How Do I Do This?

[VioletBlue]

I have to travel at the end of the month. I've been trying to settle my father's estate for two years now and hopefully this will be the last action I have to take to do it. I have no choice, I have to go. It's about a three hour drive. I'll be staying with friends for five days. They are of course gluten eaters, but they want to be as accommodating as they can; they're bending over backward in fact to be helpful. I haven't been away from home since before I was diagnosed in December 06. I'm literally in a panic about it.

I can take a cooler with me, and other foods and pots and what not. There's a Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods within walking distance of their home. I know intellectually that this is doable, but I can't seem to wrap my brain around it without freaking out. This is pretty far outside my comfort zone right now.

They are dear friends and I also don't want to offend them. They're even putting up with my dog, the 82 pound Shepherd who thinks she's a Pomeranian. I worry about having to say things like "I'm sorry, but I can't scramble eggs in your non-stick frying pan because it's probably contaminated.

I could just use suggestions. Well, tranquilizers would be good too, but I don't think I'm getting those here. I'm hoping that enough common sense people will post with ideas and suggestions from their experiences so that I can alleviate some of the panic. Also suggestions on what to be careful about would be useful too. I so hope TJ's or Whole Foods stocks organic wine. I have a hunch I'm going to need it.

I am gluten intolerant, but also nightshade intolerant, allergic sweet potatoes and yams, to sunflowers and cucumbers and sulfites and sodium nitrites. Obvious snack things tend not to be an option because of the nightshades and sunflower thing, and even gluten-free baked goods are tough because I react to sulfites in cornstarch and most common types of baking powder as well as potato flour and starch.

So any suggestions are welcome.

"My mother always told me, it's okay to play with a man's mind

as long as you put it back where you got it when you're done with it."

[tarnalberry]

they're your friends. just tell them that it's a stressful time, and that you just don't have the mental reserves to deal with the risk, or even the thought of the risk, of contamination. tell them that you're going to bring your own stuff, to make it easier. tell them - if they seem skeptical - that you realize it might seem a bit paranoid, but that there are only so many things that you can deal with at one time, and dealing with estate stuff is it for this trip, and you'll just be a little bit silly for the trip with your own pots and pans, but that's ok.

[kbtoyssni]

If they are insistent on getting you some food, you could suggest them having a few snacks around like fruit or eggs or individually packaged cheese.

[Wonka]

Talk to them about your fears in the same way that you have expressed yourself here (the caring for your dear friends comes out loud and clear). Then bring some utensils and pans from home to enable you to cook without fear in their home.