Help! I'm My Own Worst Nightmare

[cpicini]

I was diagnosed with Celiac in October of 2007. I felt great the first couple of months but I seem to be getting worse. I am living with a constant stomach ache and have no doubt that it's my own fault. The biggest issue I have is that I work from home and take care of my 4 year old son during the day until my wife gets home. I am constaintly handling foods with gluten, mostly bread. I though I was being careful with the crumbs but am wondering is I can also have a reaction from just touching the bread? Would gloves help? Also since I"m new to this forum I've been reading many of the other posts. What I'm getting is that I'm gonna need a whole lot of new kitchen utensils and pots and pans. If these items are put through a dishwasher are they really still contaminated?

Any help is appreciated.

[psawyer]

It is common to have your condition improve immediately and then slip back somewhat. It will then improve again if you stay 100% gluten free.

The answer about your kitchen stuff is that it depends:

Some things can be cleaned easily and do not pose a worry. These include stainless steel pots, pans, flatware and baking pans. Wash them thoroughly and they will be okay. A dishwasher will do this, but if you are purging gluten for the first time I would suggest a double wash cycle.

Some things are porous and will retain gluten despite your best efforts. These include wooden utensils, scratched non-stick pans, and especially toasters. You must replace these--they can not be adequately cleaned. Colanders can trap gluten in their mesh.

I touch things which contain gluten at work frequently. I wash my hands at work frequently compulsively. I do not react to dermal gluten exposure, but I know that many do, including most of us who have DH (I don't).

[cpicini]

Peter, thanks. I don't have DH either but I suspect I have gluten somewhere in my diet. The toaster comment is interesting. Since being diagnosed I haven't eaten much bread or used the toaster oven. Recently I found a roll that I love ( www.againstthegraingourmet.com) and have been toasting in the toster over. I've been wrapping the roll in foil to avoid cc. I'm getting the feeling that that's not enough.

[A-Swiss]

Peter, thanks. I don't have DH either but I suspect I have gluten somewhere in my diet. The toaster comment is interesting. Since being diagnosed I haven't eaten much bread or used the toaster oven. Recently I found a roll that I love ( www.againstthegraingourmet.com) and have been toasting in the toster over. I've been wrapping the roll in foil to avoid cc. I'm getting the feeling that that's not enough.

Good option - toaster oven. What I do is just put foil over the tray each time I use it and it is like having a fresh toaster. They cook and toast, so it works for most things. Buying a new toaster obviously works, but if you have a family - someone may be using regular bread in it. If you just cover the tray, you won't have to lose the crispness that the toasting gives (vs covering the roll itself with foil).

[babysteps]

gloves can definitely help!

Separately, could your wife make your son's sandwiches the night before & put in plastic, then you could hand to him without bread contact?

[AMQmom]

Just a random thought, but my girls are celiac and I am not. I had to switch to gluten free lipstick for kisses. Gluten is sticky and you never know what they might touch (like where I kiss them) and then accidently touch their mouth area. I have to be sure not to cross contaminate my lipstick by eating gluten and then applying more lipstick. If your wife kisses you, does she brush her teeth first? I know it sounds off the wall, but you may want to consider this IN ADDITION to the safe kitchen precautions. I tossed all of out wooden utensils and things that had rubber just to be sure no glutens get into my girls. It is so easy for them to get sick! Best of luck to you!

[AMQmom]

Also, there was a recent feed about latex gloves - avoid those that are powdered.

[gfp]

The problem with crumbs is they are just crumbs! Its culturally acceptable to just wipe down the surface and use the same dishcloth etc. and its so hard to get in a mindset where we would treat it like poison.

Imagine you had some poop, you wouldn't use the same dishcloth yet the reality is a bit of poop would likely NOT make you sick, its just YUCK!

The whole cross contamination thing is a mindset. I spent a lot of time working in labs handling dangerous chemicals and I try and use the same mindset around gluten.

When I was younger I used to think many of the procedures were way over the top, then I had a few friends get serious burns or poisoned.

Its amazing how stuff can transfer, get on your hands then into your mouth, even when you are working in a lab and have to wash before and after .. Its a shame gluten doesn't glow in the dark ...

[cpicini]

My wife hasn't kissed me for years! Just kidding. I did think abou the lipstick though and have my wife checking. I also just realized that the new hair gel my wife bought has wheat in it. HAIR GEL!!!!

I also agee that I need to be in a differnt mindset. I realize now that when I by cold cuts that I have to have a separate package for me. I noticed my wife handling food with gluten and then reach to make herself a sandwich. The hardest part is going to be to get my wife to changer her mindset.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I don't know what I did before I found this site.

Chris

[kbtoyssni]

You could also feed your son only gluten-free foods. It's not going to be harmful for him, and it will certainly be safer for you.