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

Portugal

ChristieKate

Recommended Posts

ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted

I'm traveling in June to Portugal. Mostly I'll be in Figueria Da Foz but I'll also spend a day of two in Lisbon. Of course, if the volcano decides to act up I might be spending a few days at Heathrow too!

I cannot find any info on gluten-free/Celiac for Portugal. I've only been diagnosed since April, so this is all new to me too. Has anyone here travelled to Portugal? Any advice?

I also can't eat fish and I gather that's the big food item there. I might be hungry by the time I get home!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tgrahek Newbie
tgrahek
Posted

I traveled to Portugal with my 2 Celiac kids in 2008. We stayed the whole time in Lisbon. I don't speak any Portuguese and I couldn't find any gluten free info before we left so I was very nervous. It really was no problem. I said as best I could in English and/or Spanish "my daughters have Celiac disease/ mis hijas tienen celiaca" and every waiter understood me and pointed to things on the menu that they could eat. Even at the buffet breakfast at the hotel, the cook made the girls special eggs and showed us which meat they could have. They didn't always eat as well as the rest of the group but they were never hungry. They had plenty of eggs and hamburger patties, but often had very nice meals.

Good luck, I think you will be fine.

PS They seemed to prefer English to Spanish in Lisbon- I think they don't like people thinking Spanish and Portuguese are the same thing. :)

ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted
  • Author

I traveled to Portugal with my 2 Celiac kids in 2008. We stayed the whole time in Lisbon. I don't speak any Portuguese and I couldn't find any gluten free info before we left so I was very nervous. It really was no problem. I said as best I could in English and/or Spanish "my daughters have Celiac disease/ mis hijas tienen celiaca" and every waiter understood me and pointed to things on the menu that they could eat. Even at the buffet breakfast at the hotel, the cook made the girls special eggs and showed us which meat they could have. They didn't always eat as well as the rest of the group but they were never hungry. They had plenty of eggs and hamburger patties, but often had very nice meals.

Good luck, I think you will be fine.

PS They seemed to prefer English to Spanish in Lisbon- I think they don't like people thinking Spanish and Portuguese are the same thing. :)

Thank you. This is reassuring!

I live in Canada so I have NO spansih (except maybe a bit from Dora the Explorer!!). I might be able to say it in French but I'm pretty much english only. I have very serious peanut and nut allergies (since I was an infant) and when we travelled to Prague 2 years ago I was able to communicate pretty well with everyone just using my english. If the waiter couldn't understand he found someone who could. Considering with my nut allergies my life really is on line, I (and my husband) were quite pleased with how easy it was! Sounds like it is similar in Portugal.

primresp Rookie
primresp
Posted

ChristieKate,

No worries. I'll get you hooked up.

I'm half portuguese (my dad is from Portugal) and I speak Portuguese fluently. My written portuguese isn't so good, as I never had to write in p., so I'll contact my dad and have him type something up for you, so you can show it to waiters, etc.

It is helpful to know some Spanish, as Port. and spanish are similar, but vast majority of folks over there will have at least moderate English skills, so you should be fine.

Yes, fish (codfish--bacalhau) is basically our national dish!! Funny, though, I just found out I'm allergic to codfish! Ha!

It may take me a few days, but I'll get you something to hand to your waiters and such. I'll email it to you or post it on this thread.

Feel free to email me at any point if you need anything!

Bemvindo a portugal (welcome to portugal!)

ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted
  • Author

ChristieKate,

No worries. I'll get you hooked up.

I'm half portuguese (my dad is from Portugal) and I speak Portuguese fluently. My written portuguese isn't so good, as I never had to write in p., so I'll contact my dad and have him type something up for you, so you can show it to waiters, etc.

It is helpful to know some Spanish, as Port. and spanish are similar, but vast majority of folks over there will have at least moderate English skills, so you should be fine.

Yes, fish (codfish--bacalhau) is basically our national dish!! Funny, though, I just found out I'm allergic to codfish! Ha!

It may take me a few days, but I'll get you something to hand to your waiters and such. I'll email it to you or post it on this thread.

Feel free to email me at any point if you need anything!

Bemvindo a portugal (welcome to portugal!)

Wow!! Thanks so much! That's very kind of you.

(I can actually tolerate some cod and haddock but as I have developed allergies to all other fish, eventually over the last few years, I kind of avoid it now. I never know when I will suddenly not be able to eat it anymore. )

I am getting very excited about our trip! :)

primresp Rookie
primresp
Posted

ChristieKate, Ok, here's what my dad wrote for you. I've included the english, so YOU know what it says, and if you want anything changed or added let me know.

Also, my dad discovered a website

Open Original Shared Link click on International Zone link on left hand side of homepage. Has info for celiac tourists.

I hope all this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.

********

I have celiac disease, which is a severe allergy to gluten. I cannot eat any foods that contain wheat, oats, barley, or rye. If I eat any of these foods I will become very sick for several days. I am also allergic to fish.

Can you please tell me what foods I might be able to eat on your menu? Please note that the food that is prepared for me cannot have even touched wheat,oats, barley, or rye, and that many food products may contain gluten, such as beers, breading and coating, dressings, marinades, sauces, soy sauce and thickeners. Thank you.

**********

Eu sofro da doen

  • 3 weeks later...
ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted
  • Author

ChristieKate, Ok, here's what my dad wrote for you. I've included the english, so YOU know what it says, and if you want anything changed or added let me know.

Also, my dad discovered a website

Open Original Shared Link click on International Zone link on left hand side of homepage. Has info for celiac tourists.

I hope all this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.

********

I have celiac disease, which is a severe allergy to gluten. I cannot eat any foods that contain wheat, oats, barley, or rye. If I eat any of these foods I will become very sick for several days. I am also allergic to fish.

