Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Join Our eNewsletter:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Need A Gluten Free Friend

manderoni22

Recommended Posts

manderoni22 Newbie
manderoni22
Posted

Hey. I'm Mandy, and I'm almost 15. I need to share what's been bothering me with some people who might understand.

I've been gluten free all my life, I was diagnosed with Celiac when I was 22 months old. I'm the only gluten free person in my family, out of my friends, and there is only a couple of people I really know who are gluten free. It's lonely, and gotten more lonely. My family understands, especially my mom, who's always been there, but they've never really had to deal with it like I have. My friends are understanding sometimes, but other times poke fun at my food for being crumbly, looking or smelling weird, or having a weird taste. Its harsh and they don't understand that it hurts me a lot. I only have one friend who really understands, and so does her family. Its nice having that. I have a lot of problems going out to eat especially with friends because sometimes I have worries about reliability of Gluten Free menus, or cross contamination, or being judged by my friends for over exaggerating, even though I know its necessary.

Also, I started getting a lot more G/I symptoms in the past 3 years. A couple months ago I had a reaction with hives at school to an allergen that we're still currently testing for. I've been dealing with some other emotional stuff that has really increased my worries about accidental Gluten intake, and getting more hives or G/I issues. It scares me that there could be something that I don't know is hurting me, and sometimes G/I issues are unpredictable. They happen when I'm away from home without my family, and I even held up 5 church retreat buses because of G/I issues. Point, I just really feel brought down sometimes by my intolerances, physically and emotionally.

I'm sorry for the long rant! The last thing I want is to complain, but my mom suggested that I get this off of my chest to some people that might know what I'm saying. :)  I wanted to hear stories of how other people have struggled recently, or not recently. I'd love to talk to some people who know what I'm saying.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Reba.Loves.Music Newbie
Reba.Loves.Music
Posted

Hey! I'm Reba. I'm 20 and I understand everything!! I've been eating gluten for almost 2 years now. Just like you my mom understands the most and then probably my sister. Some of my friends are accepting and they are willing to learn and try it. Eating out is the hardest because it is impossible where I live to find a restaurant to understand our allergy.

My biggest struggle lately. Its been a month now and I helped a friend out and when they picked me I was in the car with a sheet cake, a 3 tier cake, and over 200 rolls. I always couldn't be around it and they didn't think anything of it and I was around it for 2 days and they didn't believe me it was that bad. Like I said its a month later and I'm still struggling with it because I still have a headache, I'm still getting sick, and my stomach still hurts.

I'm always willing to talk and listen. :)

soccerchic383 Newbie
soccerchic383
Posted

Hey guys! My name is Casey and I am 17 years old and have been diagnosed with celiacs for two months now but I've been dealing with the symptoms all my life. I totally get how frustrating it is when people don't understand - even with friends who I love and trust, I hate getting the pitiful looks and, "Wow that really sucks!" after I explain my diet.

My biggest challenge right now is preparing for gluten free eating in college. Luckily mine seems to have a pretty accommodating kitchen staff but my dorm doesn't have a kitchen and I will be sharing a minifridge with my Roomate, who eats gluten, and I don't know if the contamination will affect me or not.

I'm definitely scoping for some gluten free buddies so I'd love to talk more. Hang in there :)

Reba.Loves.Music Newbie
Reba.Loves.Music
Posted

Hey Casey! I so understand with college, and how people don't get it all. I'm always here for a new buddy too lol :),

  • 5 months later...
Nick-incollege Rookie
Nick-incollege
Posted

hey! I'm 21, and I've been gluten free for a year now, but still have trouble with it a lot. i get reactions pretty often still (somehow) so I'm still learning! I think as you get older your friends start to understand more, so i usually don't feel too weird having to be pretty particular about what I eat. but, a lot of times, even if I order a gluten free pizza or something, I still get glutened - I think a lot of restaurants suck at changing their gloves/dealing with cross contamination and stuff =\

 

I'm also looking for gluten free buddies, mostly because i still don't know a lot about the disease and why exactly I react sometimes! I don't have gi symptoms, I just get: sore throat, nausea, and wicked fatigue. which doesn't sound that bad, but sometimes I barely have enough energy to walk. which sucks, cause I like to be active/play sports and stuff haha

  • 4 months later...
BeccaMeadows Newbie
BeccaMeadows
Posted

I'm 21 and was diagnosed 4 years ago.  It definitely was a struggle at first but here's a few tips that have really helped. 

 

I found the best ways of coping with being around friends and family is being ready. 

