Have you ever had an upset stomach and wondered what happened when you were just fine 5 minutes ago? The only thing you did was eat a bowl of ice cream with your family as you watched a movie.
Well, we are here to tell you that maybe that bowl of ice cream, and other dairy products for that matter, is doing more damage than you may think. This article goes over 5 signs you need to look out for that may indicate it is time for a lactose intolerance test.
We will also discuss what happens during a lactose intolerant test so you can be prepared.
Nausea
Nausea is a big symptom and probably one of the more familiar you’ll encounter. People often turn to nausea medication when they start feeling a bit sick in their throat, but it may be worth your time to figure out the source.
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Although you can become nauseated from eating many things, dairy products typically make you uncomfortable after about 30 minutes, making it easier to pinpoint the cause.
RELATED: Q&A: Can You Become Lactose Intolerant As You Get Older?
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another huge one, and it is usually the symptom that makes most people consider the fact that they may have lactose intolerance. This is primarily due to the yellow discoloration of the excrement that comes from your body after eating dairy.
The discoloration is referred to as “yellow diarrhea”, which shows itself after about two hours of consuming dairy. It is especially useful for spotting lactose intolerance in infants.
Stomach Pain
Stomach pain is a rather uncomfortable symptom most people dread when dealing with lactose intolerance. Fortunately, a great way to deal with stomach pain is to put a hot compress on your stomach as you lie down.
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This method is quick, easy, and effective, showing that sometimes the best medicine for stomach pain is good ol’ rest and relaxation.
Bloat
Bloating and stomach pain often go hand-in-hand and can be a double whammy. A tried-and-true way to get some bloating relief is to eat slower during meals and drink room-temperature water or tea.
Your enlarged stomach won't go away all at once and will often lead to the last symptom on our list.
Flatulence
There are only two ways out of the body for those excess gasses: the mouth or the bottom. With that in mind, a lot of people will experience both burping and flatulence as their body tries to get rid of the things they can’t digest.
This symptom is both embarrassing and uncomfortable, giving new meaning to the phrase “cutting the cheese.”
RELATED: Everything that Rumbles is Not Lactose Intolerance
How to Take a Lactose Intolerance Test?
A lactose intolerance test is a simple procedure that only requires about 2 hours of waiting for your results. Luckily, you don't have to spend that 2 hours staring at your watch because you’re only waiting for your blood glucose levels to rise to normal levels.
After drinking a lactose solution, your doctor will see how fast your glucose levels increase back to normal. If they climb relatively quickly, you have nothing to worry about. However, if they are slow or don't rise at all, you may have to cut back on the cheese and ice cream.
People have opted to give themselves lactose intolerance tests at home in recent years. This process is much simpler as you only need to drink a small amount of milk and wait about an hour to see any of the symptoms above.
There are also numerous online questionnaires that people can fill out to better understand the symptoms they are going through and if they may have an intolerance. Note that although at-home tests are more convenient, they should not replace a doctor's visit or consultation.
