Hard day

[Sophierb]

I’m embarrassed to make this post. But today, I had my first panic attack about celiac disease. 

My husband wanted to try Whalburger. But since being diagnosed I haven’t eaten anywhere except the 2 exclusively gluten free places in my city. He talked to a manager before getting us a table and he was feeling great about their awareness for allergy prep. I was not. We had our 3 small children with and I’m not sure if it was the combination of the commotion with them or all the thoughts buzzing in my head about how I could get glutened. But I thought I was going to throw up on the table. I’m also 11 weeks pregnant so being careful now is important because of that as well. I ended up telling my husband I had to get out of there as my breathing sped up and the dizzy-panic feeling really sunk in. 

I barely made it out before the tears hit. I’m so incredibly embarrassed. Will this get better? I was diagnosed 9 months ago and have mostly coped fine. But sometimes it’s really hard. I cried the drive home feeling sorry for myself about all the foods I won’t have again and how “unfair” this is. Pathetic.

[cyclinglady]

Do not be embarrassed!  You should follow your intuition (your gut feelings).  Men do not have that same instinct.  You have to not only protect yourself, but your unborn child and manage your three kids.  You have a lot to handle on top of avoiding gluten!  

Anxiety is so common with celiac disease too.  It will improve with time. 

I just went out to dinner with family and friends last night.    I just ordered a drink and ate at home.  The restaurant has done a good job in the past (they have a gluten free menu), but my glutenings have triggered not only celiac disease, but ramped up (actually developed an extra one) my other autoimmune diseases.  Six months of daily hives was NOT fun last year.

So, stand your ground.  Be prepared to bring some food with you or eat before.  Stay safe.  Take chances when you are well and you know you can handle the outcome if things go bad.  

My big freezer has been invaluable.  I have meals, gluten-free goodies and items always on hand.  So handy if you can afford one.  I save a bundle on meats (purchased on sale) too.  It pays for itself, especially with a large family.  Consider getting one!  

And...yes, things will get better, I promise! 

 

Edited July 31, 2018 by cyclinglady

[Ennis-TX]

I get panic attacks entering other restaurants or kitchens myself, I also have a corn allergy so yeah that is another of my concerns.

Your right, to have done what you did, I would never trust a whataburger...I miss them but can make my own at home....though I will admit their thin and HUGE wide patties are something to be missed...hard to make those. I would not rust any non 100% gluten free place anymore...I get about 4-6 weeks of diarrhea now days after a exposure and random flares with my other auto immune disease UC.

Perhaps if it makes you feel better do it at home. burger night, burger salad night (I did chopped patties over iceberg with the fixings salad bar style and told them build it like your burger) makes a new fun spin on it.

Heck working on my own gluten free catering business and hopefully a food truck in the next year with bunless burgers as a  featured item on the menu. Fun to to fix also with 2 methods, if you have deli wrappers you can use iceberg chunks for the buns, and load it your burger up and use the wrap/sleeve to keep it together and you hands clean. I find better burger large leaf lettuce works as a big lettuce wrap for a burger to hold all the fixing with less mess otherwise.
Of course canyon house makes some good buns but I avoid those processed things myself.

[Bree J]

Yep, I got a nice solid panic attack when my brother invited me to have dinner with him on his birthday at a Japanese hibachi restaurant. They have gluten free soy sauce, but it's a shared Grill. That ended up being okay, and he actually sanitized my corner of the grill, and I watched him do it, so that was nice. But I had no idea they would do that for me, so I panicked for a full two hours before going, but I wasn't going to say no to my brother's birthday. I ate before I went, just in case. You are not alone in this. I'm so sorry you have to deal with it, I know how much it sucks. You are so strong!

[Ennis-TX]

3 minutes ago, Bree J said:

Yep, I got a nice solid panic attack when my brother invited me to have dinner with him on his birthday at a Japanese hibachi restaurant. They have gluten free soy sauce, but it's a shared Grill. That ended up being okay, and he actually sanitized my corner of the grill, and I watched him do it, so that was nice. But I had no idea they would do that for me, so I panicked for a full two hours before going, but I wasn't going to say no to my brother's birthday. I ate before I went, just in case. You are not alone in this. I'm so sorry you have to deal with it, I know how much it sucks. You are so strong!

Great thing about those industrial stainless griddles, 500F+ destroys the gluten protein, and those suckers on max can get 550-600F But still need to be careful in other departments.....been there on that note with the Decon phase....recall accidentally glutening a non stick pan early on after dia and panic attacks about throwing stuff away....Peace of mind is priceless, when it doubt throw it out.

[VLG]

You shouldn’t be embarrassed. Honestly, whenever you eat out, there’s a chance of being glutened. I usually do not eat at restaurants. I will just order a drink and eat when I get home. You’re family and friends should understand and just enjoy your company.  

[icelandgirl]

You poor thing! I have had that happen too! It's ok.  I now only eat at dedicated gluten free places as I have been glutened while eating out.  Both of the places where I was glutened are supposed to be very knowledgeable about gluten free.  When I am glutened it is terrible.  With 3 kids to take care of I can't afford to be sick like that.

So now I eat before I go.  I get something to drink and keep a snack in my purse in case.

You definitely did the right thing for you!