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

Breakroom/work Issues

Katsby

By Katsby
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Katsby Apprentice
Katsby
Posted

Ok a little backstory: I work in an area with a very small breakroom that has 1 microwave, 1 fridge, and 1 table for 3 small depts to share (about 15 or so people coming and going on my workshift at various break times). That microwave is filthy and covered with spagetti sauce and all sorts of other disgusting things. I simply cannot bring myself to use it. We cannot have a toaster due to fire issues. If I have something that needs microwaving I basically go downstairs to the 3 microwaves near the cafeteria (I work at a hospital) and use the ones the general public does to pop their popcorn, etc from the snack machines. It seems ten thousand times cleaner since the housekeepers keep it clean. The microwave in my breakroom hardly ever gets cleaned. I never really used it before until I found out I was gluten intolerant and started bringing more prepared meals to work (rice + chicken, etc) that I need to heat up. The breakroom table is scary with sticky stuff, crumbs, etc. It's cleaned every day by housekeeping despite how dirty it gets. I just work with a bunch of pigs I think.

Anyway I don't want to have to clean the microwave every single day to use it, so I am unsure what I could bring to work that would not require heating up. Also do you think people would get offended if I left a note on the microwave to please make sure to cover your food and if you make a mess please clean it up? I can easily wipe down the table when I eat so that's not a huge deal. It's just that people are so messy and sometimes after I eat I still get gassy/bloated and I wonder if it's not cc. I don't really want to explain to people my food issues because I feel it's none of their business (I have only told my boss and 2-3 coworkers, but they still don't understand the importance of cc). I don't want to put anyone out and it's kind of at the point where I just don't eat up there anymore.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

A good large Thermos can go a long way. Heat at home and put in Thermos so it is still warm at lunchtime.

cruelshoes Enthusiast
cruelshoes
Posted

When I use our work microwave, I put a paper towel below and over the top of my food. They both go promptly in the trash when I am done. I sort of reach in between them and slide my food out so none of the detritus from the microwave contaminates anything. I have my own toaster at my desk that I keep locked up. It is labeled with my name and a skull and crossbones so nobody tries anything funny. :lol: You can try putting a sign on the microwave if you want, but I really don't think it will do anything. Unless there is a mandate from HR, nobody in our office will change anything. Wher I work, HR had to put signs up with threats of termination to get people to stop stealing lunches out of the refrigerator.

You could also put a paper towel under your food in the breakroom. People might think you are OCD or a neat freak, but it would help prevent CC.

People are just pigs in the lunchroom. It amazes me what people will do, and I know they aren't that disgusting at home ( at least I hope so).

Katsby Apprentice
Katsby
Posted
  • Author
It is labeled with my name and a skull and crossbones so nobody tries anything funny. :lol: You can try putting a sign on the microwave if you want, but I really don't think it will do anything. Unless there is a mandate from HR, nobody in our office will change anything. Wher I work, HR had to put signs up with threats of termination to get people to stop stealing lunches out of the refrigerator.

lol the skull and crossbones is a great idea. We also had people in the past stealing lunches. If someone steals my carefully prepared gluten-free lunch I may well just freak out lol

Katsby Apprentice
Katsby
Posted
  • Author
A good large Thermos can go a long way. Heat at home and put in Thermos so it is still warm at lunchtime.

That's a great idea :)

home-based-mom Contributor
home-based-mom
Posted

This must be a universal problem One place I worked put up a big sign that read.

"YOUR MOTHER DOESN'T WORK HERE. PLEASE PICK UP YOUR OWN MESS."

But alas, that didn't work, either. Sigh. :(

WW340 Rookie
WW340
Posted

I agree with everything said so far. The only thing I have to add is that I have a thermal lunch box that will either keep things cold with a cold pack so I don't have to use the fridge, or will keep things warm, esp. if I use the thermos. I try to stay as totally independent as possible. I can keep my lunch with me and then I know it has not been messed with. If I should have to use the microwave, I do the paper towel liner as well. I also carry my own silverware with me. The lunch room is a disaster. I spray down my eating area and use paper towels as a place mat.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


margiemakes Newbie
margiemakes
Posted

I have the same issues at my work. I have always washed the cutlery before I use it but one time I saw someone slice bread with a knife and then put it straight back into the drawer and ever since then I have been extremely vigilant about bringing my own cutlery with me that I store in my office, and washing it before and after I use it just in case.

Also to use the microwave I always put paper towel down and only loosen the lids on my containers and not actually take them off inside there.

I also eat at the tables either off my own plate/lunchbox that I bring in and out or off paper towel (or both).

Another big source of CC that I worry about is the communal dishbrush thing which is one of those ones with detergent in the handle and a sponge on the end, and I hate to think about how much gluten is lurking in that sponge let alone the germs etc so I just put fresh detergent on and use my hands to wash, dry with paper towels instead of the communal tea towel ( or use a new one from the drawer) and even that is if i bother to wash them at work, usually I just take my dirty lunchbox home and wash it there.

People at work all know about my intolerance though and we there is someone else here who is also intolerant so nobody looks at me funny. Mostly they are just worried about whether what they are doing would affect me so that's pretty lucky I guess.

kera87 Newbie
kera87
Posted

When I go to work I try to bring cold things or foods that don't need to be heated up. For example I bring tuna fish already made in a ziplock container, as well as fruit, gluten-free bars (i like bumble bars), gluten-free lunchmeat (from Wegmans), salads made at home, and there are great gluten-free bagels out there that you could also bring. I'm a bit of a snacker so I like to bring a bunch of small things but you could always made a sandwich on gluten-free bread and bring that. I usually bring a lunchbox thing and an ice pack and everything stays fresh. Also, get plastic silverware to bring so you never have to worry about someone else using a utensil.

Lockheed Apprentice
Lockheed
Posted

BTW you can file with your HR person that you have a disability and that you require a clean working microwave to accommodate your disability and then they are supposed to provide that to you.

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
BTW you can file with your HR person that you have a disability and that you require a clean working microwave to accommodate your disability and then they are supposed to provide that to you.

or they might just take the Microwave away altogether ????

Katsby Apprentice
Katsby
Posted
  • Author
BTW you can file with your HR person that you have a disability and that you require a clean working microwave to accommodate your disability and then they are supposed to provide that to you.

Well I can't prove that I have a disablity because I haven't been diagnosed with celiac just gluten intolerance. I don't want to take it that far anyway. Even if we had another microwave that I could use I don't really trust my coworkers to not use it.

There were a lot of good suggestions in the topic so thanks everyone :)

Fifi Newbie
Fifi
Posted

I am new to this forum. I just joined today. I have had celiac disease for 7 moths now and been G F for that long. I can agree with the way people leave the break rooms and bathrooms. I can't understand if they don't do that at home why on earth would they do that any where else??? It just doesn't make sense to me. But I am still in the learning stage and I can't get enough information.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,901
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tessycork47
    Newest Member
    tessycork47
    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

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • 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.