Dreams of Glutening Myself

[chocoholic]

I've now been diagnosed with celiac disease for 13 months. I'd say I'm in good control of the diet with no accidents that I know of, and I don't miss any previous foods. But I keep getting dreams of glutening myself.

It's always the same scenario: In the dream I eat a burger, wrap or cake, and either halfway through or once finished I realize that I just ate conventional flour products. And I feel upset and panicky.

I get such dreams about 4-6 times per month.

Anyone else with this issue? I'm not despairing over it, but I'm curious whether this is a common "thing". :)

[cyclinglady]

I imagine it is common.  What other disease requires the patient to completely manage their treatment?  It is stressful!  With time, it should resolve.  Do you feel safe at home?  Can you let down your guard?  If not, maybe make your house gluten free.  It works for my family.  There is nothing like feeling safe and relaxed when you can let down your guard.  

[RMJ]

I’ve had a few dreams where I ate a dessert made with regular flour.  

[chocoholic]

21 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

I imagine it is common.  What other disease requires the patient to completely manage their treatment?  It is stressful!  With time, it should resolve.  Do you feel safe at home?  Can you let down your guard?  If not, maybe make your house gluten free.  It works for my family.  There is nothing like feeling safe and relaxed when you can let down your guard.  

I have a gluten free household but sometimes have moments when the situation feels surreal, the lifelong aspect of the diet. I haven't traveled yet as a celiac and the prospect gives me mild anxiety. There have also been numerous times when I was given packaged food that I was looking forward to eating, only to find the traces of gluten declaration on them (I don't eat anything with potential "traces"). Maybe that's where the dreams stem from.

[Ivana]

I have been diagnosed 2 months ago and have already had 2 such dreams. In one, I was at a friend's house where I accidentally ate a plain cookie, and in another I was at my high-school class reunion where even though I refused to eat any food, somehow I still found myself eating something. For me it is also the lifelong aspect of it, and the anxiety of always having to be on guard all the time. My home is gluten free, but I still fret over many things. Like fruits and vegetables and meat that I buy at the traditional markets we have in my country (where I buy most of my food), I always wonder whether a seller ate a sandwich above their wares while selling them. Bread is a big thing here, and most people will have a pastry type of food when on the go or working. Also, I always think about food that should be naturally gluten free, like marmalade, honey, etc. that I buy and eat and that could still have gluten in it somehow. This all makes me very anxious. And I concluded that I need to try to relax about it a bit, or I will have more health consequences due to stress than celiac. At least till my follow up antibody check where I will see how well I am doing or not. What saddens me the most about the whole thing, is that I don't feel safe when I visit my parents' home anymore. The place that used to be my safe haven and where I came to unwind. The first time I went there after diagnosis, I was almost shaking while holding my plate and my food and not knowing where to sit and eat. In the meantime, my Mom and I bought all new utensils for gluten-free food, and a plastic cloth to be used when preparing it. Still, I can't relax. It really saddens me as my Mom is trying really hard. And the only way my Dad could express his love for me was by cooking huge batches of stews and soups and similar food, freezing them and then sending them to me in the city where I live. I still have some in my freezer. I won't eat them. I am sorry I digressed from the dream question.

 

[Awol cast iron stomach]

I didn't dream of a glutening, but of gluten containing foods I had to resist.

I regularly dreamed of rolling over in bed, to open my sock drawer (? Odd I know) that was filled with nicely tucked and  organized/ wrapped bagels with cream cheese, chicago style hot dogs on poppyseed buns, slices of deep dish Chicago style pizza, hot pretzels etc. In my dream I would open the drawer see the temptation, think of the pain and illness I would experience, resist the temptation, and close the sock drawer, roll over and go back to bed. 

Then ironically I would wake in real life, as my dream had me going back to bed to think "why would food be in my sock drawer?" Then I would go back to bed in real life.

I also was very fearful of cross contamination. Our house went completely gluten-free, and even though I know I can go places and "not eat" I find I prefer events that are not food centered.

 

Best wishes

 

Edited October 5, 2020 by Awol cast iron stomach
Correction