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

Overnight Hospital Stay


behr08

Recommended Posts

behr08 Rookie

Hey everyone!  Hope this is the right board to post to.  

I have an upcoming surgery (partial thyroidectomy) at the Celeveland Clinic (Marymount).  Has anyone stayed there?  Or have any overnight hospital experience since being diagnosed?

Aside from gluten-free I will also need a dairy free diet.  Should I plan to pack my own food, or are they pretty good about this stuff and offering a decent selection? ... And will they allow me to eat a packed lunch if I bring one (providing I'm not on liquids)? 


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Xiao Bai Rookie

Hospitals are notorious for glutening their patients.  It has happened to me several times.  The most recent was two years ago.  I went to a very high-end hospital for an appendectomy.  They sent a nutritionist to talk with me for an hour, put a special bracelet on me so all the staff knew I had celiac.  But the food was full of gluten.  Soup with flour as a thickener, etc.  The problem is that there is a serious disconnect between the nutrition specialists and the actual kitchen staff, who in the part of the world where I live, nobody has heard of gluten or celiac.  If it is too inconvenient t take your own food, I advise eating ony plain foods - hard-boiled eggs, raw vegetables and fruit with no sauce,a plain baked potato if you can get it, or otherwise plain white rice, though even that can be iffy.

Any future hospital visits for me will be viewed as opportunities to lose weight fast.

Judy3 Contributor

I agree totally, the last time I was hospitalized I had the same experience nutritionist, band on wrist, doctor wrote in large letters on my door.... still they brought me food with gluten.  I refused to eat unless it was something with a manufacturers cap on it  (milk, pudding, yogurt...)  or fresh fruit that I made them wash in my bathroom.    My doctor was livid that they did this to me.   Potatoes with gravy with a roll on top!!    In a hospital   wow   If I ever need to be hospitalized again I will be more scared of eating than why I'm there.   

Ennis-TX Grand Master

I actually have red medical dog tags with my medical info, allergies, emergency contact, and AI issues on them, and my emergency contacts know where I keep emergency food bars and shakes to bring if I end up in the hospital. I have MRM Meal replacement which is a low carb vegan protein meal replacement, ANd while not the best tasting I have a mixed stash of Julian Bakery Paleo and peagan protein bars, 2-3 carbs each grain free, very low sugar bars.   I also keep stashes of Miracle noodle Meals Ready to Eat stashed in my fridge.   These are all low carb emergency meals in case something happen I have options for foods that will not cause me issues and I can have ready to go right out the package.

cyclinglady Grand Master

Every hospital is different, but I have experienced gluten free mis-haps personally.  In the future, I am going to bring my own gluten-free food and access to the internet (check medications etc.) and post a big note that states if you do not take my health insurance and I am not coding, then get out of my room!  Always ask to see your chart.   Mistakes are stupidly made and you have to be your own health advocate.  Sad but true!  Be prepared!  

behr08 Rookie
2 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

Every hospital is different, but I have experienced gluten free mis-haps personally.  In the future, I am going to bring my own gluten-free food and access to the internet (check medications etc.) and post a big note that states if you do not take my health insurance and I am not coding, then get out of my room!  Always ask to see your chart.   Mistakes are stupidly made and you have to be your own health advocate.  Sad but true!  Be prepared!  

Thanks everyone!  Very helpful!  I will be sure to pack and order safe foods.  The medications is another big worry of mine.  I just pray they take me seriously and understand.  I will be sure to question anything and everything I have to take orally, but I worry about surgery too.  

 

Thanks again! 

cyclinglady Grand Master
1 hour ago, behr08 said:

Thanks everyone!  Very helpful!  I will be sure to pack and order safe foods.  The medications is another big worry of mine.  I just pray they take me seriously and understand.  I will be sure to question anything and everything I have to take orally, but I worry about surgery too.  

 

Thanks again! 

Oh, have a copy of your celiac test results?  Bring those too in case anyone questions your celiac diagnosis.  I am serious about checking your chart (read it) and noting celiac disease on that eraser board so often found in patient rooms.  Bring a eraser board marker!  Talk to all your doctors, nurses and ask even for a dietician consult (though frankly I have met some in-hospital stupid ones.....).  

