Traveling after a celiac diagnosis

[fllstuart77]

[Scott Adams]

Mariposa Bakery is about as trustworthy as they get. They've been around for a long time and I've never heard of issues with their products.

[LovintheGFlife]

  On 9/4/2021 at 9:13 AM, fllstuart77 said:

do you really trust those gluten free bakeries.. ?

I ate at one down here and always got  diarrhea after...

They have a nice one in Naples Florida called Epiphany Gluten Free Baker....

I was actually thinking of moving there before just to be minutes away from a dedicated gluten free place...    plus the town and its location is beautiful paradise..

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@fllstuart77, I really don't know whom to trust. We just have to take their word for it (that they are indeed gluten-free!). The only other option is to avoid eating out altogether! I have eaten some of Mariposa's bakery items and have suffered no issues whatsoever. So, I would certainly recommend them. That being said, every individual's digestive system and immune reaction will be different.

[Helen Vajk]

  On 9/4/2021 at 9:13 AM, fllstuart77 said:

do you really trust those gluten free bakeries.. ?

I ate at one down here and always got  diarrhea after...

They have a nice one in Naples Florida called Epiphany Gluten Free Baker....

I was actually thinking of moving there before just to be minutes away from a dedicated gluten free place...    plus the town and its location is beautiful paradise..

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Like anywhere else, you have to try them.  Life is Sweet was started by a celiac family, does regular cafe meals and specialty baking, unreal though expensive birthday cakes.  Flawless on the gluten-free front.  Same for Mariposa.  A local gluten-free group, especially if on-line, can be a big help.  Also, the motivation for gluten-free diligence is created by an on-line group because it can drive or discourage traffic to the bakeries.  

[DianeStone]

  On 8/31/2021 at 4:43 AM, trents said:

With great difficulty and inconsistency. Eating out is by far the greatest threat to eating truly gluten free.

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I agree, Therefore it is important to check it out in advance, and carry a back-up gluten-free power bars, vacuum packed tuna or salmon etc.

[LovintheGFlife]

Here's an update: I visited my GE today and asked him about Gliadin X. He claimed to have never heard of it. However, he advised me to go ahead and give it a try, adding: "if a medication or supplement does not harm you, it can't hurt to try". So, I just ordered my first supply (90 capsules) of Gliadin X on Amazon. Watch this space-will let you know how it works!

[RMJ]

  On 10/12/2021 at 7:02 PM, LovintheGFlife said:

Here's an update: I visited my GE today and asked him about Gliadin X. He claimed to have never heard of it. However, he advised me to go ahead and give it a try, adding: "if a medication or supplement does not harm you, it can't hurt to try". So, I just ordered my first supply (90 capsules) of Gliadin X on Amazon. Watch this space-will let you know how it works!

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I like your doctor’s attitude!

[docaz]

  On 10/12/2021 at 7:02 PM, LovintheGFlife said:

Here's an update: I visited my GE today and asked him about Gliadin X. He claimed to have never heard of it. However, he advised me to go ahead and give it a try, adding: "if a medication or supplement does not harm you, it can't hurt to try". So, I just ordered my first supply (90 capsules) of Gliadin X on Amazon. Watch this space-will let you know how it works!

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Hi,

At least he was honest. So many physicians have never read an article about enzymatic degradation of gluten and discount it out of ignorance combined with laziness to actually read the papers. Recently, almost every month, a new encouraging publication from various international medical centers is written about this topic. Most of them are literature reviews but each and every single one of them consider enzymatic degradation a promising adjunct to gluten-free diet. Here is just a recent one that is written by a group of scientists in Russia and the US (The title mentions sensitivity but the paper itself discusses celiac disease).  https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/10/1603/htm 

[LovintheGFlife]

I have a follow-up question though: when eating a gluten-free meal in a non-dedicated restaurant, what's the best time to take Gliadin-X? Should I pop the capsule(s) before, after, or during the meal to mitigate any risk of cross-contamination? Advice from users is appreciated. Thank you!

[LovintheGFlife]

  On 10/13/2021 at 3:48 AM, docaz said:

Hi,

At least he was honest. So many physicians have never read an article about enzymatic degradation of gluten and discount it out of ignorance combined with laziness to actually read the papers. Recently, almost every month, a new encouraging publication from various international medical centers is written about this topic. Most of them are literature reviews but each and every single one of them consider enzymatic degradation a promising adjunct to gluten-free diet. Here is just a recent one that is written by a group of scientists in Russia and the US (The title mentions sensitivity but the paper itself discusses celiac disease).  https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/10/1603/htm 

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@docaz Great article; thank you for sharing!

