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Hospital Frustration

minton

By minton
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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minton Contributor
minton
Posted

Any of you ever go to the hospital for long terms stays and get fed gluten?

I went to the hospital yesterday and ended up calling up their nutritionist only to find out she was clueless. They sent me breaded chicked with garlic toast! They said I had a hypoglycemia attack and wanted to up my carb intake with glutenny products like bread and pasta. Anyone else have to informa dietician or hospital and get frustrated?

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Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted
Any of you ever go to the hospital for long terms stays and get fed gluten?

I went to the hospital yesterday and ended up calling up their nutritionist only to find out she was clueless. They sent me breaded chicked with garlic toast! They said I had a hypoglycemia attack and wanted to up my carb intake with glutenny products like bread and pasta. Anyone else have to informa dietician or hospital and get frustrated?

Gluten is not an issue for me, but I did request vegetarian meals when I had my daughter. The meals always came with meat on them. They would then say they would fix it, and all I would get was a pathetic grilled cheese sandwich on cheap white bread that was totally soggy and inedible by the time I got it. Luckily I had packed plenty of food with me and had access to a refrigerator. I brought cheese, carrots, celery and snack food. This was before I knew of my food allergies.

When my husband was in the hospital last year (different hospital), he was offered two choices of meals. He has no food issues. But both choices appeared to be gluten-free.

At the time, my daughter could not have gluten and we were able to dine in the cafeteria. Granted, she often just had a bag of chips, salad and fruit, but there was food available that she could eat. I realize though that the cafeteria food is not necessarily what the patients might get.

These days if I had to go into the hospital, I would for sure pack some food if I were able to.

Ms. Skinny Chic Explorer
Ms. Skinny Chic
Posted
Gluten is not an issue for me, but I did request vegetarian meals when I had my daughter. The meals always came with meat on them. They would then say they would fix it, and all I would get was a pathetic grilled cheese sandwich on cheap white bread that was totally soggy and inedible by the time I got it. Luckily I had packed plenty of food with me and had access to a refrigerator. I brought cheese, carrots, celery and snack food. This was before I knew of my food allergies.

When my husband was in the hospital last year (different hospital), he was offered two choices of meals. He has no food issues. But both choices appeared to be gluten-free.

At the time, my daughter could not have gluten and we were able to dine in the cafeteria. Granted, she often just had a bag of chips, salad and fruit, but there was food available that she could eat. I realize though that the cafeteria food is not necessarily what the patients might get.

These days if I had to go into the hospital, I would for sure pack some food if I were able to.

I went to the hospital one time and the staff kept bringing meals containing gluten.

They forced me to eat the same things the entire week ...

I will never go to the hospital again without my own tasty meal plan..

neesee Apprentice
neesee
Posted

I didn't have any trouble at all. The dietary department sent someone out to buy gluten-free products just for me so they would be fresh. They don't see a lot of celiac patients, so they have to stock up when they get one. Everything they served me was perfect. They also took measures to protect me from cross contamination. I was very pleased.

neesee

Ms. Skinny Chic Explorer
Ms. Skinny Chic
Posted
I didn't have any trouble at all. The dietary department sent someone out to buy gluten-free products just for me so they would be fresh. They don't see a lot of celiac patients, so they have to stock up when they get one. Everything they served me was perfect. They also took measures to protect me from cross contamination. I was very pleased.

neesee

Lucky you... Have you played the lottery lately?? The odds seem in your favor.

AnneM Apprentice
AnneM
Posted

I was just in the hospital a month ago, I told my nurse i had celiac disease she said..."what's that"..i about fainted. I explained it to her the easiest possible way.

My doctor had me on the burn unit floor for better one on one care, and my nurse said, " this is the burn unit, we take care of burn patients not celiac patients" good thing i was in pain or i would have laughed! She STILL didn't understand.

In that hospital you call and tell them what you want it's like restaurant style, there were so few choices that i could eat, it was unreal. I ate a hamburger patty, fruit, scrambled eggs, grilled chicken and vegetables, cottage cheese, sherbert, jello of course (ick), and that was about all i could possibly eat. I was terrified to eat the food, and it shouldn't be that way.

Is anyone else terrified of the future? I wonder what will happen if i am ever put in a nursing home or something, how is that going to be?? Will there be someone who actually cares and watches out for cross contamination? I keep thinking about this and it sure does make me wonder. :unsure:

Next time i am in the hospital i will think of taking my own food.

home-based-mom Contributor
home-based-mom
Posted
I was terrified to eat the food, and it shouldn't be that way.

