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):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Imprisonment - Choosing Starvation Over Bread?

esgal

Recommended Posts

esgal Newbie
esgal
Posted

Hello friends,

 

Someone I know is in the future going to be living in a Communist country and there is a possibility that she will be persecuted for her faith if it is discovered that she is a Christian. Since she has diagnosed Celiacs, if she is imprisoned, should she really choose starvation over eating bread(quite likely containing gluten)? Won't she live longer eating the bread even though it will mess up her gut? I assume the diet is mainly bread and water.

 

I know this is a hard question but thanks for any help.

-esgal

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


notme Experienced
notme
Posted

tell her not to go!  don't they just kill you, anyway?  she probably won't live long enough to worry about her diet.  :(  why would you do that?  :(

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

tell her not to go!  don't they just kill you, anyway?  she probably won't live long enough to worry about her diet.   :(  why would you do that?   :(

 

 

It does seem like an odd question.  If she is going to this country to get arrested for her faith, she doesn't care about her life and health.

esgal Newbie
esgal
Posted
  • Author

She is going as a missionary to share her faith. No, it's not at all certain that she would be imprisoned, but just wondered what she should do in that scenario. I'm just concerned, not saying that it will actually happen... Anyway, even if it would happen I'm sure it wouldn't happen right away, but does seem like a possibility in the next 30 - 50 yrs. Hopefully not though. Sorry, I know it's a weird question... From what I've read you die more slowly from Celiacs then starvation so I would say she should eat it and hope to get out ASAP then not to eat it but maybe I'm not thinking straight. Possibly they have soups as well that they serve that would have less gluten in them... 

 

Thanks for your response.

-esgal

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Not sure what faith you are talking about, but anyone can ask for a different place for their mission.

 

No organized religion I know would put anyone at risk that way.

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

I am sure the original posters friend is a person who believes strongly enough in their faith to not be wavered in their attempt to do a missionary trip over this, as they already plan to go.  They may not serve bread in the prisons depending on where they are, they may serve rice or some other local food that is cheap.  Perhaps your friend can contact the US State Department and get more information on the treatment of their prisoners and what to do if the worst care scenario happens.

 

State Dept. Destination Info:

Open Original Shared Link

 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program:

Open Original Shared Link

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted
Today, there are only five communist countries in the world.
China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and North Korea

 

They do not want Christian missionaries and she would hardly be allowed in.

 

Again, I do not think any Christian group would put someone in harm's way like that--especially if she has a medical condition.

 

 

ESgal, not sure if you are  looking to start a discussion that has no resolution-- but it seems pointless to me.

 

but does seem like a possibility in the next 30 - 50 yrs

 

 

 

 

that's major speculation based on a 'possibility"...IMHO

 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

I'm inclined to agree with IH. There are only a few communist regimes left. Why anyone would put their life at risk to go to one of them as a missionary escapes me. But my own faith is personal. I subscribe to the teachings of my church, but would never seek to impose them on others, or to try to tell others that their faith is wrong and mine is right. FWIW, I am an Anglican (Episcopalian in the US). That is my personal observation as a member here, and is not a comment from a moderator.  ^_^

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Today, there are only five communist countries in the world.

China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and North Korea

They do not want Christian missionaries and she would hardly be allowed in.

Again, I do not think any Christian group would put someone in harm's way like that--especially if she has a medical condition.

ESgal, not sure if you are looking to start a discussion that has no resolution-- but it seems pointless to me.

but does seem like a possibility in the next 30 - 50 yrs

that's major speculation based on a 'possibility"...IMHO

1 has very closed borders. I guess if you sneak across you will be out in prison or shot. . And a couple of them have a lot of Catholics! Lol

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

And a couple of them have a lot of Catholics! Lol

 

that's true. lol 

 

but they are not really "open for visitors". 

 

Open Original Shared Link

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Eek. I wouldn't want to go either.

 

That being said, I ate gluten for close to 40 years with undiagnosed celiac disease and it didn't kill me... but it was close. Starvation is pretty certain within a few weeks to months of no food though.

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

Eek. I wouldn't want to go either.

 

That being said, I ate gluten for close to 40 years with undiagnosed celiac disease and it didn't kill me... but it was close. Starvation is pretty certain within a few weeks to months of no food though.

