Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

It's A Pain, But Not The End Of The World...

mrsry

By mrsry
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

shayesmom Rookie
shayesmom
Posted

Today, I think that I would have responded to those people by looking right at them and then turning to the bakery staffer and asking, "Are you aware of any places that offer classes on social etiquette?". LOL! I guess today I'm feeling a bit more passive-aggressive......

LOL,

Last time I had an insensitive comment from a gluten eater I was having a really really bad day and I threatened to beat the hell out of him with the 2 kg bag of potatoes I was carrying. Perhaps not the most mature response but I'm sure he'll think twice before the next time he decides to pisses of a celiac with PMT.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Panopticism Rookie
Panopticism
Posted

I work in customer service, and I get insulted all the time for being too skinny(I weigh 125lbs), too pale(Iron deficiency anemia) and looking tired(...Iron deficiency anemia again, plus all sorts of malabsorption).

It's not just people sharing their opinion, it's people telling me to get some sleep, eat more, get some sun, etc.

I have almost gotten myself into trouble a few times for coming right back at the customer and telling them all about celiac disease and how crappy my diet is (with some attitude). I've also turned around and downright insulted and told off some customers...

On top of that, I eat 3 times more than anyone I know. I'm constantly hungry.

Yeah, customer service isn't really my thing... well, people aren't really my thing.

MDRB Explorer
MDRB
Posted
I work in customer service, and I get insulted all the time for being too skinny(I weigh 125lbs), too pale(Iron deficiency anemia) and looking tired(...Iron deficiency anemia again, plus all sorts of malabsorption).

It's not just people sharing their opinion, it's people telling me to get some sleep, eat more, get some sun, etc.

I have almost gotten myself into trouble a few times for coming right back at the customer and telling them all about celiac disease and how crappy my diet is (with some attitude). I've also turned around and downright insulted and told off some customers...

On top of that, I eat 3 times more than anyone I know. I'm constantly hungry.

Yeah, customer service isn't really my thing... well, people aren't really my thing.

I totally hear that! You and I probably look like twins. The worst for me is the weight thing. Because I'm a woman they just assume I'm anorexic, or if I'm scoffing down a huge meal they think I'm going to throw it up once I'm done. Sometimes it really feels like people are accusing me.

Luckily I'm starting to gain a little with the gluten free diet. I used to be about a hundred pounds (I'm only 5ft 2inches) But I'm up to 110 and starting to look healthy again :)

Panopticism Rookie
Panopticism
Posted

I've been gluten free for 8 months-ish. I haven't really started to gain weight yet. I'm like a corpse that won't make eye contact. A real life zombie.

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted
I've been gluten free for 8 months-ish. I haven't really started to gain weight yet. I'm like a corpse that won't make eye contact. A real life zombie.

It took me over a year after gluten free to gain weight, so don't lose hope. I'm 5'7" and I was down to 105. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Especially working behind the Front desk of a hotel the way I do. People feel like they're entitled to comment on your appearance. No, I'm not anorexic, No, I don't starve myself, yes, I actually do go out in the sun, If you ask me that again, I'm going to set the computer for half hour-interval wake-up calls all night. Got me? For some reason, a lot of black men felt the need to comment on how 'creamy white' my skin was. Yeah, who's the racist here buddy? Fortunately I've gained 30 lbs since then and look like a real person so I don't get hassled anymore.

The only time I've ever had people comment on my food choices in a store is when a newbie wants advice and sees me picking stuff off the shelf and they go 'help'! I actually enjoy that quite a bit.

MDRB Explorer
MDRB
Posted
I've been gluten free for 8 months-ish. I haven't really started to gain weight yet. I'm like a corpse that won't make eye contact. A real life zombie.

It will come, it just takes some people longer to heal (as I'm sure you know). I guess you could try vitamins, probiotics and resticting your diet a little more which might help you heal quicker.

I'm still looking quite thin, but have lot that zombie look you mentioned.

I hope you don't get too down, I've been there and even though it can take a while, it does get better.

Wonka Apprentice
Wonka
Posted
It took me over a year after gluten free to gain weight, so don't lose hope. I'm 5'7" and I was down to 105. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Especially working behind the Front desk of a hotel the way I do. People feel like they're entitled to comment on your appearance. No, I'm not anorexic, No, I don't starve myself, yes, I actually do go out in the sun, If you ask me that again, I'm going to set the computer for half hour-interval wake-up calls all night. Got me? For some reason, a lot of black men felt the need to comment on how 'creamy white' my skin was. Yeah, who's the racist here buddy? Fortunately I've gained 30 lbs since then and look like a real person so I don't get hassled anymore.

The only time I've ever had people comment on my food choices in a store is when a newbie wants advice and sees me picking stuff off the shelf and they go 'help'! I actually enjoy that quite a bit.

It would never have occurred to me to make comments to a stranger about their appearance. It's just rude.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


darcijj Explorer
darcijj
Posted

I think if someone said to me.. "I would just kill myself" .. my response would be:

Oh, that is really sad to want to kill yourself over a piece of cake (or insert gluten food here).. I am glad be be alive and healthy, so it does not matter to me what I cannot eat.

I think it is psad people place sooo much emphasis on food. There are so many more important issues than whether or not I can have a slice of pizza.

:o

kitten37 Newbie
kitten37
Posted

Ignorant people are just that. I'm sorry that it happened like that. I'm Italian so cutting gluten products out of my diet (just started) is VERY difficult for me based on the amount of pasta things I am used to eating. When I first found out what I had to do I think the words "I'm going to die! Everything tasty is being taken away!" But I know there are options and it will take some work and extra planning to cater to my body

Guest hightop girl
Guest hightop girl
Posted

I can appreciate this. I have a friend that I can not go to breakfast or dinner with anymore because it makes HER feel unhappy that I can't eat bread, pasta, or a cinnamon roll anymore (at a restaurant). I have tried to explain that even though this is sometimes uncomfortable for me just because I am new to it, I am really trying hard to separate food from fun and friendship, and I am trying to eat to live instead of living to eat. I find it hard when others feel unhappy or uncomfortable because I HAVE to eat healthy food. I think that is just plain weird!

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted
I can appreciate this. I have a friend that I can not go to breakfast or dinner with anymore because it makes HER feel unhappy that I can't eat bread, pasta, or a cinnamon roll anymore (at a restaurant). I have tried to explain that even though this is sometimes uncomfortable for me just because I am new to it, I am really trying hard to separate food from fun and friendship, and I am trying to eat to live instead of living to eat. I find it hard when others feel unhappy or uncomfortable because I HAVE to eat healthy food. I think that is just plain weird!

I think you have hit the nail on the head when it comes to some people's reaction to eating with a Celiac. I thought it was just me and I was beng overly sensitive but I have noticed that my healthy choices when eating out or my ability to disassociate food from fun makes some very uncomfortable and they end up saying stupid or hurtful things. I think they resent the control we have over what we eat and our health and it may serve as a reminder to them that they don't think they could do that. My family are the worst and will make a point sometimes of insulting or making fun of what I eat.....as they sit around and complain about their Celiac like symptoms. I, too, have stopped dining out with certain people who were getting weird about it. It's amazing the control food has over people, isn't it?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.