4 weeks. I do not vomit but feel nausea since taking strong antibiotics but particularly now when faced with another bowl of chicken/cod with potato. In between the pains I am fine. I have two protein supplements (AST VP2 protein powder and NY-TRO PRO 40) which i could face together with a little soup and bread but i know i have to avoid lactose. The supplement is lactose free but contains hydrolysed whey protein isolate. Is this still likely to irritate the bowl because of the whey or may it be ok because it is lactose free. I am otherwise beginning to live on toast! Any help will be very gratefully
received. Many thanks!
Kate Wakefield (26 yr).

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.

Without examining you, it is difficult to say what is going on.  

Abdmominal bloating and pain can have several causes.  Irritable bowel syndrome (from increased sensitivity of the colon), inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, or malabsorption can all cause these symptoms.  

If not already performed, I would suggest a colonoscopy to make sure that there is no anatomical deficit and to see if there is inflammatory bowel disease present.  Tests for malabsorption, including a breath test looking for lactose intolerance, fecal fat test (looking for fat malabsorption) or blood tests looking for celiac disease should all be considered.

If all the tests are negative, then irritable bowel disease can  be considered.  Treatment for this can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[PAJ]

Lactose is milk sugar , feeds yeast. I reply regularly to undiagnosed gastro problems , I now use this as a standard reply .The forum doctor has acknowledged yeast infections [sort of] in past debate , I don

[PAJ]

Sorry forgot the address   http://www.mercola.com/2003/jun/18/antibiotics_bacteria.htm

Candida    Forum address  http://www.healthyawareness.com/candida_general/

[yoshi]

i am surprised from reading past threads that the author usually a man has been taking antibiotics for 6-8 weeks and report feeling lousy,mucous in the stool etc,do their doctors ever advise them of yeast infection??6-8 weeks of wiping out the good and bad bacteria,upsetting the flora  in one's system.
a woman would know as she will experience vaginal yeast infection,but men have to look for other clues.
prevacid has antibiotics attributes (it is used in prev pac to kill h pylori bacteria),so would prolonged taking of prevacid cause yeast infection??
i keep a bottle of natural acidophilus culture (made by continental culture specialist) in my refrigerator and i will take a teaspoon and mix it with my tomato juice drink or orange juice sometimes to improve flora in my system.

[PAJ]

Yoshi It