Notice whether you get symptoms after eating or drinking dairy
Common symptoms include bloating, gas, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach rumbling
Check whether symptoms start within a few minutes to a few hours after dairy
See if symptoms happen more often after milk, ice cream, soft cheese, or cream
Try avoiding lactose for a short period and see if symptoms improve
Reintroduce dairy and see if symptoms return
Compare reactions to lactose-free dairy versus regular dairy
Keep a food and symptom diary
Ask a doctor about a lactose intolerance test
Ask a doctor about a hydrogen breath test
Ask a doctor about a lactose tolerance blood test
Ask a doctor about a stool acidity test if appropriate
Get medical advice if you have severe pain, weight loss, blood in stool, vomiting, or symptoms that happen even without dairy