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Paranoia Over Crumbs

num1habsfan

By num1habsfan
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

num1habsfan Rising Star
num1habsfan
Posted

No point to this post really, just felt like talking about how i was all paranoid at college today (gees, like its so surprising its the college again givin me issue :rolleyes: . This time it wasnt the staffroom or the microwave for a change!! But instead it was classroom. apparently a girl's birthday from someone in Busines year 1, and so there was 2 pieces of cake on the back table...and basically every table had crumbs on it :blink: So i sat 1 table over that seemed clean. GAH WHY CANT THEY CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES?!

My classmates at least gave me a good laugh out of it, the one guy said "yeah i'm gonna bring a whole container of crumbs and shake them all over all the tables". (he wasnt being serious, of course!). My response to him was "if you did that i'd probably have a heart attack!"

Which is true (the heart attack part). I am sooooo paranoid when it comes to seeing crumbs ANYWHERE. my mind starts thinking "OMG where has those crumbs found there way to?!?!"

Is anyone else this bad?? Have you ever been able to control it??

~ lisa ~

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Guest cassidy
Guest cassidy
Posted

I am very sensitive as well. It was my husband's birthday this weekend so I had a party for him. I bought the cake and got most of the appetizers at Sam's so I just had to throw things in the oven. I didn't even try to make things gluten-free because I made a menu that he wanted and it was things like wings and stuff that was much easier and cheaper just to buy.

By the end of the night there were cake crumbs everywhere. My hands were raw because it was hard for me to touch the food and not to want to immediately wash my hands. I even cut the cake and had frosting on my hands. I didn't eat anything while I was around all that food.

The next morning I completely cleaned the house and tried to de-gluten my kitchen. I couldn't even make anything to eat in there until I had cleaned away all the gluten. I still ended up getting myself sick. I really thought I had thought of everything, but I guess there were some hidden crumbs on something. I never get sick at home anymore so it was frustrating.

I usually try to remember that while it is unpleasant to have to be around crumbs, they will only hurt me if I ingest them. I wash my hands before I eat anything so hopefully if I touch things it wouldn't matter because I know I will wash my hands before I actually do myself harm. It is still easy to get paranoid because that stuff can really make you sick so it isn't like an exaggerated fear. It must be hard to be at college where you can't control your surroundings. At least at my house my husband knows not to touch gluten and touch the tv remote or get crumbs everywhere, but it has taken a long time to get him to that point.

Hope you didn't get sick and you won't encounter that again for a long time!

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

Yes, I am paranoid over crumbs, even the "invisible" ones, and especially when I'm eating. I can just get so sick from crumbs that I can't detect!

Creative-Soul Newbie
Creative-Soul
Posted

I completely understand where you are coming from! My hands are disgusting-looking and dry because I wash my hands so much! I'm the only gluten-free one at home, and there're always crumbs everywhere, even here now on the keyboard *shudder*. I am so sensitive to so many darned things that I've basically given myself running permission to be paranoid!!!

Gentleheart Enthusiast
Gentleheart
Posted

I'm trying to keep this in perspective as well. I don't want to end up with a gluten phobia. But honestly, it's really hard when there are gluten crumbs everywhere. I just did the same thing and cleaned up my kitchen after a big birthday party. I had frosting and cake crumbs and cheese and dip all over my hands before it was over. My hands were raw from overwashing.

Kaycee Collaborator
Kaycee
Posted

Lisa, this reminds me of when my sister was so terrified when she invited me to tea one night. She has toyed with the idea of being coeliac herself, but disbelieves it now, but non-the less she knows the diet. Well she was terrified and paranoid, worse than me, and I trust her.

So next day, I had to text her on my mobile to say, yes Liz I was fine and thanks for wonderful meal. She quickly texted back saying "Will put in more gluten in next time." It is nice to have a good laugh. I have not been back, but that is mainly because she is hundreds of miles away.

And yes, Lisa I get paranoid about crumbs, and I live with gluten munchers as in husband and sons, and they are not always the tidiest of eaters. I was preparing a gluten free date loaf at one stage and in the dish I had prepared there was a crumb! I give my husband such a foul look, he cringed. Normally he makes sure crumbs don't fall in the jug, let alone my coffee, but dem crumbs get in everywhere.

Yesterday teenage son, (one in my avatar) was practicising making french toast and needed my watchful eye and input. So I was getting up close and personal to the enemy, but fared quite well with no ill effects. But I was a bit miffed after him dunking his four bits of bread there was still a bit of egg mixture. No good for me, so unforrtnately down the drain it goes, and I hate waste!

