If you consistently experience stomach pain after you eat dairy, chances are you're either allergic to a milk protein or your body is having trouble digesting a milk sugar, says MayoClinic.com. In most cases, neither condition causes serious problems. However, finding the appropriate pain relief first requires you to pinpoint the underlying cause of your stomach pain.
Lactose Intolerance
Since the enzyme lactase helps your body to fully digest lactose--a sugar in dairy products--you may have stomach pain after eating dairy if your body doesn't produce enough lactase, says MayoClinic.com. However, not all people with low amounts of lactase are defined as lactose intolerant. A person who produces low amounts of lactase is only considered lactose intolerant if he experiences problematic symptoms as a result.
Milk Protein Allergy
If your immune system falsely recognizes certain milk proteins as harmful invaders, your body will start to produce antibodies in an attempt to reduce the danger to your system. After those antibodies are sent out into your body, they will release chemicals such as histamine any subsequent time you consume "harmful" milk proteins, says MayoClinic.com. That release of chemicals causes what is known as an allergic reaction.
Other Symptoms
Since lactose intolerance and a milk allergy protein can cause stomach pain after consumption of dairy, you might not initially be able to tell which problem you have. Both lactose intolerance and milk protein allergies cause other similar symptoms such as intestinal cramps, gas pains and diarrhea. However, lactose intolerance symptoms are generally limited to stomach problems and milk protein allergies are often accompanied by symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, a runny nose, an itchy rash and watery eyes, notes MayoClinic.com. In the end, you will need a formal diagnosis to determine what is causing your stomach pain.
Treatment
No treatment can cause the body to start producing more lactase or stop having an allergic reaction to milk protein. The best way to reduce your problems if you have either condition is to avoid dairy. As of 2010, no current regimen of allergy shots is proven to help with milk protein allergies. If you have a mild form of lactose intolerance, you may still be able to consume low-lactose dairy, small amounts of dairy with other types of food and use lactase drops in your dairy products to help you digest what you eat, says MayoClinic.com.
Risks
If consuming dairy causes you to experience severe diarrhea, you are at risk of becoming dehydrated. Consult your doctor if your diarrhea persists for more than two days or if you begin to feel lethargic and lightheaded, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. A severe milk protein allergy can cause a potentially fatal condition known as anaphylaxis, wherein your airways narrow and block your ability to breathe. Consult your doctor if you believe you have a milk protein allergy. If your allergy is severe enough, the doctor may give you an adrenaline shot to carry around in case of such an emergency.
