Question:
LACTAID,,,12 GRAMS OF SUGAR!!!

We have been told to use LACTAID, for our protien drinks, post-op if we encounter any lactose intolerance. What I don't understand is, we are told to, SOOOOO CAREFULLY, watch our SUGAR intake yet there are 12 grams of sugar in 8ozs. of lactaid. I checked back with my post-op diet papers given to us just to make sure I didn't misunderstand. It's right there in black & white!! Please help clarify for me,,,Thank you all    — DONNA S. (posted on June 4, 2003)

June 4, 2003
Call the doc and ask them for clarification. They will probably talk to you about lactose sugar vs. the sugar used in lactaid. Sugar is sugar. I don't do milk that often. I mix all my protein drinks with water. Tastes the same. Good luck and God bless!
   — Kimberly L.

June 4, 2003
I keep my sugar grams down to 10 but I tried a small bit of Lactaid just to see how it would do and it made me dump big time. I also can not have yogurt because of the sugar grams. It too makes me dump and the sugar free kind (made with splenda) is way too sweet. I did inform my surgeons office of this and was told to wait a few months and try again. If it still makes me ill(and it did) it goes on my "do not touch" list. Just one of the down falls of WLS. But you know, I CAN live without dairy products. No big loss. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 90+
   — Siddy I.

June 4, 2003
I was doing lactaid since surgery and then I switched back to skim milk a few weeks ago because I don't think I'm lactose intolerant. I have lost weight on a more regular basis since dropping the lactaid (I use it in coffee and cereal). I don't know that the lack of Lactaid is the reason why, but that's the only thing I can come up with (the only significant thing I've changed about my diet recently)
   — susanje

June 4, 2003
Sugar in MILK is NOT the same as surgar 'else'where... Its not processed sugar.. The 'sugar' you find in Dairy is NATURAL would be like the sugar found in 'fruit'. Besides that; its the 'protein' in the dairy that your body is using. You will also find yogurt (NO surgar added) also has 'sugar' listed.
   — star .

June 4, 2003
DOnna, you still may not get alot of clarification here either since everyone has different views on sugar! I personally believe natural sugars, or non-added sugars like in milks and fruits and ygurts, etc. are okay. It is the sugar in candy and other sweets that's the killer. But to some, sugar is sugar so we should stay away- so you do still have to be careful. Early post-op that much sugar will probably make you dump (there is 12gr. or more in regular milk as well). I suggest using maybe half lactaid/half water? Some people dump on more than 5 grams, others on more than 15, and some don't at all. So its up to you if you want to use the lactaid, but start out slow. Goodluck to you :)
   — Lezlie Y.

June 5, 2003
Could it be that your nutritionist meant to use the tablet form of Lactaid? I take the tabs whenever I'm going to be eating or drinking milk. Really helps with the nasty feeling I used to get.
   — Anne R.