Psychosomatics of lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is when your stomach hurts, bloats and you get diarrhea after dairy, because the body digests milk sugar poorly. According to MedlinePlus it is not dangerous, and usually eating less lactose helps. But other causes should be ruled out first: book a GP visit. The Ladder method helps you notice the tension around food, and it does not replace a doctor.
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When to see a doctor
A GP, and if needed a gastroenterologist. They will ask what you eat and how you feel, and if needed suggest a diet, tests or a breath test (NHS). Come if symptoms repeat after eating or do not go away.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method lactose intolerance is not explained by feelings and is not counted as blame. It is a feature of digestion, and a doctor deals with it. The questions to yourself go alongside testing, not instead of it.
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In the method, food fits the image of not allowed: when you constantly watch what you can eat, the stomach also reacts to tension. This is an image, not a cause of intolerance, and it does not replace testing.
On the ladder this shows up as the steps I must be careful and I am not allowed to relax. You can work through them at your own pace.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
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How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Bloating and gas after dairy
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Rumbling
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Nausea
- Headache and tiredness after dairy
What medicine knows
Lactose is the sugar found in milk and dairy products. With intolerance the body digests it poorly, and within minutes or hours after dairy there is stomach pain or discomfort, bloating, gas, rumbling, diarrhea or constipation, sometimes nausea (NHS, MedlinePlus).
Lactose also hides in ready foods: muesli, baked goods, sauces, protein shakes. The NHS notes that intolerance differs from milk allergy: allergy can be life-threatening, with swelling of lips and face and trouble breathing, and then an ambulance is needed.
The diagnosis is not made by guesswork. A doctor may suggest cutting lactose from your diet and seeing how you feel, blood tests or a hydrogen breath test. Many people are helped by smaller portions of dairy or lactase enzyme supplements. Do not cut foods out without advice from a doctor or dietitian, especially for children.
Symptoms look like other conditions, so with bloating or diarrhea lasting more than three weeks, blood in the stool or weight loss with no reason, you need a doctor (NHS). If dairy is cut from the diet, it matters to get enough calcium from other foods (MedlinePlus).
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Frequently asked questions
How do I tell lactose intolerance from milk allergy?
According to the NHS, with intolerance the stomach hurts and bloats, while allergy can cause trouble breathing, itching and swelling of lips, face and eyes. Allergy is life-threatening, and then an ambulance is needed.
How is lactose intolerance tested?
The NHS names a lactose-free diet, blood tests and a hydrogen breath test. Start with a GP and do not cut foods out without a doctor's advice.
Can the stomach hurt from nerves?
Stress can make unpleasant feelings in the stomach stronger, but other causes should be ruled out first. In the Ladder method this is a reason to notice the tension around food, and it does not replace a doctor.
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Answers to common questions
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.