Not lactose intolerant… I’m actually allergic.
I had an experience last night that I have not had since I decided to follow a vegan diet and cut all ties with dairy products: my chest felt tight and I could barely breathe. The first time this ever happened was in 8th grade, and it occurred so rarely that I never really gave it much thought. I always assumed it was connected to a high pollen count, but after last night, I suspect it had more to do with consuming dairy than anything else. On Saturday night at a church function, I may have had two vegetarian “meatballs” that contained small amounts of dairy. Then last night as I was lying in bed about to fall asleep, I began finding it harder and harder to breathe, my breath was a bit wheezy sounding, there was a shortness of breathe, and I would dry cough. I took some children’s allergy medicine and then laid on my side. After awhile, everything cleared up. But I did not fall asleep until 4am.
Why do I think it is related to dairy consumption? Because looking back through the years, it is the only thing that makes sense. Also, after doing some research, I think I am more than just lactose intolerant: it is more likely that I am allergic to dairy.
In the blog article “Dairy Allergy Symptoms in Adults” [source], it mentions some of the symptoms of a dairy allergy, as opposed to just intolerance, and over the years I have experienced most of them periodically.
1. Hives. “The Mayo Clinic suggests that hives may appear on the body immediately or several minutes after consuming milk when an allergy exists. Hives are raised, red lesions that can often be itchy.” This happened randomly for me since childhood, and the hives appear typically within 20-30 minutes after dairy consumption and show up on my arms, chest, and back. It is super itchy, and I end up getting massive welts when I scratch.
2. Respiratory Symptoms. Exactly what happened to me last night and would happen occasionally since middle school: wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath.
3. Digestive Symptoms. “Digestive symptoms of milk allergy may take longer to appear. These are similar to symptoms of lactose intolerance. Examples include vomiting, diarrhea with or without blood and abdominal cramping.” I never had vomiting or diarrhea with blood, but I would experience some very painful abdominal cramping (worse than any menstrual cramps, because I rarely get menstrual cramps) and constipation. In fact, one of the reasons I decided to go vegan was after I “overdosed” on dairy at a restaurant one day and ended up “sick” for two weeks… I had severely abdominal cramps for two weeks straight. It was a miserable experience and the first time I made a solid connection between all of my symptoms and dairy consumption. Looking back to my childhood, the signs were there. Sometimes after eating just a slice of extra-cheese pizza or some ice cream, I would feel like vomiting (never actually did, though) and then be “sick to my stomach” for an hour or so.
4. Facial Symptoms. “Facial symptoms may take longer to appear in an individual allergic to milk. These include a runny nose, watery eyes and the development of a rash around the mouth. The rash is often itchy.” Man, this fits me as a child to a T! Every day I experienced severe running nose and watery eyes. It would appear an hour or two after breakfast and persist until lunch. Guess what I was eating for breakfast every day? A bowl of cereal with milk (dairy). My parents and I always thought it was just allergies, but it was more than just general allergies, it was apparently an allergic reaction to dairy.
Anyway, after what happened last night and not having experienced that for a handful of years, I am definitely going to be even more vigilant when it comes to what I eat. It was actually a bit scary. Dad asked if he needed to take me to the emergency room, but just like I have done all my life when these things happen, I took the Children’s allergy medicine and it eventually went away. If even a tiny amount of dairy caused those respiratory reactions last night, then I need to be very careful from now on.