Rookie Errors....

[marynockles]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed a celiac a few months ago and have been dealing with it pretty badly. I live in New York City and all my friends are keen on restaurants/bars/restaurants/bars...

Although I have been holding off the bad stuff- I still find myself suddenly plunging back into sickness- and don't quite know how. I can't help but feel upset and like I've been robbed of something that my friends have- but at the same time; I know how good I feel when I'm on the straight and narrow with gluten.!

It scares me when I read stories on this forum (which is GREAT!- only just found it..) about cross contamination and touching gluten products.. Does it take other people a long time to realise all these things.? I don't think that I really understand the impact of tiny things- and maybe that's why I'm slipping back into sickness all the time (I'm writing this now barely being able to sit down because I went out for a Thai meal on Friday and I think there was some hidden...something...in there....).

I know that these are rookie errors. Please throw me some advice if you have been through this rookie period too.!

Love and respect to you all..

Mary

[Guest j_mommy]

I'm going through the rookie period too!!!! I had syptoms fro 24 years and noone noticed!!!! Even when I became an adult...I didn't put 2 and 2 together until after my DR said I have celiac!!!! That was when I realized that that stack of pancakes I ate made me sick!!!!

We've all been there or are there. Which is why i love this forum!!! I was lucky..I was DX'd 4-1 and my biopsy was 5-15 so I got to research, cleanse my house of gluten and get ready to be gluten free before I actually had to be. I have been gluten-free since 5-15! Thank Goodness!!!! Except for an accidental touching of my son's waffle earlier and then eating my food...I fell sooo much better....even after just a few days.

Good luck to you!!!!! This forum is awesome and has helped me alot!!!!!

[kbtoyssni]

It can take a while. I'd been diagnosed and reading this board for nearly a year before it occurred to me that I should check the ingredients on my shampoo. Most of my things were packed when I was diagnosed so a year later when I moved and unpacked it never dawned on me that I need to check all my personal care products that were in storage. I'm still learning little things everyday.

[JNBunnie1]

Part of it is probably all the eating out. Try googling gluten-free restaurants in your area, I'm not sure what section you live in or I'd make a few recommendations from my last trip. You might be able to eat out with more confidence, and you can always ask on the phone ahead of time if they have a gluten free menu, you'd be surprised at how many restaurants do. Also, make sure you're not using old dishes, pans, utensils that are all scratched up and probably have gluten stuck in them.

[Juniper]

I know what you mean by making rookie errors. I thought I had gone gluten free, but I now realize that I've been making mistakes, such as using the same toaster oven that is used for toasting breads with gluten, or not being careful enough about the restaurants I go to. I was feeling relatively good for a while, but I've definitely slipped. My favorite restaurants to eat out at are Thai, Japanese, and Indian, and I believe I was severely glutened about a week and a half ago at one of my favorite Thai places. I'm going to have to be much more discerning and think about every move I make unless it's food I've made fresh myself. I hadn't even thought about dishes and utensils being contaminated even after washing. Wow.

[marynockles]

This is all so good to hear- and also suprising.! I'm now starting to get paranoid- but at the same time; it all makes a lot of sense. I've booked an appointment to see a nutritionist for some more guidance (apart from this website- I have nobody who can guide me on this.!)- and my mum (who is all about dust mite allergies) has persuaded me to have a skin prick test for additional allergies. She thinks they may ALL be linked up and making me hyper-sensitive to everything and anything I'm allergic/coeliac to...

I'm at work right now and I have some gluten free muffins in the freezer here- I defrosted one and put some butter on it without ANY chance of cross contamination with the flying bagels/donuts and toasted slices which were flying round the office kitchen this morning. Hooray!

As someone suggested earlier on- I'm also going to check out gluten free restaurants in NYC. I've already discovered Babycakes and it's WONDERFUL....

Love and respect.