 

It's a hassel, but preparing meals ahead of time, or having quick go to snacks ahead of time makes social situations so much easier so you never have to worry about being without food.  I also bring a lunch bag with food ready in it, or sometimes just pack some fruit and protein bars (homemade!) in my purse (having a big purse really helps).  If I know that people are going to be sitting down and having dinner (like at Christmas time) I also bring a full meal with appetizers and a dessert so I don't feel left out.  I've even talked to staff at restaurants and they've been understanding if I eat my own meal there while my friends order. 

 

I've also found that as I got older it was easier socially.  A lot of my friends just can't afford to go out to eat all the time, so instead we go to the grocery store together.  Another thing with getting older is a lot of my friends want to be more health conscious, so instead of them saying "Oh that sucks all the time", now instead I share some really cool super healthy gluten free snacks which taste great and they are really interested.  The hardest thing is explaining it to people who are new to it, but whenever people try to make a gluten free diet sound like a bad thing I usually just jokingly tell them that it doesn't bother me that I'll still have a great body when I'm 50 from eating so well.  It helps to just make light of the situation. 

 

I also tend to host most sleepovers or get togethers to make it easier for me to trust the food I'm eating and if anyone offers I tell people to bring some gluten free snacks, but to make sure they have the gluten free labelling on it.  If people insist on making food I usually ask them to run recipe ideas by me, or I usually just don't eat them because the slightest-cross contamination makes me sick.  It's also fun to have baking parties with friends.  You get to let them in to your world and make some awesome food that everyone can eat. 

 

It is unfortunate to have to deal with celiacs as a teenager when all your friends are so care-free, but honestly, especially for those who are young and new to the diet, it gets way easier socially, mentally and physically.  That's not to say you may not struggle here and there, but to me I've just embraced is as my lifestyle and it's just become second nature to me. 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,940
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Meryl Vogrin
    Newest Member
    Meryl Vogrin
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Russ H
      Fiber-Metabolizing Bacteria Could Boost Gut Health in Celiac Disease

      By Russ H · Posted

      People with coeliac disease have an altered gut biome compared with those who do not, which may be associated with gut inflammation. Although the gut biome recovers on a gluten-free diet, there are still significant differences at 2 years. In a mouse model of coeliac disease, supplementation with the soluble dietary fibre, inulin, increased the number of beneficial microbes and reduced gut inflammation. Inulin is used by some plants as carbohydrate store, it is a complex polymer of fructose in the same way that starch is a complex polymer of glucose. Inulin cannot be digested by humans but serves as food source for some gut bacteria. Inulin is present in many vegetables but the richest sources are (g/100g): chicory root 41.6 Jerusalem artichoke 18.0 dandelion greens 13.5 garlic 12.5 leeks 6.5 onions 4.3 The Scientist: Fiber-Metabolizing Bacteria Could Boost Gut Health in Celiac Disease    
    • suek54
      Shaking/Tremors and Off Balance

      By suek54 · Posted

      Hi Ginger38 Well done you for pushing through the pain barrier of eating gluten, when you know each mouthful is making you poorly.  I went through the same thing not long ago, my biopsy was for dermatitis herpetiformis. Result positive, so 95% certain I have gut coeliacs too. But my bloods were negative, so very pleased I went for the gluten challenge and biopsy.  Hang on in there. Sue
    • Scott Adams
      Has someone experienced discrimination because of their illness?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      When symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or low energy change how we interact, others sometimes misinterpret that as disinterest, rudeness, or negativity—especially if they don’t understand the underlying condition. That doesn’t make their behavior okay, though. You don’t deserve to be treated poorly for something outside your control. Often, it reflects a lack of awareness or empathy on their part, not a fault in you. It can help to explain your condition to people you trust, but it’s also completely valid to set boundaries and distance yourself from those who respond with hostility. Your experience—and your reaction to it—makes sense. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
    • Scott Adams
      HLA-DQ2 POSITIVE it's nothing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Being HLA-DQ2 positive doesn’t diagnose celiac disease by itself, but it does mean he has the genetic potential for it, so it absolutely deserves careful follow-up if symptoms or concerns are present. You’re right that celiac is often downplayed, but it’s a serious autoimmune condition—not an allergy—and it can affect the brain, nervous system, and overall health if untreated. Given everything your son has been through, you’re doing the right thing by advocating and asking questions. I would strongly recommend getting a full copy of his records, and if possible, consulting a gastroenterologist who understands celiac disease well so you can get clear answers and, if needed, proper testing and monitoring.
    • Scott Adams
      Juce Super Fruit & Veggie Vitamin Blend

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Yes, I don't recommend barley or wheat grass, even though technically speaking if it's made using ONLY the pure grass it is gluten-free, however, I've witnessed them make it at Jamba Juice and the seeds/kernels often get mixed into the grass before they juice it, so in that case would not be safe.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.