Am I Supposed To Stop Living My Life?

[jasonD2]

There are a ton of countries & places I would like to visit but now im afraid to travel cause of all my food/digestive issues.

My best friend wants to take this amazing 15 day trip to brazil, which is actually quite affordable, however, it is an organized trip & I fear I will have little control of where & what I eat, so I am probly not going to go. I love the outdoors and roughing it, but one thing I cannot afford to have happen to me is another stomach infection or food poisoning, and I fear that I'd be taking a huge risk by going to Brazil. A nasty case of Giardisis from a river trip (in 2002) is the reason why I have all the problems I have today, so if something like that happened to me again it might kill me . So how do I live my life if I'm trapped inside this box?

FYI: I am not a diagnosed celiac, however according to my tests (stool anti-gliadin) I am gluten sensitive and also have multiple food sensitivities - Have had IBS with spastic constipation for 5 years - saw some improvement on gluten-free diet. had minor leaky gut prior to going gluten free- have not been retested. I have no plan to go for the full blown celiac testing and am comfortable living my life the way it is now.

[msmini14]

Hi Jason,

I have seen you post on these boards several times. The only thing I can suggest is just go. I have never left the country since being dx with Celiac but I did go to the east coast. I didnt want to go because I felt like I was out of my comfort zone. The airlines let me bring food with me to eat on the plane and food I pre-made for my trip.

You should go and just bring your own food. Get a cooler ready and tape it up, send it on the plane. But make sure you ok this with the airlines.

You do not live in a box unless you choose too. I understand you have a lot of intolerances to food, have you figured out what is causing you problems?

I have always wanted to go to Europe and I still am, one day. I am not going to let Celiac hold me up in my adventures. Now when I first went gluten-free, I didnt want to go anywhere at all. I lived in that box for a long time until I got used to my diet and accept this is my life now.

I wish you the best of luck, you need to be positive. Another thought, if you really dont want to go, plan something else in the US where you know the label laws, etc. You only live once =)

[LDJofDenver]

Hello Jason

I've heard from many celiacs that they had less trouble eating gluten free in Europe than here in the U.S.

Here is a link to an article on celiactravel that talks about visiting Brazil as a celiac.

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And, I had a darling Aunt that had terrible arthritis all her adult life, yet she was always doing something, always going somewhere, taking group trips, etc. Someone once asked her how she could be so active and travel so much with her arthritis pain. Her answer was, "Well, yes, my pain is there when I'm on trips. But I'm in pain every day, so I can either sit around the house in pain, doing nothing, or I could be out doing something." She's my inspiration.

Live life! And a little research on the front end will make it a much better trip.

[FMcGee]

Brazil's great for celiacs! It might be better than here.

[shirleyujest]

An organized trip sounds much easier to deal with gluten-free diet than a more "on your own" one, because you have a guide/host company. I would contact them first, be very clear of your dietary needs and make them check menu item availability. If you're not feeling confident that they are on the ball, ask to see dinner menus from the restaurants. They want your money... make them earn it. And don't miss this amazing trip!