>From a book I read called "Allergies and Candida" I
>learned you never outgrow a milk allergy. It just goes
>from stage 1 to stage 2 which means that you get new
>symptoms.

I'm not saying that that is the case in all people, but it certainly was for
me.  I 'grew out' of my allergy/intolerance at age 5  -  meaning that I no
longer was violently ill with vomitting and diarrhoea upon eating dairy
products, so they became the integral part of my diet they were expected to
be in New Zealand in the 1970s.  However I suffered from asthma like
symptoms, constant coughs and colds through my childhood and teen years.

When I started University, I spent every exam time running to the loo  -
the stress had aggravated the allergy and I was back to having my original
symptoms, getting to the point where only a small amount of milk would make
me ill.  Meanwhile the 'asthma' got far worse as well.

Referral to a consultant attached to the teaching hospital (the Middlesex in
London) at my University revealed what I already suspected  -  I was still
allergic or intolerant to milk (we never did ascertain which, I was happy
with the diagnosis that I couldn't eat dairy products (we also picked up
another couple of allergies).

I am now aware enough to actually get away with eating some dairy
roducts  -  a couple of times a week doesn't bother me and that usually
means when I am eating out, one less thing to factor into my choice, since I
am allergic to tomatoes, peppers and onions. I get mild symptoms, but I'm a
big girl now and can make the decision that its worth it.  Any more than
twice a week and its back to the loo.

The other thing I am aware of is that stress can set it off again  -  I was
made redundant a couple of weeks ago and have been bad again  -  not helped
by comfort eating of Ben & Jerry's for a few days afterwards.

Megan