Most Annoying Comments/questions

[pumpkin]

My mother in law's comment:

When making baked macaroni & cheese:, using gluten macaroni: I'll bake it at a high temperature and kill the gluten!

Talk about the power of positive thinking!!

LOL. They really do mean well.

[lonewolf]

How about, "If you eat just a tiny bit of it everyday you'll build up a tolerance for it". My father in law meant well, I'm sure.

Liz

[mookie03]

How about, "If you eat just a tiny bit of it everyday you'll build up a tolerance for it". My father in law meant well, I'm sure.

Liz

oh yea i get that one too. and "I used to be allergic to strawberries, but i grew out of it..." Um, good for you, but that has absolutely nothing to do w/ Celiac Disease!!!

[luvs2eat]

Yea, I've gotten the "Can't you just eat a LITTLE??" Yea, I answered... if I want MOLTEN ACID shooting out my butt.

When I explained to some nice older ladies at the bake sale table that I couldn't eat any of their wares... and told them why, they gasped and said, "Oh my... WHAT do you eat??" I looked down at myself (I didn't GET the unexplained weight loss symptom...) and said, "Um... do I look like I'm starving??"

[CeliaCruz]

Not exactly a co-worker, family member or friend here...

I'm reading this mystery novel right now and one of the characters has Celiac disease! Apparently the author did some really good research because there's a lot of detail about this woman that rings true: she can't eat wheat, she's too thin, her family doesn't believe she really has a disease, they think she's just losing weight to get attention because she's jealous of her brother etc. So just as I'm developing all this newfound respect for this author and the fact that she's highlighting Celiac, this character proceeds to serve her family a meal of "beef stew, salad and french BREAD." I mean I suppose she could have made gluten-free versions of these foods unbeknownst to the reader, but the first person narrator -- a non-celiac detective -- mentions that the whole meal tasted really good so you know that the bread wasn't gluten-free!

Oh and the celiac turns out to be the killer in the end.

I'm not going to mention the name of the novel because I just blew the ending, but if anyone's curious about reading this book, email me and I'll privately send you the title and author.

[aaascr]

Yea, I've gotten the "Can't you just eat a LITTLE??" Yea, I answered... if I want MOLTEN ACID shooting out my butt.

- I like that one!

My boss took me to working lunches nearly

everyday for 4.5 years, totally aware of my

food allergies. Once diagnosed w/celiac disease - he

started making up excuses of why we couldn't

go or just totally ignored me.

I started bringing my own food with me anyway.

And then he didn't understand it when I

wanted my lunchtime back as he would see

me eating and still expect me to work at the

same time. Paperwork and salad don't mix!

I've found a quiet place to park at and eat lunch

in my car - just so I can eat lunch - I much prefer

the car radio to his mindless drone anyway.

His question (everday) "are you going out to

eat?"

(I often tell coworkers who ask where do I go

to eat - oh I usually just pop in to some restaurant

and ask them if I can borrow a table...)

My answer - "just as soon as I heat my food up."

DUH

[CarlaB]

I was recently told I should read "Eat Right For Your Type" by a family member who just doesn't get it. When I told them that I really couldn't eat wheat, barley, oats or rye, they assured me that because of the way we evolved, there are certain foods we should eat and that if I ate right for my type that I wouldn't have problems.

My father in law continually thinks I'm on a diet and tries to get me to eat snacks, but then again, he thinks my mom lives in Corpus Christi and she's never lived within an 8 hour drive of there! Some people don't mean harm, they just are too self-involved to listen.

[Rusla]

Not exactly a co-worker, family member or friend here...

I'm reading this mystery novel right now and one of the characters has Celiac disease! Apparently the author did some really good research because there's a lot of detail about this woman that rings true: she can't eat wheat, she's too thin, her family doesn't believe she really has a disease, they think she's just losing weight to get attention because she's jealous of her brother etc. So just as I'm developing all this newfound respect for this author and the fact that she's highlighting Celiac, this character proceeds to serve her family a meal of "beef stew, salad and french BREAD." I mean I suppose she could have made gluten-free versions of these foods unbeknownst to the reader, but the first person narrator -- a non-celiac detective -- mentions that the whole meal tasted really good so you know that the bread wasn't gluten-free!

Oh and the celiac turns out to be the killer in the end.

I'm not going to mention the name of the novel because I just blew the ending, but if anyone's curious about reading this book, email me and I'll privately send you the title and author.

I bet the Celiac was the murderer because she couldn't eat pizza or bread.

When we found out I had it the first thing my mother said was," a little bit won't hurt." I then said to her, "if you don't have Cummadan (sp?) for a week it won't hurt." She quickly said that was not true and I said to her to look at my disease like her not taking her drugs. That solved the problem and she never said it again.

