erin abernethy , kilburn/derbyshire
1st January 2008
It started when I was four years old. I was on holiday when I became really ill. It just felt like a real bad stomach bug, sickness, stomach pain, but it lasted all week. When I got home, my mum took me to the doctor. When they heard, they just put it down to gastroenteritis.
It soon got better however, momentarily. Without me knowing about milk I kept on eating my usual diet, including milk and chocolate. Then it got more frequent. I was getting stomach pains, sickness. I spent most days being sent home from school as I was too ill to work.
With more and more trips to doctor, he finally referred me to the children’s hospital in Derby. I had appointments about every 6 months, every time the pains got worse. The hospital did the important tests which all came back fine. I think this really confused the doctors. By this time I was growing up. I was around 10 when the pains were almost unbearable, I was getting them every day so my mum complained to the hospital.
They eventually diagnosed me with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) however, I tried almost every tablet but nothing helped me. The one thing my mum said they didn’t test me for any food allergies. So in around September 2006 my mum kept me off the milk products, with a bit of advice from the hospital.
It was amazing, my pains stopped, I no longer had the bloated feelings. My mum tested me without me realizing, using gravy with milk in it — after eating it the pains were back. This showd lactose was at the root of my illness.
Now I’m 14 and have been off milk products for nearly two years. It has actually changed my life. I’m more confident and Im able to go out more, as I dont have the fear of getting pains or sickness. Things are still improving as I’m finally getting better.
The substitutes for milk can be quiet expensive, which is quite bad for my mum, but she has helped me through everything. I do get my calcium now as I drink more replacement products like LactoFree .
It’s been a hard experience from a young age, and although I miss some foods, it’s great to be better!!
erin abernethy, school
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