More Family Horror..

[num1habsfan]

So, today started off just fine. It was my cousins baptism, so we went to church, and eventually made our way to my uncle and aunties place near the lake for a get-together there. I took along my La Messagere beer, so that I wouldnt feel left out.

Everything was going great. Most of us kids went swimming, took our time getting back, etc.

Then it came to supper. My family, by now, all KNOWS about me having Celiac, since I've had it for 3 1/2 years already...

When I ate supper (hot dogs, and some potato salad) something just didnt taste good. I could TELL something was wrong. And then within a couple of hours, the pains started. We get home and mom said she heard my Auntie Lesley say the hotdogs werent Harvest (Harvest being the only brand of hotdogs I could eat).

And NOW OMG the brainfog, and the PAIN (as if my Crohn's-ish pains isnt enough!!)

GAH WHEN WILL THIS CRAP EVER STOP?!

~Lisa~

[aikiducky]

Oh, Lisa, that's terrible! I'm sorry you're sick.

Pauliina

[Soo B]

Sorry to hear that. Hope you start feeling better soon.

[Guest nini]

Lisa, I'm so sorry that your familly isn't taking you seriously... I'm fortunate that my family is at least trying to be careful and not get me or my daughter sick... at first my sister wasn't as careful, but after she had made several dishes and I questioned her on the ingredients AND THEN refused to eat what she made, she has decided to be way more careful... I don't understand when FAMILY members refuse to get it... friends and colleagues can almost be excused because they don't have to live with it, but family???!!! Family should be the ones who "have your back" IYKWIM...

{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} and I hope the pain doesn't last too long for you.

[angel-jd1]

So, today started off just fine. It was my cousins baptism, so we went to church, and eventually made our way to my uncle and aunties place near the lake for a get-together there. I took along my La Messagere beer, so that I wouldnt feel left out.

Everything was going great. Most of us kids went swimming, took our time getting back, etc.

Then it came to supper. My family, by now, all KNOWS about me having Celiac, since I've had it for 3 1/2 years already...

When I ate supper (hot dogs, and some potato salad) something just didnt taste good. I could TELL something was wrong. And then within a couple of hours, the pains started. We get home and mom said she heard my Auntie Lesley say the hotdogs werent Harvest (Harvest being the only brand of hotdogs I could eat).

And NOW OMG the brainfog, and the PAIN (as if my Crohn's-ish pains isnt enough!!)

GAH WHEN WILL THIS CRAP EVER STOP?!

~Lisa~

You also can't put ALL of the responsability of YOUR diet onto your family. If it were me, I would have been asking what was in the food not just assuming it was safe and eating it. You can't force them to "get it" or ALWAYS remember the brands you can eat. YOU have to be responsible for your own health and check the food before you put it into your mouth.

I have read some of the posts you have made about your family on this board before, and they really don't sound like the kind of people that I would trust my health to! I don't think you should either.......sooo do ask them questions if they are making your food OR just bring your own food. That way you can stay healthy.

-Jessica

[lovegrov]

Overall my family is VERY cooperative and understanding, but I don't eat a thing until I've seen the labels and asked questions. Even though every hotdog I've seen in the U.S. has been gluten-free except Natahn's, I still check to make sure it isn't Nathan's.

richard

[tarnalberry]

ditto what richard said. everyone I know is very understanding, but I never eat anything without checking on it first, even with people who KNOW my restrictions.

[DingoGirl]

ditto what richard said. everyone I know is very understanding, but I never eat anything without checking on it first, even with people who KNOW my restrictions.

yup, ditto to both....my own family is blessedly supportive, but I take my own food to barbecues so that they can feed everybody and make what they want without having to worry about me. Sometimes I'm able to eat what they're serving (ham and eggs at Easter, whatever), but not always, so I just always take my own. Really easy and safe that way for everybody.

[taz sharratt]

You also can't put ALL of the responsability of YOUR diet onto your family. If it were me, I would have been asking what was in the food not just assuming it was safe and eating it. You can't force them to "get it" or ALWAYS remember the brands you can eat. YOU have to be responsible for your own health and check the food before you put it into your mouth.

I have read some of the posts you have made about your family on this board before, and they really don't sound like the kind of people that I would trust my health to! I don't think you should either.......sooo do ask them questions if they are making your food OR just bring your own food. That way you can stay healthy.

-Jessica

most of the time i find it difficult enough to know what is and isnt safe, how can i expect my family who are not gluten-free to know, but saying that, it would be nice if they wuld show a little appreciation for what im going through and ask " is this ok for you to eat ? "

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

There is no one that I trust more than myself when it comes to eating safely. Other people are simply not as vigilant.

My family makes an effort, but they don't understand "hidden gluten" and they are confused about starches, corn starches, hydrolyzed proteins, etc...

