Group Home

[mrs.monicahall]

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease @ 3 years ago after @ 15 years of suffering.  Two years ago, my husband and I made the decision to move into a group home for international university students.  We love living with these students.  However, I seem to be growing more and more sensitive to gluten, and am now wondering if it is possible that sharing all of my pots/pans/dishes/utensils/appliances, etc with the students who eat gluten all the time is contributing to my very poor health lately.  I've reached a point where absolutely everything I eat results in pain, and I've been hospitalized in the past year for cerebral vascular issues that my doctor thinks  might be celiac related as well.

 

I'm not really sure what I'm asking here, but I'm just so upset that I might have to give up a ministry I absolutely adore because of gluten.  It just seems to .... wrong!  Was kind-of hoping people here might understand?

[cyclinglady]

I think you will find that lots of people here on this forum understand! I also think that your health is a priority. You may have to think of another form of ministry that will be just as important while keeping you safe. Seems like it is pretty impossible to train that many young people! It is hard just training one!

Good luck!

[moosemalibu]

I think you pretty much figured out that you have a big risk for cross contamination when you're sharing pots and pans with the gluten eaters in the house. You can try getting your own set, explain the risk to them, and hope they won't cross contaminate a new set. You should definitely care for your own health. How can you continue to spread the word if you're too sick or hospitalized? Good luck with whatever you decide.

[1desperateladysaved]

Perhaps you are intended to help others there to cope with a gluten issue.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are some around  I know that eating is a social event, but your health needs to be taken care of too.  Could you get your own cooking space using grill, electric skillet, or crock pot and invite people to join you?

 

Dee

[BlessedMommy]

I was going to suggest getting your own set of utensils and pans and preparing your food separately as well.

[kareng]

I agree with all of the above.  If you really like this situation, you need to find a way to make it work.  If that means locking up your utensils & food - explain it and do it.  

[dilettantesteph]

I think that cross contamination could easily be responsible for your recent health problems.  There are many things that you can try before moving out.  Examine where you may be getting contaminated and think about ways to avoid it.  It is hard to expect others to always be careful.  It is hard enough for us to learn how to do, and we are the ones who pay the price.  Can you set up a mini kitchen just for you?  You could get a microwave, hot plate and mini fridge.  You could have big plastic bins for your dishes.  I hope that you can find a solution that works for you and feel better soon.

[GFinDC]

Yep, no sharing of pots and pans etc.  Baking with regular gluteny flour is a problem too.  The flour is a fine dust and can float around the kitchen and land on surfaces hours later.  No sharing of butter, peanut butter etc either.

 

Some people get all their pots and pans in a special color for their gluten-free stuff.  Like everything red, or everything green.  You can also label things with a stick-on color dot or a maker.  Keeping your gluten-free pots, pans etc on the top shelf can help too.  That prevents gluten flours from falling down on your stuff.