 

 

Just for kicks and giggles, if something like a natural disaster/zombie apocalypse hit, and the only food available had gluten in it, I would eat it.  Someone with a severe diarrhea reaction to glutening may die faster than starvation, though.  But heck, I am slow and would get eaten by the zombies before I could worry too much about survival!   :rolleyes:

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Just for kicks and giggles, if something like a natural disaster/zombie apocalypse hit, and the only food available had gluten in it, I would eat it.  Someone with a severe diarrhea reaction to glutening may die faster than starvation, though.  But heck, I am slow and would get eaten by the zombies before I could worry too much about survival!   :rolleyes:

LOL :lol:  Well thought out.  And I like the zombie approach. LOL ;)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

A few bites days of having to eat gluten and I would be a zombie

esgal Newbie
esgal
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your responses and help. I am new to this forum and really appreciate your input. She feels that the countries that are the most closed are the ones most in need not just spiritually but also for humanitarian aid, but I know she is weighing the decision carefully and will keep thinking about it for a year or two before deciding for sure what to do. Even if she goes to a different country in Asia not currently under persecution, it could be that in 30-50 yrs as mentioned before it could become a country with restricted religious freedoms even if it isn't now, and she obviously wouldn't just want to up and leave later after investing many years there and starting a ministry.

 

Where I live in Central America, the change over in government from right-wing to a communist leader as President happened in less than 10 years, but it's not at the point yet where there isn't religious freedom.

Thanks again for your kindness and time.

  • 1 month later...
DownWithGluten Explorer
DownWithGluten
Posted

Interesting topic! All these people telling her not to go ...clearly don't get it.

 

Anyway...it's interesting because I've actually wondered this before. What if I were to get stuck somewhere where bread was the only option...prison, kidnapped...etc. I guess I'd have to eat it, but I've realized how much more miserable it would make the situation than someone without gluten intolerance.

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

Interesting topic! All these people telling her not to go ...clearly don't get it.

 

Anyway...it's interesting because I've actually wondered this before. What if I were to get stuck somewhere where bread was the only option...prison, kidnapped...etc. I guess I'd have to eat it, but I've realized how much more miserable it would make the situation than someone without gluten intolerance.

how about don't go because if it is a difficult situation and even if you aren't imprisoned, if you eat the wrong thing or nothing safe is available, you become in instant burden.  so, the people you are going to supposedly help have a sick person to care for?   i am a Christian and would not consider dragging down a mission group.  truth.

 

if imprisoned, the other prisoners would probably kill me for using up all the t.p. lololz (yeah, i know, no t.p. in prison.........)  kidding ;)

  • 4 months later...
Patt Explorer
Patt
Posted

Omg! Really!

 

1) by deciding to move there of her own free will (witch God gave her) she "IS" prepared to die

2) do you really think they care what she eats? never mind the living conditions. They'll just throw her in a hole and feed her moldy food

  • 2 weeks later...
Lock Newbie
Lock
Posted

She needs to find some other thing to obsess over. Saving people in communist countries is hardly the ONLY charitable thing available. Surely there are people in her home country that could use humanitarian aid and Christian saving.

 

It sounds like she has got hold of this idea in her head and won't consider alternatives. It might work out for her but if she is a positively diagnosed Celiac and knowingly goes into a country where she will have little control over the quality of her food (in or out of prison) then her ambition to do this thing is bordering on pathological because she is discarding her own health in favor of the idea.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. xxnonamexx
      - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      32

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      I made it through the holiday w/o being glutened. I had my brother cook with gluten-free breadcrumbs and I didn't get sick. I baked cookies with gluten-free flour and had dry ingredients for cookies in ziplock bag. I also made gluten cookies as well and guess I did good washing to avoid CC. My wife also went to a french bakery and bought a gluten-free flourless...
    2. xxnonamexx
      - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      32

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      What do you mean it would not allow any celiac to eat gluten again. I think if this helps cross contamination when eating out at a non dedicated gluten-free restaurant this would be nice not to encounter the pains. But is their a daily enzyme to take to help strengthen the digestive system?
    3. SamAlvi
      - SamAlvi replied to SamAlvi's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      Hi, thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, no other antibody tests were ordered. I am a 32-year-old male. About two months ago, I ate pancakes and then developed severe diarrhea that lasted the entire day. At night, I became unconscious due to fluid loss and was admitted to the ER, where I received IV fluids. Two days later, I ate bread again and once...
    4. trents
      - trents replied to SamAlvi's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @SamAlvi! Were there any other antibody tests ordered? Particularly, was there a "total IGA" test ordered to check for IGA deficiency. When people are IGA deficient, celiac panel IGA test scores, such as the TTG-IGA, are likely not valid. If a total IGA test was not ordered, I would request such to be done. Note:...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Homemade Gluten-Free Egg Drop Soup