Me:

"I can not eat this food.  I just had gallbladder surgery late last night (on an out-of-state business trip).  Please bring me a liquid diet."

Nurses:  "Doctor said you must eat before we discharge you." 

Me: "I get it.  But for months, I had serious pain when I ate.  Even when I last ate,  the pain was severe.  Let's test with a liquid  diet first."

Nurses: "You must eat this."

Me:  "Call the dietician."

Dietician: "Doctor said you must eat this.  It is in your chart!" 

Me: "Let me see the chart!"

Dietician and Nurses: "Chart says progress to a regular diet. Oh......progress.  We will bring you a liquid diet to start."


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



cyclinglady Grand Master

Doctors:  Because you were found unconscious on your bathroom floor, had vomited, had a nose bleed (found in a pool of blood), had/have back pain so that you could not get up, had very low blood pressure,  and an a slightly unusual EKG, we are sending you for a stress test.  

Me:  A stress test?  My back is killing me.  I am a runner, but I do not think I can run on a treadmill.

Doctors: This is nuclear.  You just lay on a gurney and then we scan your heart.  

Me: No.

Doctors (to my family...my kid is there):  if you were my Auntie, I would do this test!

Me (after my family freaks):  okay.

Test Room Nurses and Doctors:  We will feed you a nice sandwich while waiting for results.  Coffee or Coke (caffeine) helps clear the medication so you do not have a headache.  

Me:  I have celiac disease and must be gluten free.  Can someone run to the kitchen?

Nurses/Staff: No. 

Test Results....Perfect.  I am starving, but okay.  I drank some black coffee.   I am good to go for another 50 years.  No build up.

One week later following up with my PCP:

Doctor:  Let's bring up your hospital chart.  Wow!  You had an x-ray.  You fractured two vertebrae.  Didn't anyone discuss this with you as a source of your back pain?  

Me:  No.  They just saw a middle-aged woman who might have had an MI (heart attack).  

Doctor: Your fractures might have been a result of osteoporosis due to celiac disease.  Let's get a bone scan.  

Moral of the story?  Be your own health advocate.  Question everything and if you can not, designate a trusted family member or friend to fight for your rights!  

Oh, the passing out thing?   It happens.  Often.  Not related to celiac disease, but Mast Cells gone wild thing.  Usually, I can get off the floor.  ?

behr08 Rookie

Wow, I'm so sorry you dealt with that.  I will definitely take a copy of my results.  

cyclinglady Grand Master

Not meant to scare, but to educate.  ?

Archived

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

  • 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. - knitty kitty replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      15