[carriecraig]

"if you don't have Cummadan (sp?) for a week it won't hurt."

Oooo, good one!

[i canary]

On my first visit to a restaurant after being dx I asked the waitress for help picking out something gluten free. She sent an "expert" to my table. The expert comes over and tells me "I hear you want a sugar free meal."

Then today one of my co-workers who knows what I can't eat barley, wheat or rye offers me for the eleventh-teen time offered me a peanut butter cracker snack. She also knows I'm allegeric to peanuts. Today - I told her "You must not like me much you keep trying to kill me off."

And of course my least favorite sentence "Just what CAN you eat anyway?"

[Packard]

I've only had these from anyone ONCE. After I get through explaining to them why NOT, they have a glazed expression, mumble something polite confusedly and never ask again.

You know, my sister studies health bio sciences, and I just got into my explanation of IGG and IGA and IGE reactions, and she kept nodding, and then I realised that she actually understood every word! Heh. My whole family is very supportive, but it's so cool that she really understands the mechanism of it.

Pauliina

I have only been living with this for about a year and I almost never get any comments at all. I never say that I have a gluten intolerance when offered bread; I just say, "No thanks".

When asked what happens when I eat wheat, I respond, "too unpleasant to discuss".

Pretty much that's it. It is only my family and friends that make any special accommodations for me and the funniest thing was my brother-in-law who e-mailed that they were preparing a meal that was "glutton-free". I responded, "Gluttony is fine; it's the gluten that I am concerned with".

[CeliaCruz]

When asked what happens when I eat wheat, I respond, "too unpleasant to discuss".

Yeah, and whenever I'm asked about symptoms, we're always at the dinner table. Do you really want to know? Now? Can we just leave it at "gastrointestinal problems" until after dessert?

[jkmunchkin]

I've gotten a lot of these but some of my favorites are:

1. "So can't you have a pita or a wrap?' - Ok which part of wheat are we not understanding!!!!

2. "You're so lucky. That must be why you're so thin." - Ummm yeah I'm 28 years old, just diagnosed this summer. Sorry still trying to find the connection! And might I add what a field day it is being terrified to eat half the time, but yeah we're lucky!

3. and one of my favorites, at Christmas when I was making my Tinkyada one of DH's relatives inquired what I was making and when I told her gluten-free pasta she got all excited saying how great this would be for her diabetic husband and proceeded to tell half the party about this new find. - No genius, that's glucose your husband can't have... big difference!!

My mother in law's comment:

When making baked macaroni & cheese:, using gluten macaroni: I'll bake it at a high temperature and kill the gluten!

Talk about the power of positive thinking!!

Ok, reading through these some of these are just absolutely hysterical but I'm practically crying from this one!!!

[dogear]

oh yea i get that one too. and "I used to be allergic to strawberries, but i grew out of it..." Um, good for you, but that has absolutely nothing to do w/ Celiac Disease!!!

That could be a sign that somebody is allergic to sulfties. They used to spray sulfites on strawberries and grapes but stopped in about '89. It could be dangerous not to know about it!

I'm finally "out of the closet" about this diet to my family. My mother knows about it. My brother is dismissive, and my father just doesn't get it. But I manage when I'm with them. Which is about as good as I'd expect.

I guess that the thing I really feared was revealing this to my family. Now it's just friends and hopefully a new man/boyfriend to worry about. Coworkers probably aren't going to care. Nobody's ever been negative yet.

The only comment I get much is "That must suck." or "That's messed up." I just say, "Well for me it's quite OK. I prefer things as they are." Because nobody can argue with personal preference, and in my case it's perfectly true.

[SillyYakMom]

Hey, not on here much. But I have had this now for about 12 years. Great Pediatrician diagnosed my whole family with it. I have heard SO many comments! And the ones you have all said are classic!

I am very religious and had a freind in highschool tell me that if I "had enough faith in God I would be healed. And that I could build up an immunity to it as well" I don't get that my faith in God has anything to do with it. Not to mention, I see it as God helped my family find the problem that had been making us sick for years and years.

When I had my daughter the hospital told me "We know all about celiac disease, we are a dietary hospital" I didn't believe them because my mom had the same things happen with her. They brought me a WHITE bread sandwich! All I could eat in that stupid hospital was dry lettuce and yogurt, maybe some fruit. It was pathetic! How bad can it be when a hospital is that dumb!

I also get all the other comments. It's just crazy. I also talk to people who seem to be having the same problems and I try to tell them to get tested and they won't listen. Or people who said "I DID have it, but not anymore." I am like "Okay, if you want to be in pain all your life and die young you go ahead." Staying gluten-free has made life much easier for me even if I can't eat everything I want. Who cares! I am healthier in the end than most people who ingest awhole lot of crap and don't even know what it is they are actually eating.

