Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Overly Protective of food and the Kitchen

Ennis-TX

By Ennis-TX
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted

I first started off with this disease in a shared environment with a family that was oblivious to contamination. Like older parents who were so set in their ways it made no sense to them about CC and they just did what ever they felt like with bread, pasta, cream of wheat (mental scars from that stuff), muffins, etc.

Anyway this lead to me having to be very watchful of the kitchen, and I would always run in there and often catch them start to use MY dishes or what ever was handy etc, and cook without concern for stuff. This has lead to me even 3 years later being SUPER protective of my kitchen/cooking environment. I find myself getting angry and edgy when someone else is in the kitchen, and I do not trust anyone in a place I cook alone. When I am eating I become like a dog with a bone, DO NOT bother me or I will snap at you. Really odd and trying to train myself out of these habits lol. After years of trauma I guess you get these quirks, I feel safe with a few people who have similar issues, as I know they also would get sick if they did anything stupid or brought something in. But with normal people or visitors that have no odd health issues I am ever vigilant of them in the cooking and eating area.

When I eat out or somewhere else I always use paper towels or napkins down, eat with disposable flatware (I ordered cases of 1000 individual wrapped sets), and tend to bring the majority of my meal from home.

Anyone else develop any overly protective/obsessive quirks about food?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


J.Snow Rookie
J.Snow
Posted

Like you, I bring my own food places and my own plates and silverware. My mom finally bought me own plate and a fork knife and spoon for when I go to visit ha ha. We like to have people over because then we can have control over the food. One time last year, we had a friend come who wasn't super familiar with celiac disease. We made chili and the friend brought hotdogs and buns to make chili dogs. I had no idea he was going to do that, so it was a complete surprise. I had to go outside and call one of my dear friends who talked me down from having an anxiety attack. Am I crazy for not wanting gluten in my house, even if a friend brings it? Probably, but if it keeps my anxiety down and from me getting sick, I will do whatever it takes. Thankfully my hubby explained to him how sick I could get if I could come into contact with it and they took extra precautions to wash hands after eating. 

 

I'm sorry you have to deal or had to deal with a shared household. I'm so blessed that my husband eats gluten free at home with me and will not eat gluten at home. I have replaced all my cookware and bakeware so I don't have to worry. For my parents, I printed off info off of celiac.com for them to show them how serious celiac disease is and how sick we can get from just one crumb. That seemed to help. I still get nervous eating over there even though my mom has dedicated equipment she makes my food on and understands to buy only trustworthy brands. 

TexasJen Collaborator
TexasJen
Posted

You are not alone!  I live in a shared household. My kids are young right now, so I do all the cooking, cleaning, etc.  The things the kids eat that contain gluten are stored where I want them and I know how to prepare them to avoid any issues.  But, I do want my kids to grow up so I'm already nervous about how to let them learn how to make their own sandwiches and cereal without getting sick!

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted
  • Author
36 minutes ago, J.Snow said:

Like you, I bring my own food places and my own plates and silverware. My mom finally bought me own plate and a fork knife and spoon for when I go to visit ha ha. We like to have people over because then we can have control over the food. One time last year, we had a friend come who wasn't super familiar with celiac disease. We made chili and the friend brought hotdogs and buns to make chili dogs. I had no idea he was going to do that, so it was a complete surprise. I had to go outside and call one of my dear friends who talked me down from having an anxiety attack. Am I crazy for not wanting gluten in my house, even if a friend brings it? Probably, but if it keeps my anxiety down and from me getting sick, I will do whatever it takes. Thankfully my hubby explained to him how sick I could get if I could come into contact with it and they took extra precautions to wash hands after eating. 

 

I'm sorry you have to deal or had to deal with a shared household. I'm so blessed that my husband eats gluten free at home with me and will not eat gluten at home. I have replaced all my cookware and bakeware so I don't have to worry. For my parents, I printed off info off of celiac.com for them to show them how serious celiac disease is and how sick we can get from just one crumb. That seemed to help. I still get nervous eating over there even though my mom has dedicated equipment she makes my food on and understands to buy only trustworthy brands. 

Yeah I moved out over 2 years ago sold most of my assets and built out a gutted building from scratch for my gluten-free safe bubble home and even made a bakery out of it with a 400+sq ft. kitchen. But that trauma still exist from living with them. .....Yeah I had someone try to bring in gluten into the house on a few occasions it does spark angery/panic attacks. Heck had a nightmare about a year ago about a guy for some odd reasoning using flour in my kitchen to make burritos as little sense as that makes and I shot and killed him in the dream. My greatest fear is someone might antique me (act of throwing flour on someone or something making them look like a antique dusty).