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,844
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    donnawebb265
    Newest Member
    donnawebb265
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      I made it through the holiday w/o being glutened. I had my brother cook with gluten-free breadcrumbs and I didn't get sick. I baked cookies with gluten-free flour and had dry ingredients for cookies in ziplock bag. I also made gluten cookies as well and guess I did good washing to avoid CC. My wife also went to a french bakery and bought a gluten-free flourless chocolate cake dedicated gluten-free it was out of this world. 
    • xxnonamexx
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      What do you mean it would not allow any celiac to eat gluten again. I think if this helps cross contamination when eating out at a non dedicated gluten-free restaurant this would be nice not to encounter the pains. But is their a daily enzyme to take to help strengthen the digestive system? 
    • SamAlvi
      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      By SamAlvi · Posted

      Hi, thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, no other antibody tests were ordered. I am a 32-year-old male. About two months ago, I ate pancakes and then developed severe diarrhea that lasted the entire day. At night, I became unconscious due to fluid loss and was admitted to the ER, where I received IV fluids. Two days later, I ate bread again and once more developed severe diarrhea. I ended up in the ER again and received IV fluids. In my country, Pakistan, doctors are unfortunately not very thorough, so they treated me for a stomach infection. I visited three or four doctors, including a gastroenterologist, but it seemed like they just wanted to keep me on medications and IV fluids. Eventually, I did some digging myself and started connecting the dots. For years, I’ve had excessive gas buildup and frequent loose stools, but I never paid much attention to it. I also cannot easily digest dairy products. Two years ago, I had a CBC test that showed iron deficiency. My doctor told me to eat more meat and said it was nothing serious. However, for the past five years, I’ve also had severe motion sickness, which I never experienced before. Whenever I get on a bus or in a car, I sometimes lose consciousness for 10–20 seconds and wake up sweaty, and occasionally I feel the need to vomit. After more research on the internet, I came across gluten and celiac disease, so I got two related tests (TTG-IgA & TTG IgG) done along with a stool test and another CBC. The stool test showed weakly positive blood. Ever since eating those pancakes and bread, I’ve had a burning sensation in my gut. My doctor reviewed my tests, he told me to completely stop eating gluten and started me on IV fluids for 20 days, saying that I had severe inflammation in my gut. It has now been two months since I quit gluten, and I’m still not sure whether this is celiac disease or gluten intolerance. I don’t really trust doctors in Pakistan, so I thought I might get some help here.
    • trents
      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @SamAlvi! Were there any other antibody tests ordered? Particularly, was there a "total IGA" test ordered to check for IGA deficiency. When people are IGA deficient, celiac panel IGA test scores, such as the TTG-IGA, are likely not valid. If a total IGA test was not ordered, I would request such to be done. Note: "Total IGA" goes by other names as well. I will include a primer on celiac disease antibody testing which does a good job in covering the nomenclature variations connected with the various tests. Elevated IGG scores can certainly indicate celiac disease but they are more likely than elevated IGA tests to be caused by something else.  
    • GlorietaKaro
      Am I nuts?

      By GlorietaKaro · Posted

      Thank you— yes, valid and essential— The issue either doctors is that every one I have tried to talk to about this has essentially rolled their eyes and dismissed me as a hypochondriac, which gets discouraging. I believe a diagnosis would help me to be taken seriously by doctors as well as being validating, but can carry on without it.    There are many, probably most people in my area of my age and gender, who avoid gluten, but many just avoid it casually— eating the occasional plate of wheat pasta or a delicious-looking dessert, or baking cookies with wheat flour for gatherings.  That is not an option for me. I don’t eat other people’s cooking or go to restaurants that do not have strict cross- contamination procedures. It can be boring and lonely, and people do look at me as if I am being a bit dramatic but weeks of symptoms after a single small exposure has taught me to respect my experience.    Thank you very much for your response— sometimes I just need to hear that I am not crazy—
×
×
  • 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.