How do I recognize a food intolerance?
March 2, 2023 | 120,00 EUR | answered by Gabriele Bauer
Dear Doctor,
my name is Jessica Schaaf and I have been experiencing increasing digestive problems lately. After consuming certain foods, I suffer from stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes even nausea. This is very distressing for me and I am unsure of what could be causing it.
I have already tried changing my diet and avoiding certain foods, but the symptoms still persist. I am concerned that it might be a food intolerance, as my symptoms strongly indicate it.
Could you please tell me how I can identify a food intolerance? Are there specific tests that I should undergo? Or are there other possible causes for my symptoms that I should consider? I would greatly appreciate your help and advice, as I would like to know what is triggering my problems and how I can effectively treat them.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Jessica Schaaf
Dear Jessica Schaaf,
Thank you for your message and your trust in my expertise as a general practitioner. I am sorry to hear that you have been experiencing increased digestive problems lately, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes even nausea. These symptoms can indeed be very distressing, and it is important to find the cause in order to treat them appropriately.
Based on your descriptions, it could indeed be that you are suffering from a food intolerance. A food intolerance occurs when the body is unable to properly process certain foods or food components, leading to the symptoms you have described. There are various ways to identify a food intolerance.
One initial step would be to keep a food diary, in which you record the foods you have consumed and the symptoms that followed. This way, you may be able to identify patterns and pinpoint which foods trigger your symptoms. Another step would be to conduct an elimination diet test, where you eliminate certain foods from your diet for a period of time and then gradually reintroduce them to see if and which symptoms occur.
If you desire a specific diagnosis, you could also undergo an allergy test or a test for food intolerances. These tests can help identify specific foods to which your body is sensitive. However, it is important to do this under medical supervision to ensure that the tests are interpreted correctly.
There are also other possible causes for your symptoms that should be considered. These include gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or infections such as food poisoning. Therefore, it is important that you seek medical advice to receive an accurate diagnosis and start appropriate treatment.
I strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a gastroenterologist to further investigate your symptoms. Your doctor can then conduct the necessary tests to determine the cause of your digestive issues and provide you with a treatment recommendation.
I hope that my response has been helpful to you and I am available for any further questions you may have. I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery from your symptoms.
Best regards,
Gabriele Bauer, General Practitioner
