Job Question

[CaraLouise]

I recently had to quit my job due to ingesting gluten everyday and making me sick. I was wondering if there are any jobs with celiac awareness and advocacy that anybody knows off. Please any information would be helpful. Thanks!

[dbmamaz]

I'm just curious what kind of job MADE you ingest gluten? Most places i've worked, you can just bring your own food.

[gfgypsyqueen]

Can you post a little more information about the type of work you were doing in your last job, what was glutening you, and some other careers you think you would like?

People on this site have a wide variety of jobs and skills. I am sure someone should be able to make suggestions

Sometimes it seems hard to stay at a job when you started out healthy, got sick, got sicker, finally figured out Celiacs, and went gluten-free. Somehow that seems like a hard change for many.

[gfp]

I'm just curious what kind of job MADE you ingest gluten? Most places i've worked, you can just bring your own food.

This doesn't really help if your coworkers also being their own food and spread it about liberally.

Nor is it really so simple....

I'm presently working in serviced offices with a mini kitchenette... when I make coffee I use my own cup and before I use the teaspoon I wash it and clean it with disposable towels... However ... this only just works ... colleages will offer to get me a coffee (instant) and then think I'm being funny when I say I'll get my own ... the other companies sharing the kitchen use all sorts of gluten products ... and everything is put into a shared dishwasher hence all the plates etc. are covered in gluten from the dishwasher and the work surface is covered in breadcrumbs and who knows what so all I need to do is put a teaspoon down.. and then everyone else uses the spoon in the coffee jar... the same spoon that just got a quick rinse after being used to eat glutabix (wheatabix) for instance.

This isn't even touching the compulsory eating out.(in my job).. and trying to explain that I can't eat gluten .. and even when I do eat out how do you cope with a waiter who say's "no problem that's no bread" when you know full well they haven't got it?

I once got sent to an internal conference in a hotel literally in the middle of nowhere. I pre-informed the organiser etc. only to receive a eMail the morning we departed "Just ask the hotel when you arrive"

This was pretty much worse than useless .... the hotel is on a budget ... the company has pre-ordered 500+ of everything... and the hotels reaction "you will just have to pick out any bread" ...

... I had one week with nothing at all to eat but fruit.

[CaraLouise]

I was working as a program director at a fitness center and health cafe. In the health cafe we serve sandwiches, soups, wraps, and breakfast items, (almost all with wheat). We also have smoothies with malt powder and cereal in them. My desk was right next to the kitchen and the waffle iron and the soups steam didn't help any. Plus I was required to help in the kitchen daily (especially so people could take their breaks). I read about something where The Celiac Site wanted people to present awareness to restaurants and other businesses (I think it might be kind of like a drug rep for celiac). Does anyone know about this or if I could do some sort of celiac consulting? I live in OKC so it would be nice if there was something in OKC that I could do. You can also message me with your ideas. Thanks so much! I love this board!!

[RockHammer]

I recently had to quit my job due to ingesting gluten everyday and making me sick. I was wondering if there are any jobs with celiac awareness and advocacy that anybody knows off. Please any information would be helpful. Thanks!

Don't Let anyone tell you work is no problem. I worked hard for almost 25 years for the Great state of Florida with significant Celiac related problems (migraine headaches, GI problems, Peritonitus, heart attacks, asthma, diabetes, the whole list..). Yet I had a very distinguished and successful career with many accomplishments to my name. I was fired a year ago by an abusive supervisor. He did not believe in sick leave, ADA accomodations, FLMA, and worked at making things worse. Today I am trying to survive on disability retirement. We are not makin' it.

FYI Disability Insurance, (or at least the policy offered by Alta Insurance through the State) is worthless. They have a 3 teer scheem to avoid paying any claims. Social Security is helpful only if you can make it on your own until you get through all the red tape. Still waiting on that after a year. If you have a job, try to keep it.

Working and keeping a job is an issue. A Big one.

Best Wishes

Rock Hammer

[tarnalberry]

while there may be plenty of jobs that become very challenging to combine with celiac, there are plenty that are not. I would encourage you to look into the training and education for those jobs. the kitchen issue you describe is one where you just have to be aware of contamination - don't put down your spoon, don't put your dishes in the dishwasher (bring your own), and don't take any comments/looks to heart. work events that involve food are more challenging, of course. as an engineer, I've never had it be an issue.