Coping With Celiac

[Maddie6332]

Hi! My name is Maddie and I am 11 years old! I was born with Celiac Disease, but it wasn't noticed until I was about 3 years old. When I was born, I was born very early. I was supposed to be born at the end of April, but I was born in the beginning of January. I had transparent skin,hair everywhere, and I was so tiny, they thought I would die. I started having symptoms at age 3, started getting tested at age 4, and was diagnosed with Celiac at age 5. I am very experienced with Celiac disease. I know exactly how to check and what to do. If I accidentally eat gluten, I am nauseous, dizzy, bloated, my stomach hurts, and I throw up for 2-3 days straight. I have never met any kids who have Celiac disease, and when I was little I got pictures of my stomach, also known as a biopsy. I was put on Pediasure, and I am underweight and very short for my age. If you guys have any questions for me, I would absolutely love to answer them! Also,what is required in a celiac to get a Celiac Service Dog, and do any of you think I need one? Thanks so much!

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Maddie!

[Scott Adams]

I'm not sure it there is anything except money required to get a gluten sniffing dog, as they seem to be quite expensive. This is probably due to the extensive training required. Here is an article we did on this topic:

 

[Maddie6332]

Thank you so much everyone! Please ask me any questions! I'm so excited to have joined this app!

[Maddie6332]

If a Celiac or someone gluten free looks at a label, and says it contains wheat, couldn't they just put it back, and why would they need a service dog for that? I mean, I'm okay with cross contamination, and if it says may contain wheat, it depends on what it is. Sometimes, I do not think. One time I was at my friends sleepover, and I was being dumb and put a ton of sprinkles on my ice cream sundae.A tong of sprinkles that had a TON of gluten in them, and I threw up for 3 days, all over the bathroom. 🤮 Also, one time at arestaurantt they got my order wrong 3 times and all of the mess ups had gluten, and I didn't notice it was wrong until halfway through the meal. If you have Celiac Disease, you have an idea of how bad that would hurt.

[Maddie6332]

  On 8/17/2022 at 4:40 PM, Scott Adams said:

I'm not sure it there is anything except money required to get a gluten sniffing dog, as they seem to be quite expensive. This is probably due to the extensive training required. Here is an article we did on this topic:

 

Expand Quote  

I read the article, it was incredible. As I said I am 11, and I am 63-65 pounds and 4 foot 6. And I am going into 6th grade this year.

[trents]

  On 8/18/2022 at 2:10 AM, Maddie6332 said:

If a Celiac or someone gluten free looks at a label, and says it contains wheat, couldn't they just put it back, and why would they need a service dog for that? I mean, I'm okay with cross contamination, and if it says may contain wheat, it depends on what it is. Sometimes, I do not think. One time I was at my friends sleepover, and I was being dumb and put a ton of sprinkles on my ice cream sundae.A tong of sprinkles that had a TON of gluten in them, and I threw up for 3 days, all over the bathroom. 🤮 Also, one time at arestaurantt they got my order wrong 3 times and all of the mess ups had gluten, and I didn't notice it was wrong until halfway through the meal. If you have Celiac Disease, you have an idea of how bad that would hurt.

Expand Quote  

Maddie, the reason is some food items may not list gluten on the label but may still contain gluten because it was made with machines that also processed foods containing gluten. Not all foods that do not list gluten on the label (or wheat, barley or rye) will be entirely free of gluten. Some people who are very sensitive to even tiny amounts of gluten might become sick from eating such a product. Or, like you said, you order food at a restaurant that is not supposed to have gluten but it was cooked in the same pots and pans that gluten food was. The dog can smell those tiny amonts of gluten contamination.

[Maddie6332]

  On 8/18/2022 at 2:25 AM, trents said:

Maddie, the reason is some food items may not list gluten on the label but may still contain gluten because it was made with machines that also processed foods containing gluten. Not all foods that do not list gluten on the label (or wheat, barley or rye) will be entirely free of gluten. Some people who are very sensitive to even tiny amounts of gluten might become sick from eating such a product. Or, like you said, you order food at a restaurant that is not supposed to have gluten but it was cooked in the same pots and pans that gluten food was. The dog can smell those tiny amounts of gluten contamination.

Expand Quote  

When I ordered,they put normal pasta in my food. Cross-contamination doesn't affect meas much as it used to because my gluten has gotten better, but when I do eat gluten, it gets worse when I do get sick.

[Maddie6332]

  On 8/17/2022 at 4:40 PM, Scott Adams said:

I'm not sure it there is anything except money required to get a gluten sniffing dog, as they seem to be quite expensive. This is probably due to the extensive training required. Here is an article we did on this topic:

 

Expand Quote  

Also, don't the dogs already come trained to detect gluten or no?

 

[Scott Adams]

Yes, the dogs are trained to do this before you buy them, which is why they are so expensive. Here is a company that sells them, so perhaps you can ask your parents to contact them to see it it's possible to get one?

https://www.armedk9.com/

[Maddie6332]

  On 8/18/2022 at 4:37 PM, Scott Adams said:

Yes, the dogs are trained to do this before you buy them, which is why they are so expensive. Here is a company that sells them, so perhaps you can ask your parents to contact them to see it it's possible to get one?

https://www.armedk9.com/

Expand Quote  

Ok,I most likely won't get one, I was just curious! Thank you so much!