Serious Assistance Needed!

[tarnalberry]

sometimes winning is all that matters....resentment is all ready in full swing at the office, this won't change things..

This is only true if you don't care about keeping your job. As I learned the hard way when I was laid off last year. I had something I had to make a stink about (a biased, negative review from a boss who had a personal distaste for me and clearly used different standards to evaluate me as opposed to other people in very similar positions), and though it was not the direct cause of my layoff, it's a lot easier to let go of a "trouble maker" when you've got to let go of a bunch of people. And even though this seems like something that's a big deal to you, for a lot of other people it's a tiny thing, and making a stink over it marks you as not just a trouble maker, but a petty trouble maker in their eyes. (No, I'm not saying you would be one at all; I'm just saying that perception - right or wrong - is extraordinarily important.)

[ciavyn]

I'm glad you've decided to let it go. I see so many angles to this, and believe me -- I used to be a state worker, I understand your frustration! It seems some are catered to and others aren't. But winning ISN'T everything. And in this fight, you'd only make it worse for yourself, and quite honestly, other celiacs. I thank every restaurant I'm in that offers me a gluten free option. I write letters to commend to them in my community and online. I give them as much free press as I can and patronize them as often as I can, because this is a darn hard illness to work with, and we can't expect everyone to cater to it until there is more awareness and more reason to. We'll get there. But just as every other discriminated against group has learned...it takes time. If you try to force it, you just end up with resentment. Make yourself something super yummy those days, and why don't you bring a gluten free dessert to share with your coworkers? Maybe not everyone, but your closest friends there. It's amazing how yummy this stuff can be, and they'll see why your lifestyle isn't such a sacrifice. Good luck!

[tarnalberry]

It seems some are catered to and others aren't.

This is true in most aspects of life. Just part of the world.