Gluten At Work

[misdiagnosed6yrs]

I clean cars as part of my job descrip. I work car rental. Picture a minivan with crackers all smooshed in the seats and on the floor. I wear gloves but how many times a day do you think I touch my face? I lick my lips, scratch my lips, wipe my face on my sleeve (sweat or a simple itch), etc... It is very hard for me to do this cause I feel like there is so much CC in rental cars. I need to find a new job anyways. I was working here cause when I was very sick last year, It was the only thing I could do.

My specialty? I worked in the rest business for 12 years. I am a bartender. haha (*cough* Beer)

Also a waitress (food).

Get this though. I spent 6 years working for a pizza chain. Yup. Pizza. Delivering, then making it, then training others how to make it. No wonder my test results came back off the charts. I was a walking gluten time bomb. haha

So Now I am afraid to work in the rest business. It's all I can do until I finish school to be a vet tech.

Are there any celiacs that work in a rest? How do you do it?

There has to be.

What do I do?

Bobbi

[pugluver31902]

I dont work in a restraunt, but I do work with children. I have to feed them all the time, and since they are not gluten free, I have to feed them what the parents or facility has packed for the kids. Im constantly cleaning up wheat thins, crackers, and other gluteny food. The kids play with play-doh and everything. Since they are toddlers, there is always crumbs and sticky fingers. I just have to extra careful to wash my hands. Im super concious and always have dry skin from washing my hands so much.

[cmom]

Maybe you could work in a retail store where you didn't have to actually handle any gluten?

[confusedks]

I babysit a family who has 4 kids who are all gluten eaters and as long as I clean my hands really well, I am totally fine. I made sugar cookies for example with them the other week and I had the oldest measure out the flour and mix it in the dough so I wouldn't have to be near it. Then once the "flour dust" settled, I went back in and helped.

If you are really cautious, it can definitely be done. I don't know that I would work in a bakery, but I also can't imagine trying to avoid gluten 100%...as in not touching it. Luckily, we don't go into anaphylactic shock when we touch gluten...lol.

[munchkinette]

What about working in a restaurant that serves food with very little gluten? Southeast Asian food has very little wheat in it. Mexican food has wheat tortillas, but sometimes those are pre-made. (i.e. less flour floating around the kitchen) Just a thought... work in places where you can eat anyway.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Retail is pretty much gluten-free.

[misdiagnosed6yrs]

Maybe you could work in a retail store where you didn't have to actually handle any gluten?

Good suggestion. Although, they don't pay very well.