      Insomnia help

    2. - TheDHhurts posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      0

      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

    3. - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      15

      Insomnia help

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,107
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Maggie1349
    Newest Member
    Maggie1349
    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)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      @cristiana,  I react the same way.  Dairy consumption flushes out my digestive system within an hour, too! As casein is digested, it forms casomorphins that bind to opioid receptors in our bodies.  This is similar to digested gluten peptides being able to attach to opioid receptors in our bodies.   We have opioid receptors throughout our bodies including lots in the digestive tract. Casein raises tTg IgA antibodies just like gluten consumption does, which leads to further intestinal damage and continuing inflammation.  No wonder our bodies react to it by pushing the "emergency evacuation" ejection seat button! The mother of my childhood friend was British and introduced me to drinking tea properly with milk or cream.  I miss it so much.  And chocolate ice cream.  Not worth the after effects, though.  I've found taking Omega Three supplements (flaxseed oil, sunflower seed oil, evening primrose oil) helps shake those dairy cravings.   Green leafy veggies like broccoli, kale, and greens (mustard, turnip, collards) are great sources of calcium.  Avoid spinach as it is high in oxalates that block calcium absorption and may cause kidney stones.  Yes, more leafy greens are needed to reach the same amount of calcium in a glass of milk, but the greens have other benefits, like increased dietary fiber and polyphenols that act as antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and promote health.   Exposure to gluten (and casein in those sensitive to it) can cause an increased immune response and inflammation for months afterwards.  The immune cells that make tTg IgA antibodies which are triggered today are going to live for about two years. During that time, inflammation is heightened.  Those immune cells only replicate when triggered.  If those immune cells don't get triggered again for about two years, they die without leaving any descendents programmed to trigger on gluten and casein.  The immune system forgets gluten and casein need to be attacked.  The Celiac genes turn off.  This is remission.   Some people in remission report being able to consume gluten again without consequence.  Another triggering event can turn the Celiac genes on again.   Celiac genes are turned on by a triggering event (physical or emotional stress).  There's some evidence that thiamine insufficiency contributes to the turning on of autoimmune genes.  There is an increased biological need for thiamine when we are physically or emotionally stressed.  Thiamine cannot be stored for more than twenty-one days and may be depleted in as little as three during physical and emotional stresses. Mitochondria without sufficient thiamine become damaged and don't function properly.  This gets relayed to the genes and autoimmune disease genes turn on.  Thiamine and other B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are needed to replace the dysfunctional mitochondria and repair the damage to the body.  
    • TheDHhurts
      Hi, I bought Naked Nutrition Creatine. It lists itself as gluten free but is not certified. (It used to be, but they dropped it in the past year or two apparently.) I wrote the company and asked them what testing results they had for creatine and they sent me the attached, which says the test result for gluten is <0.025MCG. I'm used to seeing test results as ppm, so I'm not sure what <0.025MCG means. Can it be converted to ppm easily? I want to confirm that it is safe to use.
    • cristiana
      When I was still recovering my gastroenterologist suggested I bought lactofree product as I was very bloated.  So I bought some from the supermarket and from memory, I drank a nice big glass of milk - and it went right through me literally within an hour or so, if my memory serves correctly.  I came off dairy completely next and it worked like a charm, but started to reintroduce quite gradually it as I missed it! To this day, if I overdo dairy products, they work like a mild laxative.  I've never wanted to give up milk completely as I like it so much, and my mum had osteoporosis and it's an easy way of getting calcium.  But it doesn't really 'sit' well with me.   You may need to experiment a bit as when I was healing certain dairy products were worse than others - I could cope with one brand of Greek yoghurt, but I got extremely and painfully bloated with another brand of live British yoghurt.  
    • wellthatsfun
      i have been strictly gluten free for 7 months. this includes avoiding anything that may contain gluten and making sure surfaces and appliances are clean. i am 18 years old in australia and my tTG-IgA results were 69U/mL, pretty low compared to most people's, for reference. i feel the exact same as before. sure, i was pretty much asymptomatic/silent. the worst i'd get was occasionally bad stools and pitting of the nails/brittle hair since early childhood - and i was diagnosed with low iron and vitamin d which checks out due to easy bruising and such. but those symptoms have remained. maybe i'm jumping the gun, sure. i know it can take years to fully heal. but being over half a year in, i feel that i should be, y'know, healing. i'm nearly at my wits end and wondering if i should have a piece of bread or something to see how i go - to see if i possibly have refractory? my mental health is declining as i feel myself wanting to bang my head against a damn wall out of frustration every day. cravings haven't gotten better. look, i love the stuff i still can have, like salads and such. OH! i haven't lost any weight, which is mind boggling considering i eat very healthily now! i've always been on the chubbier side which is atypical of coeliac. i just don't know what's going on with me. i try to remain hopeful but i'm just so sad all the time. thanks for reading  
    • trents
      @Charlie1946There is a PM (Personal Message) tool built into the forum website that allows you to send a private message to other forum users. Just hover over their name with your mouse cursor and the menu containing that tool will pop up. This is useful if you want to communicate with an individual without everyone else involved in the thread seeing it.  Are you realizing that in my PPI taper down recommendations in an earlier post above, I was responding not to your posts but to @Caligirl57? If you must use a PPI, I certainly would advise taking the lowest dose that is effective for you.  
×
×
  • 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.