I don't think I get as bad with my crumb phobia as I used to. To start with I was beside myself, but now since I am pretty much free of symptoms, I have relaxed, but I do worry I might relax too much. But I do feel it more when I am tired or hungry.

My worst place for glutening surprisingly is not in the home, but at work in the lunchroom.

Cathy

Viola 1 Rookie
Viola 1
Posted

Yup, I'm constantly cleaning crumbs ... even when I can't see any. :lol: Oh well, I have clean counters when I'm finished, but like some of you, it's hard on the hands.

I even have all Sheba's food gluten free...even her treats. Don't want to handle he other stuff. :o

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NoGluGirl Contributor
NoGluGirl
Posted
No point to this post really, just felt like talking about how i was all paranoid at college today (gees, like its so surprising its the college again givin me issue :rolleyes: . This time it wasnt the staffroom or the microwave for a change!! But instead it was classroom. apparently a girl's birthday from someone in Busines year 1, and so there was 2 pieces of cake on the back table...and basically every table had crumbs on it :blink: So i sat 1 table over that seemed clean. GAH WHY CANT THEY CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES?!

My classmates at least gave me a good laugh out of it, the one guy said "yeah i'm gonna bring a whole container of crumbs and shake them all over all the tables". (he wasnt being serious, of course!). My response to him was "if you did that i'd probably have a heart attack!"

Which is true (the heart attack part). I am sooooo paranoid when it comes to seeing crumbs ANYWHERE. my mind starts thinking "OMG where has those crumbs found there way to?!?!"

Is anyone else this bad?? Have you ever been able to control it??

~ lisa ~

Dear num1habsfan,

Yes, you are not alone! I am extremely gluten sensitive to the point a speck of the stuff makes me violently ill. So, living in a household with two people who are not gluten - free makes me a wreck. It is also wearing me out. All I do is clean and cook. After that, there is no energy left for anything else. Crumbs freak me out. No one pays attention either. They will butter their toast over my coffee, pour their cereal near my drink, whatever...they could not care less! People are so inconsiderate. I cannot stand slobs either. Especially gluten eating ones!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

NoGluGirl Contributor
NoGluGirl
Posted
I completely understand where you are coming from! My hands are disgusting-looking and dry because I wash my hands so much! I'm the only gluten-free one at home, and there're always crumbs everywhere, even here now on the keyboard *shudder*. I am so sensitive to so many darned things that I've basically given myself running permission to be paranoid!!!

Dear Creative_Soul,

It is the same here. Mom and Dad are not gluten - free. Crumbs are all over the place. The worst ones are the ones you cannot see. Being super sensitive makes it difficult not to be paranoid.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

marciab Enthusiast
marciab
Posted

Paronoid here too... My daughter is home for the next couple of days and we have a gluten filled birthday cake in the fridge. I bought it ready made though.

I felt weird about feeling so paranoid until my daughter reminded me how sensitive she is to peanut butter, cats and other animals. She will get hives immediately around bunnies.

It helps to be around people who understand. Are there others at college with allergies ? Marcia

num1habsfan Rising Star
num1habsfan
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone, for letting me know that I'm not alone with this. I am EXTREMELY sensative...to the point that 1 crumb, or 1 utensil that had a crumb on it that touched my food seems to be enough (now you can all understand why I get so sick during harvest). Neither the place at HOME home or here where I live for school are gluten-free. My parents and sister are easier to handle--my sister LOVES gluten-free food, and my parents are usually very careful.

But here for school..my landlady and the other lady upstairs dont pay any attention :blink: One day last week I think I nearly had a heart attack, seriously well I had like a panic attack because every cupboard and even the stove upstairs had crumbs. And unfortunately here they dont try to understand (where my parents/sis will).

And I got the dreadful dry hands too because I wash my hands basically after anything I touch.

~ lisa ~

Guest AutumnE
Guest AutumnE
Posted

I'm this way also, my hands even have two cuts on them right now since I'm steadily washing my hands and not with just gluten but corn too. My family still eats corn just not gluten and Im paranoid about touching stuff and I always wash my hands before touching and after touching foods.

I cant imagine living at school and having to deal with it, I think I would have a panic attack having it around me all the time :ph34r:

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Not *quite* paranoid, but definitely hypervigilant. It's sorta interesting how 'aware' :)

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