Gluten Fingers And Gluten Lips

[HavaneseMom]

Hi Everyone,

Please excuse the silly name of this topic, but this is how I refer to it at home:-).

Unfortunately, I do not have a gluten free household and would of course like to avoid cross contamination from my gluten eating husband. I am wondering how strict we have to be about this?

I have asked him to wash his "gluten fingers" after eating gluten, but it's not a habit yet and doesn't always happen. Do we have to worry about residual gluten being spread around the house through hand contact, even if we wash our hands before eating?

Also, I have asked him to wipe his "gluten lips" very well after eating, before giving me a kiss. Is this ok if it's just a peck or two on the lips? For example, he had a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch today, when he was finished I did see him wipe his mouth very well and about 5 minutes later he gave me a peck or two on the lips before he went on his way.

Do either of these things need to be a concern?

I am finally starting to see some excellent progress after giving up dairy and nightshades, and don't want any potential gluten cross contamination to get in the way of my improvement.

Thanks in advance!

[Sammykins]

I don't know the answer to the hand contact thing, but you may want to get him to also brush his teeth after eating gluten?

[IrishHeart]

A quick peck on the cheek or lips if he has wiped his mouth very well would probably be fine, but if you are going to be doing any

"deep smooching", I believe the people who have gluten-eating spouses recommend they brush before indulging. 

My guy is G F with me, but last week he had his yearly Guinness (or 3) with corned beef and I

teased him about the smooch

factor and he did an elaborate goofy tight lipped prim and proper peck that was pretty funny. (wise guy)

 

As for hands, I think about it this way. If my hands have anything on them after eating, I wash them. Gluten or no gluten.

 

So, if your husband has nothing on his hands, I am not sure how he could be "spreading anything around".  

 

Glad to hear you are feeling better, BTW! 

[HavaneseMom]

Thanks for the advice!

It sounds like it will be ok, as long as it's a peck on the lips. If it is more than that, I will ask him to brush his teeth first :-). He comes home for lunch every day, so I just wanted to make sure a peck goodbye after lunch and after he has wiped his mouth won't be doing me any harm.

As far as what I was asking about him spreading gluten around the house - if he were to for example, eat a hot dog or a sandwich and then for instance touch the microwave handle, fridge door, cabinet door, the remote control, etc. after touching the bread, it should be no problem, right? I do wipe these things down frequently and wash my hands before eating, but I am admittedly a bit of a germaphobe, so I know my mind thinks a little bit differently about things.

Thanks again!

[IrishHeart]

Again,    if there are no obvious crumbs or slimey stuff on these things, it should be no problem. I mean let's face it... we go out into the world where people eat gluteny foods all the time, touch handles, door knobs, shopping carts, etc. It's not like it is an invisible filmy germ that passes from person to person. 

Do not overthink this too much, hon.

[gilligan]

Thanks for asking this question, because I have been wondering the same thing.  We have a gluten-free household, so my husband always stops in the mudroom to wash his hands when he comes in from work, lunch, etc.  I had friends over using my shower today (they are having big plumbing problems) while we were gone.  I got two frantic voice mails from them because one of them put a sandwich in the microwave and the other one freaked about it when she realized what her hubs had done.  They scoured my kitchen and wiped off all the doorknobs.  They were very afraid that I would get sick because of them.  It's wonderful to have friends that care so much, but I felt awful about them being so upset and not being able to get hold of me.  

[GottaSki]

I love the title of this thread : )

 

And peeps taking it too seriously is not a problem -- they did the right thing and as your time gluten-free increases you can dictate how careful your family and friends need to be around you.

[IrishHeart]

  They scoured my kitchen and wiped off all the doorknobs.  They were very afraid that I would get sick because of them.  It's wonderful to have friends that care so much, but I felt awful about them being so upset and not being able to get hold of me.  

 

 

You have awesome friends --very considerate and caring.!

 

And you got a free kitchen-cleaning to boot!

[HavaneseMom]

Again,    if there are no obvious crumbs or slimey stuff on these things, it should be no problem. I mean let's face it... we go out into the world where people eat gluteny foods all the time, touch handles, door knobs, shopping carts, etc. It's not like it is an invisible filmy germ that passes from person to person. 

Do not overthink this too much, hon.

I will try not to over think it!

I think since my recovery has been slow going, I now tend to think about every little thing that could cause a problem or possible flare up. I guess I am a little paranoid about it, but I am going to try my best to reel those thoughts in and not think that way :-)

[GottaSki]

I will try not to over think it!

I think since my recovery has been slow going, I now tend to think about every little thing that could cause a problem or possible flare up. I guess I am a little paranoid about it, but I am going to try my best to reel those thoughts in and not think that way :-)

 

A bit of paranoia happens to many (if not all) of us -- it is a really tough transition -- especially when it takes a long time for health to improve gluten-free.  Healing happens and one day you'll feel much better which will allow you to be more secure in how cautious you need to be.

 

Hang in there

[IrishHeart]

A bit of paranoia happens to many (if not all) of us -- it is a really tough transition -- especially when it takes a long time for health to improve gluten-free.  Healing happens and one day you'll feel much better which will allow you to be more secure in how cautious you need to be.

 

Hang in there

 

 

What she said! 

 

At the beginning when I was so darn slow to recover, the hubs and  I kept thinking this or that was "getting me". (It wasn't.)

But that did not prevent us from doing stupid things like throwing out perfectly good rice flour from the Korean store or donating away

most of my pantry. (and I wish I had not been so paranoid as to donate my bread maker. It could have been cleaned with vinegar and water

and been fine, I have since learned)  But that's okay. The food pantry was happy to have it.

 

But when you are new at this and you worry that something will hinder progress, you can get carried away with the "over-thinking".

 

It gets easier and soon, this all becomes the "new normal" and you really do not think about any of it after a while.

Hang in there, hon.

[GottaSki]

What she said! 

 

At the beginning when I was so darn slow to recover, the hubs and  I kept thinking this or that was "getting me". (It wasn't.)

But that did not prevent us from doing stupid things like throwing out perfectly good rice flour from the Korean store or donating away

most of my pantry. (and I wish I had not been so paranoid as to donate my bread maker. It could have been cleaned with vinegar and water

and been fine, I have since learned)  But that's okay. The food pantry was happy to have it.

 

But when you are new at this and you worry that something will hinder progress, you can get carried away with the "over-thinking".

 

It gets easier and soon, this all becomes the "new normal" and you really do not think about any of it after a while.

Hang in there, hon.

 

 

Yep, what she said