[docaz]

  On 10/16/2021 at 1:51 AM, LovintheGFlife said:

I have a follow-up question though: when eating a gluten-free meal in a non-dedicated restaurant, what's the best time to take Gliadin-X? Should I pop the capsule(s) before, after, or during the meal to mitigate any risk of cross-contamination? Advice from users is appreciated. Thank you!

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The best time is to take GliadinX right at the start of the meal. GliadinX works while the food is in the stomach. If it is a very long meal (more than 90 minutes), you can take one more capsule at that time. 

[Yvonne Casey]

I was diagnosed with Celiacs a year ago this August.  I was so sick for years of not being diagnosed or being misdiagnosed…so of course I’ve done everything that I need to do to stay gluten-free.  For months we have not gone out to eat…I stay home and make my own meals (have gotten many great recipes from “Iowa Girl Eats”).  But recently I’ve eaten out at two different places and got sick…one was at a nice steak restaurant and when I talk to our waitress I should have known by her look and response (“ok, tell me again what that is”…Celiac’s)…and then a few minutes later she came back and asked if I could have bread!!!!   I should have stopped there…lesson learned….if a manager or the chef do not come to your table to discuss options…don’t eat there.  Second restaurant…a well known deli…I spoke to the manager who assured me that gloves would be changed, different surfaces for preparation; and different toaster…would be used.  I watched and sure enough they did what she said…except…I forgot and they did not take into account that the condiments that they use on regular bread are also used on gluten-free bread….contamination at its best!!!  Got sick both times…so my record of safe restaurants for Celiacs is not so good.    My daughter who is a germaphobe reminded me that you have to do a mental trace of the (like germs) possible contamination. 

[LovintheGFlife]

  On 6/9/2022 at 2:34 PM, Yvonne Casey said:

I was diagnosed with Celiacs a year ago this August.  I was so sick for years of not being diagnosed or being misdiagnosed…so of course I’ve done everything that I need to do to stay gluten-free.  For months we have not gone out to eat…I stay home and make my own meals (have gotten many great recipes from “Iowa Girl Eats”).  But recently I’ve eaten out at two different places and got sick…one was at a nice steak restaurant and when I talk to our waitress I should have known by her look and response (“ok, tell me again what that is”…Celiac’s)…and then a few minutes later she came back and asked if I could have bread!!!!   I should have stopped there…lesson learned….if a manager or the chef do not come to your table to discuss options…don’t eat there.  Second restaurant…a well known deli…I spoke to the manager who assured me that gloves would be changed, different surfaces for preparation; and different toaster…would be used.  I watched and sure enough they did what she said…except…I forgot and they did not take into account that the condiments that they use on regular bread are also used on gluten-free bread….contamination at its best!!!  Got sick both times…so my record of safe restaurants for Celiacs is not so good.    My daughter who is a germaphobe reminded me that you have to do a mental trace of the (like germs) possible contamination. 

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@Yvonne Casey, Sorry to hear about your experience. I have been eating out quite often these last few months and except for one occasion have not suffered any serious symptoms. On that occasion I was terribly disappointed because the restaurant (a famous national chain) claimed to have a gluten-free menu but served me tomato bisque from that menu with croutons. Can you believe that?? All this after I explained clearly to the server about celiac and gluten. Obviously, none of it mattered to her. Needless to say, I will not be visiting that restaurant again.

I must emphasize though, that a gluten-digesting supplement (Gliadin-X) is consumed every time I eat out. I'm not sure if Gliadin helps, or if the meals I consumed have truly been gluten-free. As you well know, caution and clear communication when eating out, are key.

[trents]

  On 6/9/2022 at 5:10 PM, LovintheGFlife said:

@Yvonne Casey, Sorry to hear about your experience. I have been eating out quite often these last few months and except for one occasion have not suffered any serious symptoms. On that occasion I was terribly disappointed because the restaurant (a famous national chain) claimed to have a gluten-free menu but served me tomato bisque from that menu with croutons. Can you believe that?? All this after I explained clearly to the server about celiac and gluten. Obviously, none of it mattered to her. Needless to say, I will not be visiting that restaurant again.

I must emphasize though, that a gluten-digesting supplement (Gliadin-X) is consumed every time I eat out. I'm not sure if Gliadin helps, or if the meals I consumed have truly been gluten-free. As you well know, caution and clear communication when eating out, are key.

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We're the croutons not visible? Trying to understand why you ate the tomato bisque.

[LovintheGFlife]

  On 6/9/2022 at 5:57 PM, trents said:

We're the croutons not visible? Trying to understand why you ate the tomato bisque.

