Milk Allergy

tobejune

When I was five years old I tested as allergic to milk and chocolate (kids worst nightmare!!!)

In my teens I started eating more dairy products and never had a problem physically with any adverse reactions except when I'd drink straight milk (which doesn't happen often, as I grew to dislike the taste of plain milk).

On the rare occasion when I do have a glass of milk I have an upset stomach and in the past 2 months after having a few glasses of milk a week I've had an increase in headaches and migraines, as well.

SOOO finally to my question: Can you be allergic to something like milk, but things like yogurt, kefir, cheese, etc, have little to no effect?? Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks in advance for any insight

firstsip

Milk's that tricky thing that, depending on fat content, pastuerization, prep, etc., it can affect people differently. Kefir, yogurt, and many cheese involve fermenting in some fashion... so that makes sense that things across that board don't affect you as much.

For years my doctor just assumed I had a lactose intolerance by symptom, but I've figured out that I have less of an issue with lactose than I do with animal fat... I have issues with fatty meats (red meat in particular), and boy, you give me ice cream, sour cream, whipped cream, etc... I am going negative calorie from how fast that passes (if you get my drift).

However, skim milk, some cheeses, yogurt, etc. all are fine.

ALSO WHY ARE YOU DRINKING THE MILK IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT AND YOU GET MIGRAINES.

Firefox7275

Allergies are usually to proteins (whey or casein), intolerances more often to the lactose (sugar). Cheese is largely casein but little whey or lactose, yoghurt is naturally low in lactose. Also how the protein is treated may be relevant because the structure of the molecule changes (denatured or hydrolysed) so the body may no longer recognise it as foreign or harmful. Denaturing is what happens to an egg when you cook it or milk when it curdles.

tobejune

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to bring it up to my doctor next time I see him and see what he says too but this was helpful in that I don't feel like I'm imagining it!

ALSO WHY ARE YOU DRINKING THE MILK IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT AND YOU GET MIGRAINES.

This is a verrrrrrrry long story. haha

misskerouac

Are you allergic or just Lactose Intolerant?
I can't have dairy, it makes my hives act up, gives me awful stomach pains that leave me on the couch for hours. But Lactaid helps (not with the hives, but with the stomach issues. I try to avoid it all together most of the time though.

rompers16

My daughter is allergic...mostly resulting in upset stomachs or bad congestion. She takes a daily allergy pill and hasn't had problems with it since.

Mokey41

I'm lactose intolerant and no way would I drink a glass of milk but I have a yogurt every morning for breakfast and I can eat small amounts of cheese. Butter is fine, really good ice cream made with cream is ok.

There's a difference between an allergy and an intolerance. A true allergy will be to a component of milk and cause a reaction like any other allergy. Lactose intolerance is more of a digestion issue causing bad gas, diarrhea and bloating.

JessieTangerine

I second what everyone else has already said...maybe its a lactose intolerance. Yogurts and cheeses have bacteria in them that digest the lactose in the milk/cream so by the time you eat it, the food has significantly less lactose making it easier for you to digest, so you wouldnt get the runs and bloating and whatever other horrible problems. If you need to drink milk for some reason, try taking a lactaid pill and see if that helps control some of the side effects, or just drink a very tiny bit of milk at a time.