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How To Deal With Science Teacher

pinktulip

By pinktulip
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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pinktulip Apprentice
pinktulip
Posted

I can't get it through my professor's head that I can't deal with gluten. I'm a junior in college and studying Biology this semester (first time taking a lab) and this week we're looking at wheat startch, and in a few weeks beer. I told her today I can't touch or ingest gluten and her response was wear gloves. I'm finally starting to just feel better and now this.

How do y'all deal with teachers at the schools for these problems. As preschool teacher I take allergies seriously and am upset this professor (who by the way spent 3 lecture periods talking about intolerances) to realize gluten is dangereous to me.

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MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

What exactly are you worried about? For the labs you should not need to ingest anything, right? You should be fine wearing gloves and being careful- making sure not to touch your mouth. Make sure to wash your hands well and all. Your Celiac Disease should not be a probem just like being at a restaurant or preparing meals for non-Celiacs with wheat is not. If she wants you to eat gluten then you bring in a doctors note and go over her head.

pinktulip Apprentice
pinktulip
Posted
  • Author

I think the thing that scares me the most is the beer. It's so easy to spill and such and if it touches my skin it's horrible. I think I'm not so scared of me handling it, but being in a class with 20 something other people whose actions I can't control.

We use to think it was exzema but now that I'm gluten-free it's gone.

MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

You might want to find some longer plastic gloves, work as far away from people as you can, and maybe let your classmates know that you have a skin reaction to gluten. Good luck, PinkTulip.

pinktulip Apprentice
pinktulip
Posted
  • Author

Yeah, i'm gonna try the back corner as our lab period is completely filled.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Ask him if he'd be having someone with a peanut allergy work with peanut flour. Then tell him that you can't work with the items, though honestly, I don't think you have much to worry about with either if you keep spills off of you (not hard to do - as demonstrated by chem labs across the world). You should be fine if you're vigilant, but if you're really concerned, you just need to tell him that it is medically not an option.

GlutenWrangler Contributor
GlutenWrangler
Posted

I would first speak with someone in the health services department, or even the adminstrative department. Then I would refuse to participate when using foods that are toxic to my health. Your professor is not being responsible, and you should let the institution know that.

-Brian

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brendygirl Community Regular
brendygirl
Posted

Too bad you don't have a lab partner. I did. I didn't want to touch the rat. No problemo. He did all the handling.

And I CAN relate to the fear of being near beer and wheat. I am the one who posted the thread about images of wheat evoking fear after it's made you so sick for so long.

However, I can also relate to the teacher, as I am one.

There are so many whiny, lazy students and parents with ridiculous excuses all the time ...

I have to say, you being near it won't hurt you.

There are celiacs who work in restaurants and stuff, you know.

Queen Serenity Newbie
Queen Serenity
Posted

Hi,

You should be excused from this particular assignment. It is for your own health. You can breath in the wheat starch through your nose and become sick. You really need to report this to someone, if your professor is not listening. I agree with one thing, that if you had any kind of other allergy, such as peanut, would your professor expect you to participate? Probably not, unless they are ready for the responsibility. So, take this issue to the head of the science department. If your professor is the head, then go to the Dean of Academic Affairs. It has been a long time since I was in college, but I do have a lot of experience with gluten and it's effects. I have been this way for 11 years now. Good Luck!

Vicki

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

I made something for my son last night that involved real wheat flour. I didn't breathe any in that I know of and my skin is perfectly fine (I used to have DH). I didn't even wear gloves.

richard

chrissy Collaborator
chrissy
Posted

gloves, a plastic apron and a cheap white filter mask------there really is no reason you can't do this assignment.

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