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@trentsI did NOT eat the tomato bisque after noticing the croutons. I asked the server to return it to the kitchen, had a word with the chef, and was offered an apology and a replacement without croutons. However, I suspect that even this too was contaminated.

[Scott Adams]

Maybe they just removed the croutons...wouldn't be the first time!

[LovintheGFlife]

  On 6/9/2022 at 9:26 PM, Scott Adams said:

Maybe they just removed the croutons...wouldn't be the first time!

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@Scott Adams, that's exactly what I thought at the time. I should have hung around the kitchen...but am much the wiser now.

[trents]

  On 6/9/2022 at 9:10 PM, LovintheGFlife said:

@trentsI did NOT eat the tomato bisque after noticing the croutons. I asked the server to return it to the kitchen, had a word with the chef, and was offered an apology and a replacement without croutons. However, I suspect that even this too was contaminated.

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Glad to hear that! I assumed you had gotten sick from eating there on that occasion but looking back on your post you didn't actually say that.

[Helen Vajk]

  On 9/4/2021 at 9:13 AM, fllstuart77 said:

do you really trust those gluten free bakeries.. ?

I ate at one down here and always got  diarrhea after...

They have a nice one in Naples Florida called Epiphany Gluten Free Baker....

I was actually thinking of moving there before just to be minutes away from a dedicated gluten free place...    plus the town and its location is beautiful paradise..

Expand Quote  

I do trust the stores I use to be gluten-free.  However,I have gotten diarrhea after buying grocery store gluten-free bread, eventually check it out and tested negative for gluten exposure. Thern I found out on-line that some people get g.i. symptoms from xanthan gum.  I think that explains why I was fine with my home-baked bread bit not with some store-bought bread.  

[Magdalen]

  On 8/31/2021 at 9:03 AM, Ivana said:

I don't know what parts of the world you need to travel for work to, but a good option is to stay in a hotel with a buffet breakfast

 

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I have to Strongly disagree about the buffet; buffets are a cross-contamination nightmare. Serving utensils get swapped from one dish to another, and bits of food from one dish can easily get dropped into adjacent dishes.
NEVER eat at a buffet unless you’re the one hosting, or help set up, and can put food aside from the buffet before other people serve themselves.  

[trents]

A buffet would have it's risks from cross contamination, especially if you are a sensitive celiac.

[LovintheGFlife]

  On 2/21/2023 at 11:23 PM, Magdalen said:

I have to Strongly disagree about the buffet; buffets are a cross-contamination nightmare. Serving utensils get swapped from one dish to another, and bits of food from one dish can easily get dropped into adjacent dishes.
NEVER eat at a buffet unless you’re the one hosting, or help set up, and can put food aside from the buffet before other people serve themselves.  

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@Magdalen, I generally avoid buffets in restaurants, especially if there is any bakery item around. The only items I am comfortable consuming at a breakfast buffet are hard boiled eggs, fruit and yogurt.

[Hypo]

  On 2/21/2023 at 11:23 PM, Magdalen said:

I have to Strongly disagree about the buffet; buffets are a cross-contamination nightmare. Serving utensils get swapped from one dish to another, and bits of food from one dish can easily get dropped into adjacent dishes.
NEVER eat at a buffet unless you’re the one hosting, or help set up, and can put food aside from the buffet before other people serve themselves.  

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I meant food like unpealed hard boiled eggs, fruit, yoghurt, some cheeses. Those things are surely fine...

[Hypo]

  On 2/28/2023 at 5:10 PM, Hypo said:

I meant food like unpealed hard boiled eggs, fruit, yoghurt, some cheeses. Those things are surely fine...

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Ivana meant, not I.

[Oldturdle]

  On 8/31/2021 at 1:46 AM, LovintheGFlife said:

Scott Adams, thank you for sharing this. I will ask my GE about GliadinX the next time I see him, in six weeks. Btw, is this enzyme effective in celiacs too? I was under the impression that it is only beneficial for patients with gluten sensitivity/allergy or gluten intolerance. You would know from experience, I suppose. 

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I have taken one or two Gliadinx before every meal away from home since I was diagnosed with Celiac, and swear by this stuff.  It is for small amounts of cross contamination only, but still, a great relief when it allows you to enjoy gluten free restaurant meals, without concern.  Incidentally, this stuff does not require a prescription.  When I asked my G.I. doc about Gliadinx he had never heard of it.  He also told me there was gluten in catsup and mustard, though.  I think informed patients frequently know more about Celiac disease than the doctors that treat us!