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
45 minutes ago, TexasJen said:

You are not alone!  I live in a shared household. My kids are young right now, so I do all the cooking, cleaning, etc.  The things the kids eat that contain gluten are stored where I want them and I know how to prepare them to avoid any issues.  But, I do want my kids to grow up so I'm already nervous about how to let them learn how to make their own sandwiches and cereal without getting sick!

My hubby has been gluten free since our kid was born 16 years ago.    I was in charge of the kitchen, so I had control.  When I was diagnosed, we went 100% gluten free.  My daughter wanted to help in the kitchen and cook on her own.  I just could not trust her to keep us safe.  She was just a kid!  She eats gluten at school and away from home.  Our friends and family know this, so gluten is never brought into the house.  She is thriving and we have one place where we can let down our guard and relax!  Priceless!  

 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Ennis, 

I can see why you are super cautious.  There is no need to apologize for it.  You have figured out ways to keep you safe and that is okay!  Our house is 100% gluten free.  It is so nice to not worry about gluten while at home.    A shared household can work for many, but not all celiacs.

 My folks have  a family lake house.  It is always stuffed with extended family/friends and is a gluten nightmare.  But I have worked it out using paper goods, the dishwasher and a bin of my kitchen stuff I keep in a bedroom closet.  I oversee food prep and hubby and I are first to eat in the buffet line and we do not go back for seconds!  It is not the same as being relaxed in my own gluten-free House though.  

Keep doing what is right for you.  Piece of mind can be priceless.  

 

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      129,263
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Carol mintuck
    Newest Member
    Carol mintuck
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.2k
    • Total Posts
      71.5k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      Elimination diet think I may be Gluten tolerant next steps to get tested? Questions

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      Thanks for the insights. So 4 weeks I should eat 4 slices of whole wheat bread while maintaining gluten free diet otherwise then schedule blood tests? Would eating the gluten damage my body intestine already if its bad? What do I need to look for in a whole wheat bread to find out if its 10g of gluten. I don't want to take too much. I want to be able to tolerate it as well otherwise this test will be hard.
    • trents
      UK Member Looking For Help - Recent Test

      By trents · Posted

      Your physician will likely refer you for a GI consult for the purpose of an endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining to check for the damage to the villi caused by celiac disease. As Christiana said, keep eating generous amounts of gluten until all testing is over or you will invalidate any future testing or procedures.
    • xxnonamexx
      What would a diagnosis tell me?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      If I feel better after eliminating gluten from my diet I am curious if I get diagnosed via blood test what would that tell me differently besides avoiding gluten? Also if I had to do an Endoscopy and took biopsy how would that help me besides to tell me avoid gluten strictly? Also I read about finding a dietician but again what would they tell me differently besides avoid gluten? Thanks I am new to this and not diagnosed officially yet but trying to get a better understanding. I read so much about gluten staying in your body for weeks, years after you eat it etc. Makes me afraid to go out to eat for dinner to avoid cross contamination or travel or if I avoid gluten and all of a sudden get sick b/c gluten was in my body months earlier.
    • trents
      Elimination diet think I may be Gluten tolerant next steps to get tested? Questions

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @xxnonamexx! First, some terminology clarification. There is celiac disease and there is NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). NCGS is also referred to simply as gluten sensitivity. You will also hear the term "gluten intolerance" which is a generic term for either. But in the real world, these terms often get used indiscriminately so there is confusion. With Celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder, damage is done to the villous lining of the small bowel when gluten is ingested. Celiac disease and NCGS share many of the same symptoms, especially in the GI category. There is no test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out. So, it seems to me that you could have either celiac disease or NCGS and until you undergo a proper gluten challenge and get testing done you will have to live with the ambiguity.  Guidelines for the "gluten challenge" for those already having embarked on the gluten free diet but wanting to get tested have been revised in the past year or so. The current guidelines call for the daily consumption of at least 10g of gluten (about the amount in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for at least two weeks in order to give valid test results. Personally, I think two weeks is too short and I would go for four weeks. About 8% of celiacs cannot tolerate gluten free oatmeal because the oat protein "avenin" is so similar to gluten. Adult celiacs who practice a consistently free gluten free diet can expect substantial healing of the SB villous lining in 1-3 years. We do hear anecdotal reports of people with healed villous linings being able to return to gluten consumption but they are just that - anecdotal. I do not endorse that approach.
    • cristiana
      UK Member Looking For Help - Recent Test

      By cristiana · Posted

      Okay, that's useful.  Yes, it sounds like you are out of range, which is suggestive of coeliac disease.  Your next step must be to see your GP and see what they suggest but for the time being, keep on eating gluten as s/he may want to order an endoscopy which is the next stage in the diagnosis journey.   If you have any questions meanwhile, do come back to us.  
×
×
  • Create New...