advice for re-introducing dairy?

[ASusan]

At 38 mos., DS has stopped nursing, it would appear. And I REALLY want to eat dairy again. I *AM* eating dairy again. There is a half-pound 7 oz hunk of raw milk cheddar on the desk next to me, with a small swiss army knife resting on top. There is residue of cheese on the knife and in my mouth. And I want to inhale the whole hunk of cheese, and the other half-lb of gouda in my purse.

I haven't had dairy for almost 3 years. What would be your suggestions for re-starting it?

Kefir/yogurt first?

Other suggestions to ensure I have the enzymes to digest it?

Start slow, with hidden dairy first? (like the lactose-based homeopathics I was going to get rid of FFS? or use up the about-to-expire dairy-probiotics in the fridge?)

I had several dice-sized cubes of the artesian cheese at the craft fair yesterday and seemed to no ill-effects overnight, but should I hide the raw milk cheddar and gouda until later?

[mama9]

Well done for 38 months of bfing and being dairy free - that's amazing. 

Sorry I have no adivce but oh my!!! What a description! My mouth is watering!!!! 

[tanyalynn]

Oh yum.

I guess there are a few different ways to go, but first, did you ever notice symptoms when you ate dairy (what sort?) before, or symptoms get better when you removed it? 

For us--we clearly do better with cheese than straight milk, and I've never liked yogurt (DS didn't either) so while I'm guessing it would be more like cheese, I don't now for sure.  And I'd never heard of kefir back when we were consuming dairy.

How's your digestion overall?  Has it been a weak area for you, or has other stuff gotten better/worse (what other foods have you eliminated at various times)?  (Duh, just read your siggie, ignore me).

If it were me... I'd avoid kefir simply due to an aversion so that sour flavor along with dairy (totally irrational), and start with well-aged cheese (vs, say, cottage cheese or some other young cheese).  Just do that for a while... even better start with a goat cheese.  And do that for a while, before trying a whole glass of milk or some ice cream. 

If you haven't had a bad reaction to the first bit of cheese, I wouldn't expect the trace amounts to cause issues.