Hi -

You know the old joke, "Dr., it hurts when I do this!"  "Well, don't
do it!"  It sounds as though that's the case with your daughter.  She
becomes unwell when she drinks milk/eats dairy products.  The diagnosis
is less important, then, than the solution.  She should consume NO dairy
products.

Actually, that's pretty severe.  Instead, she shoudl go for 2-3 weeks consuming NO dairy
products at all, just ruthlessly eliminate ALL sources of dairy, including
those in processed foods.  During this time, keep a comprehensive diary
that includes exactly what and when she eats and drinks (including medicines
and vitamins) and how she feels.

Then introduce one kind of dairy  I'd start out with Cool Whip, which
contains casein (a milk protein) but no other dairy.  She should have LTOS
of Cool Whip.  (Feed her pie topped with Cool Whip at every meal for a day!)
Record the amount in the diary and, again, how she feels.

If that fails to cause an adverse reaction, then wait 3 days and try something
else.  Maybe yogurt (which is easier for lactose intolerant people to
digest).  Repeat what you did before.

This will serve two purposes:  First, it will help you figure out just what
your daughter is reacting to.  Second, with the diary in hand and her own
experience, it will help your daugther understand her own reactions, so that
she can start making sensible decisions about her diet.

Another perosn recommmended Dr. Doris Rapp's excellent book "Is This Your
Child?"  I second the recommendation.  You may be able to get it at your
library.  You can certainly find used copies on-line (bookfinders.com or abe.com), or you can purchase a new copy at most bookstores.

Once you know exactly which part of the milk is bothering your daughter,
you can proceed to make good decisions about what to do.  It may be that
lactose really IS the only problem.  In that case, have her try taking much larger doses of the lactaid pills.  It may be that after she goes off of dairy
for a few weeks that her symptoms ease up considerably, and her tolerance
increases.  (That is, if going off of dairy lets her gut heal, then she
might do better with occasionaly consumption of dairy.)

I hope this helps,
--Beth Kevles
  [log in to unmask]
  http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
  Disclaimer:  Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
  advice.  Please consult with your own medical practicioner.