Bottom line = unless I marry another Celiac, I will never completely trust anyone (besides the occasional chef in a restaurant)

[Nantzie]

Yea, with your family, I wouldn't trust them further than I could throw a gluten-free donut.

Plus with all the touching of food that's done when a non-gluten-free person is preparing food for a big get-together... Nobody thinks to wash their hands before handling gluten-free food so you won't get cross contaminated.

I always bring my own food just in case.

My family can be a little odd about my gluten-free eating. But what I do (sneaky, sneaky) is to really admire and compliment the gluteny food they've prepared. My FIL started getting into baking after I went gluten-free. He makes the most beautiful breads and they always smell so good, I could just cry. But I just tell him how nice they look, and how good they smell, and tell him how much I hear everyone talking about how much they look forward to his bread. I used to bake too, so I'll ask him about techniques, etc. Now, after a few months of me doing this here and there, he actually smiles at me sometimes, which is a very rare event.

The sneaky thing I'm trying to accomplish here is to be really nice to him. That way, if he decides to be a jerk to me about being gluten-free (which was happening at first), then he looks AND feels like a total &%# for doing it because I was so nice to him. And the rest of the family sees him being a jerk after I was so nice and interested in what he was doing, and then they get protective of me. Even though they're usually following his lead and rolling their eyes at my reading labels.

I started doing this with/to my FIL because he tends to be the ringleader of whatever sarcasm is going on.

The key is not to make it seem like a big thing or that you're doing it for an audience. Even if you just tell one of your more grating family members, when it's just you and her, how gorgeous her famous brownies look and how much you always enjoyed them, she's going to be a little nicer to you that day. If she gets nasty (as I know your family can...) and tells you well I thought you couldn't eat them anymore, just tell her well you can smell them, and you're enjoying them just as much.

You'd be surprised how being nice to nasty people helps. Maybe not immediately, but it builds up. Start giving it a shot.

Nancy

[jerseyangel]

I don't trust anyone to prepare food for me! I will be going back to my hometown in 2 weeks for a long weekend. I have already told everyone that I will be bringing all my own food. If there is something there, and I see it being prepared, or I prepare it--I'll eat it. Otherwise, I'll be just fine with the stuff I bring.

Lisa, I sort of get the feeling you were under the impression that the hot dogs were a brand you could eat? Because your Aunt said they were *not* Harvest, that tells me she knew what you could eat, and chose not to serve them. From now on. I would either eat beforehand and bring a snack, or just bring my own food. Even people who mean well can make a mistake, but to do so on purpose, is pretty low--especially for a family member.

[cgilsing]

My immediate family is really supportive (eating with extended family is a bit more difficult), but even so I agree that I don't trust anyone as much as myself! My husband and my mom are both fantastic gluten spotters, but there are still times that they wouldn't think something had gluten and it does. My mom can't ever remember that rice crispies and corn flakes both have gluten! That's ok though! She goes out of her way all the time to make sure I can eat! I just have to remind her!

[schuyler]

I hope that you feel better soon!

[penguin]

Sorry you got sick, that sucks!

I'm with the others, unless I make it or see someone else make it...actually, no, unless I make it, I don't trust it. I trust DH to cook for me, but since all he can cook is steak and baked potatoes, no worries!

My suggestion is to become an excellent cook and wow everyone. That way, you know it's safe!

[lovegrov]

most of the time i find it difficult enough to know what is and isnt safe, how can i expect my family who are not gluten-free to know, but saying that, it would be nice if they wuld show a little appreciation for what im going through and ask " is this ok for you to eat ? "

My family either calls and asks me questions about foods and ingredients or saves the package with the ingredients. I also quiz them about how they made something and what went into it. I don't expect them to know all the details of being gluten-free (although some do know a fair amount) and I don't expect everything we eat to be gluten-free, but I expect and do get some consideration. I'm always flabbergasted when I hear about family members who have no concern for relatives with celiac.

richard

[debmidge]

Lisa

Sorry your family plays games with you (let you believe what they make is gluten-free when it is not). You can't buy a new family. I understand that sometimes it's difficult to take foodstuffs along with you especially when you have to be in a church and depend on others to drive you places, etc. They'd probably make fun of you when you carry a "cooler" around. Sounds like the next step though, despite the criticism you're going to take....

How close to graduation are you? Or do you have one more year in college left?

D.

[dwaters800]

My son and I both have gluten sensitivity, but his seems to be more severe than mine. Following the diet is very complicated and I certainly don't expect my family to try to cook correctly for us. I just call ahead, find out the menu, and bring things that my son and I can eat when I feel unsure about what is being served. Sometime we just snack before we leave to ensure we won't be hungry if we are going to an affair that it would not be appropriate to bring food to. On my side of the family we have people with the following allergies: onions, mushrooms, red meat, black pepper, and throw in a vegetarian and two Adkins devotees. No one person could cook everything for this crowd. Good luck and hope you are felling better.

Ginny