The Paranoia Has Set In...

[2wheels4eyes]

So it's been about four months gluten-free for me. I was sick-ish before, but not bad really. Went gluten-free & had this surge of energy at first, it was fabulous. Then it kind of tapered off, and the long slog of detox began. I got rid of all the forbidden foods but didn't give much thought to CC. About a month into the new diet, life (finally!) seemed to seep in around the edges again. I went out, work got crazy, the dog's potty training was a disaster, etc. That is, I started to forget, at least when at home, that gluten and I had parted ways forever.

Then last month I had to do a bunch of travelling and eating out, and now the holidays (and a trip home, newly gluten-free) looms. I of course got sick while travelling (Is there anything lonelier than being curled in the fetal position racked with pain in some strange hotel in a strange city?) But the worst by far was getting glutened a couple of weeks ago in my own kitchen--I think by an ostensibly gluten-free Amy's frozen dinner. Because I was sick-ish but not horrendously sick pre-diagnosis I didn't think I would be all that sensitive to CC on the diet.

Oh. My. God.

It was five days of what essentially felt like the worst food poisoning of my life. And minor gluten exposures since then have been nearly as bad. So now gluten again is the big star in my sky. I'm avoiding the holiday parties at work, I'm avoiding restaurants. I obsess about symptoms, shared counter space, grocery lists again. When friends and family ask me "how's that allergy thing going?" I want to enumerate in detail the minutiae of the diet, my run-ins with gluten, my near-misses, my tireless forensic work in uncovering the source of all gluten in my life. At this rate, I'll have neither friends nor gluten in about six months time.

How is everyone else dealing with the (under the circumstances perfectly reasonable) paranoia about CC? Any other "not really sensitive" celiacs suddenly discover they're actually horrendously sensitive once on the diet?

[darlindeb25]

To be honest with you, we will always have an underlying paranoia where others are concerned. We always must look out for ourselves. Many people will offer you something they have made and they will say, "Of course it's gluten free!" Yet, they have no idea what gluten is! Flour is flour to them, it's not gluten. They really aren't trying to make you sick, they just have no idea what they are talking about.

Also, be careful with your puppy. You can be glutened by puppy kisses!

[Guest cassidy]

I'm sure that things will calm down again after you haven't glutened yourself in a while. I would go to the parties and just not eat. I have found that if it is not a sit down dinner and people are just walking around with plates of food, no one realizes if you ate before or after them and it isn't weird to talk to someone who is eating when you aren't.

I try to do most of my venting here so when friends ask I don't have the need to go into detail about things they don't understand.

I mourned the loss of Amy's when they got me sick for the 4th time. There was no denying it and their food was so convenient and good.

I have not found many restaurants that I can tolerate so I just don't try. I either eat all my meals at home or bring my food with me, even when I travel and it is a complete pain in the butt. I feel much more comfortable in social situations if I know that I have safe food and all I have to do is wash my hands before I eat - not worry about who touched what or if the chef took me seriously.

[Sweetfudge]

Yeah, I don't touch amy's anymore. Got VIOLENTLY ill last time I ate it. Too bad too, cuz I liked having frozen dinners already made. Oh well, such is life.

I dreamed the other night about Jiffy's Blueberry Muffins...I grew up on those. Wish I could make my own, but how do you substitute those artificial blueberries!

[SillyBoo]

You bet I'm paranoid!

I nearly lost my job over this Celiac stuff, since my main symptoms were chronic fatigue and "brain fog". I just started back to work after more than 2 months on medical leave to figure out why I was always getting sick and was on a steep downward spiral. Now I have 3 months to prove that I really can do my job, which involves critical thinking and analysis, and lots of energy - all the things that have been nearly impossible for me for the past year or more. So, after just 7 weeks gluten-free, I need all the energy and mental clarity I can muster. So, I am very paranoid about CC, and struggle with it constantly at home with my family. I even stress over using the microwave at work. I won't eat out at all, and won't eat ANY prepared foods. Only my own cooking, using very basic simple ingredients. My family is getting tired of baked chicken, rice, and veggies, but I really don't care at this point. I am desperately trying to salvage my career.

Sometimes paranoia is exactly what is needed, don't you think?

Hey, do I sound like I needed a good vent????

[bluejeangirl]

Hey 2wheels,

You have a wonderful sense of humor although I know going through the learning period is no laughing matter. It been almost a year now for me and realizing that c.c. happens to me. I thought I was above it. I will have to break down and get my own toaster and breadboard this week. Its sad but yeah most people won't understand how sick we get when we have contact with gluten. I won't even bother discussing it anymore although I've tried. I can with a few which is nice because when your intestines are twisted in knots its something you'd like to be able to talk to someone about.

I have a puppy too. Solid Gold doesn't have wheat and is primarily millet and rice but does have some barley in it. I feel good giving this to my dogs but I don't really know if you can find anything gluten free. I'm sure someone will know.

I'm finding holidays are the worse for getting c.c. I've been gluten twice just since thanksgiving. I just want to sing It's the most glutenous time of the year instead of wonderful to the old christmas tune. It'll get alot easier when January comes and everyone's on diets. They tend to be more sympathetic.

Keep your spy cap on with your magnifying glass ready I'm sure it will get easier with time. ''

Gail