Jeremy - Like you, I'm a new-ish subscriber. I just became severely lactose
intolerant this past summer after an acute intestinal infection. Also, like you,
I'm very impressed with the quality of contributions I've read here. I also was
confused about reaction times, and did some (unpleasant) experiments with the
support of a nutritionist. We concluded that my reaction time is fairly long - one
dinner out, with hidden cheese in one dish, resulted in mayhem about 12-13 hrs
later, the next morning. I took a bunch of Lactaid tablets and actually reduced
the symptoms within about 4 hours. The Lactaid support line, which I called, said
that although Lactaid is most useful along with the meal, it does ameliorate
symptoms even a day after for many people. I've done the same thing since, when
I've unknowingly eaten something problematic and developed symptoms later. Can't
hurt, anyway, except for the monetary drain from the purchase of the Lactaid. Good
luck!

                                                                Marian

Jeremy D. Zawodny wrote:

> My non-eloquent question is this: "What's the deal with reaction time (for
> lack of a better term) to foods containing Lactose?"
>
>
>
>
> --
> Jeremy D. Zawodny                 [log in to unmask]
> Web Server Administrator          [log in to unmask]
> Wood County Free Net (Ohio)       http://www.wcnet.org/
>
> "Can you believe that lots of people for reasons that are very sound
>  to them enjoy believing that they are helpless..."
>     -- Donald Shimoda in Illusions



Jeremy D. Zawodny wrote:

> Let me first say that I'm generally impressed with the quality of the
> messages on this list. When I first subscribed a few weeks ago, I was
> skeptical. Since then I've been pleasantly surprised over and over. <applause>
>
> My non-eloquent question is this: "What's the deal with reaction time (for
> lack of a better term) to foods containing Lactose?"
>
> More specifically, I'm still having trouble identifying foods that might
> cause reactions in my digestive system. I've been LI for a long time, but I
> only recently put 2 and 2 together to figure out what was going on. Every
> once in a while I'll eat/drink something that I shouldn't. In some cases, I
> "notice" (meaning that the symptoms begin) in a very short amount of time.
> In the shortest of times, it's only 10 - 20 minutes.
>
> However, there are other times when it takes hours (and sometimes not until
> the next morning) and the symptoms are more muted (less dramatic).
>
> I have assumed that this is related to how "processed" the Lactose is
> and/or how hard my body has to work to break things down to the point at
> which it encounters the Lactose. But that's just a theory.
>
> Can anyone shed more light on the topic? Are there some foods which are
> known to cause immediate vs. delayed reactions?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeremy
> --
> Jeremy D. Zawodny                 [log in to unmask]
> Web Server Administrator          [log in to unmask]
> Wood County Free Net (Ohio)       http://www.wcnet.org/
>
> "Can you believe that lots of people for reasons that are very sound
>  to them enjoy believing that they are helpless..."
>     -- Donald Shimoda in Illusions