Is anyone else terrified of the future? I wonder what will happen if i am ever put in a nursing home or something, how is that going to be?? Will there be someone who actually cares and watches out for cross contamination? I keep thinking about this and it sure does make me wonder. :unsure:

Actually, the thought of being in a hospital, retirement facility, or nursing home borders on terrifying. I still am almost in jaw-dropping disbelief at how ignorant so many members of the medical community and food service industry can be. When the two groups are combined in one place such as a hospital or nursing home, it almost becomes an early death for the person who has nowhere else to go.

My mom spent the last two years of her life in a very nice retirement facility. Meals and housekeeping were provided, but otherwise the residents were on their own. Many were still driving, including my mom when she first moved there. The recipes were definitely NOT designed for healthy living, especially for older digestive systems. They were too fatty, too salty, and too spicy. There were few choices at meal time. The only concessions were artificial sweetener for coffee and tea, and sugar-free desserts. NO other dietary restrictions were even considered. The breads were baked in-house. There would be no possible way for a celiac to stay alive. If a very nice place can't do better than that, run-of-the-mill places won't do better, either.

Scary? You betcha. The older I get, the scarier it gets.

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shan Contributor
shan
Posted

When my son was in hospital, every breakfast came with bread on the tray, and if i complained, they took the bread off - useless coz everything was covered in crumbs. For the main meal EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR A WHOLE MONTH he had the same - rosat chicken, rice and baby carrots.

My daughter, straight after her biopsy, and she was so bad they said start diet NOW, they gave her a sandwhich and a cake to make sure her insides didn't get damaged from the biopsy. I said, we were told she should be gluten free, do you have anything for her? They asked me what is gluten and i am sure a little bit of bread won't harm her... I gave it to her (we hadn't yet started the diet) otherwise we wouldnt have been discharged!!

If my daughter was ever hospitalized, i would bring everything from home. I wouldnt trust a hospital for anything in the world!!

hawaiimama Apprentice
hawaiimama
Posted

When my DD was born, I didn't get fed at all. She was born at 3 in the morning and we left at 8:30 pm and I didn't receive a single piece of food. Great way to treat a new nursing mother. DH went out and bought me food so I wasn't hungry but I still felt rather neglected.

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

Goodness! I hadn't thought of this. I think it might be wise to have an emergency plan in writing for food including recipes and detailed instructions. My DH doesn't cook at all. If I was too sick to do my own, I'd be up a creek. Friends might be willing but not understand the issues.

ladywinger Newbie
ladywinger
Posted

I have to have treatments every four weeks at a hospital here, the dietition and staff are well informed (now). I am there for about 4 hours which always is either at breakfast or lunch time. The meal for my first treatment day did not go well, gluten was everywhere. Fortunately the nurses understood and had gluten-free yogurt that I was able to eat.

The hospital were I go sends out a questionaire after each visit. I filled it out and when it came to the questions about the food service....I politely informed them that I had requested a gluten-free breakfast but what was sent was not. From every visit thereafter, whether breakfast or lunch, has been perfect. Oh, on the next questionaire, I wrote a very nice note in the comments section about how well the food service was tending to my gluten-free meals.

I suggest you call your hospital and talk to the dietition. If ever (hopefully not) you are hospitalized, request that the dietition comes to your room or calls your room to discuss your meals. Your hospital wants to please all of their patients. Your doctor also should put, gluten-free meals on his hospital orders.

Now, like the rest of you.....I am very concerned that if I ever have to go to a nursing home or assisted living facility...."will they be as

concerned in preparing gluten-free meals?"

minton Contributor
minton
Posted
  • Author

Excuse me for asking, what does DH and DD stand for?

Mother of Jibril Enthusiast
Mother of Jibril
Posted
Excuse me for asking, what does DH and DD stand for?

DH = dear husband (unless you're talking about dermatitis herpitformis)

DD = dear daughter

ladywinger Newbie
ladywinger
Posted

minton, thanks for asking the question of DH and DD....I was wondering myself.

I knew what DH was in some post when referring to dermatitis herpitformis.

I have seen the D put in front of H, D, S before and could not figure out what the

extra D was for. :o;)

minton Contributor
minton
Posted
  • Author
minton, thanks for asking the question of DH and DD....I was wondering myself.

I knew what DH was in some post when referring to dermatitis herpitformis.

I have seen the D put in front of H, D, S before and could not figure out what the

extra D was for. :o;)

haha i thought the D in front stood for DIAGNOSED haha well that's pretty cool. Maybe I should start typinf DF for Dear Fiance since we are thinking he may be a celiac as well.

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