[nettiebeads]

I am very religious and had a freind in highschool tell me that if I "had enough faith in God I would be healed. And that I could build up an immunity to it as well" I don't get that my faith in God has anything to do with it. Not to mention, I see it as God helped my family find the problem that had been making us sick for years and years.

I got the healing response from my mother, too. But she was saying that while I was giving her her shower. She needs me to help her with things because she has: 1. spinal stenosis (doesn't have full use of her legs), 2. mitral valve prolapse, 3. type II diabetes.

[ianm]

I am very religious and had a freind in highschool tell me that if I "had enough faith in God I would be healed. And that I could build up an immunity to it as well"

I always tell these kind of whack-jobs this, "Did it ever occur to you that the gluten-free diet is the answer to my prayers? I am really quite thankful that all I have to do to be "healed" is to avoid certain foods. It really could be much worse." Usually they are quite dumbfounded by this response.

[Packard]

I want to thank all of you who added your comments and questions. Reading these today really made my LOL at work, and boosted my mood.

Keep 'em coming!

Rachel--24, that is really cool! I tried scrapbooking when I got engaged, and bought a ton of stuff. It was a lot of fun, but too much work for me right now.

I am working on a invention: A De-Glutinizer

It is a device that looks like a microwave oven. You place anything in it and set the timer. Presto. It's de-glutenized!!

Are there any investors out there interested?

[CeliaCruz]

I am working on a invention: A De-Glutinizer

It is a device that looks like a microwave oven. You place anything in it and set the timer. Presto. It's de-glutenized!!

I'm laughing...and yet as soon as one of those things is on the market, I'm camping out overnight in front of Circuit City (or where ever) and buying the first one.

[Guest gfinnebraska]

I HATE telling new people about celiac disease. Ugh!! They always go through ALL the usual questions: "You can't eat pizza? You can't eat cake? Cookies? Bread? Pasta?" Then throughout the meal they always come up with new items... "Little Debbies??? Oreos??? Poor you!!!" Then you hear the usual, "No wonder you are thin!" CALGON!!! I usually don't tell anyone... unless it is absolutely necessary because of ALL the questions that follow. *sigh* I know they are shocked and curious, but it gets to be a real drag after the 55th time!

[mookie03]

Actually, it usually comes up the most when im in a bar w/a group of people ordering pitchers of beer and i quietly walk to the bar and order myself vodka on the rocks. That usually stirs up a million questions about why im not drinking beer, so i usually start by saying "I'm allergic." Inevitably, from guys in their 20s, the response is: "You are allergic to beer? Thats the most awful thing i have ever heard!" (this never varies). So then i follow it up w/ "Actually, I lied. I am a celiac and cant eat anything w/ wheat, rye, barley or oats" and every single time, their responses are "Oh, ok, that makes sense." Thats it! and then they have 500 more questions about not being able to drink beer! Apparently, there is NOTHING in the world worse than not being able to drink beer! But they generally dont feel too bad for me about the rest of my diet...

[carriecraig]

"You are allergic to beer? Thats the most awful thing i have ever heard!" (this never varies)

I get this all of the time - especially from people who I work with, when we go out.

Same response about pizza too.

Actually, the most awful thing is the reaction to beer (pizza, pasta, etc.). I'm sure if you mentioned that, it would shut them up.

[Mango04]

Actually, it usually comes up the most when im in a bar w/a group of people ordering pitchers of beer and i quietly walk to the bar and order myself vodka on the rocks. That usually stirs up a million questions about why im not drinking beer, so i usually start by saying "I'm allergic." Inevitably, from guys in their 20s, the response is: "You are allergic to beer? Thats the most awful thing i have ever heard!" (this never varies). So then i follow it up w/ "Actually, I lied. I am a celiac and cant eat anything w/ wheat, rye, barley or oats" and every single time, their responses are "Oh, ok, that makes sense." Thats it! and then they have 500 more questions about not being able to drink beer! Apparently, there is NOTHING in the world worse than not being able to drink beer! But they generally dont feel too bad for me about the rest of my diet...

hahahahaha that exact same thing happens to me ALL the time!!! I'm actually to the point where if someone offers me a beer - I just take it and pretend to drink it. It's soo much easier that way...although it can be fun to just say "I'm allergic..." and see what responses you get!

[Guest mvaught]

I told a friend that I had celiac disease and she said "Oh yeah, my daughter had it - she was on allergy shots for it and they didn't work so she did acupuncture and now can eat whatever she wants." I said - no celiac, it is different from an allergy - she kept insisting, no, her daughter had celiac and was now cured...I think she is sending me the name of the actupuncturist "just incase" I want to try...lol!

[frenchiemama]

Today I had a coworker tell me that he wanted to take me out to the bar, get me drunk, and make me eat a large pizza. Just to see what would happen.

Klassy.