Can you please tell me what foods I might be able to eat on your menu? Please note that the food that is prepared for me cannot have even touched wheat,oats, barley, or rye, and that many food products may contain gluten, such as beers, breading and coating, dressings, marinades, sauces, soy sauce and thickeners. Thank you.

**********

Eu sofro da doen

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

That is totally awesome!!!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. marlene333
      - marlene333 replied to Grace Good's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Bee balm lipbalm not gluten free

      To play it safe, use Vasoline Lip Therapy. No questions as to it containing gluten.
    2. Mari
      - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      Related issues

      jmartes, Thank you for sharing more information with us. Most of us Celiacs whose problems do not clear up with in a few years have to decide what to do next. We can keep seeing DR.s and hope that we will get some medication or advice that will improve our health. Or we can go looking for other ways to improve our health. Usually Celiac Disease is...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to catsrlife's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      It's unfortunate that they won't work with you on this, but in the end sometimes we have to take charge of our own health--which is exactly what happened to me. I did finally get the tests done, but only after years of going down various rabbit holes and suffering. Just quitting gluten may be the best path for you at this point.
    4. catsrlife
      - catsrlife replied to catsrlife's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      My doctor didn't take the time to listen to anything. I don't even think she knows what it means. She is more concerned about my blood pressure that is caused by her presence than anything else and just wants to push pills at me. The so-called dermatologist wouldn't do a skin test. she prescribed all of these silly antihistamine skin meds. This lady...
    5. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      Related issues

      I had the test done by one of the specialist through second pcp I had only a few months because he was saying I wasn't.Even though Im positive HLA-DQ2 .My celiac is down played.I am with new pcp, seeing another girl doctor who wants to do another breathe test next month though Im positive sibo this year.I have high blood pressure not sure if its pain from...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,265
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Midwesteaglesfan
    Newest Member
    Midwesteaglesfan
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • marlene333
      Bee balm lipbalm not gluten free

      By marlene333 · Posted

      To play it safe, use Vasoline Lip Therapy. No questions as to it containing gluten.
    • Mari
      Related issues

      By Mari · Posted

      jmartes, Thank you for sharing  more information with us. Most of us Celiacs whose problems do not clear up with in a few years have to decide what to do next. We can keep seeing DR.s and hope that we will get some  medication or advice that will improve our health. Or we can go looking for other ways to improve our health. Usually Celiac Disease is not a killer disease, it is a disabling disease as  you have found out. You have time to find some ways to help you recover. Stay on your gluten-free diet and be more careful in avoiding cross contamination . KnittyKitty  and others here can give you advice about avoiding some foods that can give you the gluten auto immune reaction and advice about vitamins and supplement that help celiacs. You may need to take higher doses of Vit. B12  and D3.  About 20 years before a Dr. suggested I might have Celiac disease I had health problems that all other Dr said they could not identify or treat. I was very opposed to alternative providers and treatments. So many people were getting help from a local healer I decided to try that out. It was a little helpful but then, because I had a good education in medical laboraties she gave me a book  to read and what did I think. With great skeptism I started reading and before I was half way through it I began using the methods outlined in the book. Using those herbs and supplements I went from hardly able to work to being able to work almost fulltime. I still use that program. But because I had undiagnosed celiac disease by 10 years later some  of my problems returned and I started to loose weight.    So how does a person find a program that will benefit them? Among the programs you can find online there are many that are snake oil scams and some that will be beneficial. by asking around, as I did. Is there an ND in your area? Do they reccomend that person? If you would like to read about the program I use go to www.drclark.net   
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's unfortunate that they won't work with you on this, but in the end sometimes we have to take charge of our own health--which is exactly what happened to me. I did finally get the tests done, but only after years of going down various rabbit holes and suffering. Just quitting gluten may be the best path for you at this point.
    • catsrlife
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By catsrlife · Posted

      My doctor didn't take the time to listen to anything. I don't even think she knows what it means. She is more concerned about my blood pressure that is caused by her presence than anything else and just wants to push pills at me. The so-called dermatologist wouldn't do a skin test. she prescribed all of these silly antihistamine skin meds. This lady didn't even know what she was talking about and said "they never turn out as celiac, they usually just say it's dermatitis so here's your meds," just like my regular quack. I'm trying to change insurance companies at the moment and that has been a battle because of red tape, wrong turns, and workers having wrong phone numbers. What a joke! The allergy blood days say I have a wheat allergy of .31. Hopefully it's just that and until I find a decent doctor and dermatologist, I'll just lay off the wheat anyway, since it gives me asthma, high blood sugar, and joint pain. So frustrated at this point. The rash on my back of arms/elbows is mostly gone. Both calves and chest have started up. smh. It comes and goes. It fades faster now, though, although my forearms still produce one or two bumps on each side. The itching has calmed down a lot except for the bump area. I have dry skin to begin with so anything affecting it just makes it crazy. i'm never going to eat wheat again. I don't care if they need it to produce results or if it is just an intolerance, allergy, or celiac. It gives me hell.
    • Jmartes71
      Related issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      I had the test done by one of the specialist through second pcp I had only a few months because he was saying I wasn't.Even though Im positive HLA-DQ2 .My celiac is down played.I am with new pcp, seeing another girl doctor who wants to do another breathe test next month though Im positive sibo this year.I have high blood pressure not sure if its pain from sciatica or sibo, ibs or hidden gluten. Im in disability limbo and I should have never been a bus driver because im still suffering and trying to heal with zero income except for my husband. This isnt fare that my health is dictating my living and having ti beg for being revalidation of my disregarded celiac disease. Its an emotional roller coaster I don't want to be on and the medical made it worse.New pcp new gi, exhausted, tired and really fed up. GI doctor NOT girl..
×
×
  • 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.