I Yelled At Someone

[sandsurfgirl]

I yelled at my neighbor yesterday. He is a nice guy so I don't want to paint him like he's a big jerk or anything. But he has made some teeny tiny comments sort of not taking my celiac seriously enough.

Well yesterday we BBQ'd together. They brought steak and I provided chicken. He was grilling on my grill and then I realized I better check to see what's on the steak. Then he rolled his eyes at me and said "Oh give me a break. A little bit of gluten on the steak isn't going to hurt you."

I have gotten glutened by tiny trace amounts before. I just lost it and I yelled at him "It makes me effin sick!" Then I calmly told him horrible tales of dizzy spells, diarrhea, and stomache pain so bad it felt like a knife twisting in my gut.

I just got over being glutened and having bronchitis and I just had no patience for the threat of being glutened on my own grill! I did apologize for yelling, but also told him he was being an idiot for saying stuff like that to me and I tattled to his wife who gave him a tongue lashing.

It did end up that the steak seasoning was fine and there was no danger.

[Marilyn R]

Of course you yelled at your neighbor! You wondered wether or not you were going to be poisoned again, and he rolled his eyes!!!! It was heroic of you to apologize ...

Thanks for posting this because it makes me (newbie) realize that I'm not the only one to freak out a little when people potentially cross contaminate or verbally/visually minimalize the risk of cc.

[curiousgirl]

U go girl! I try to be understanding that unless you don't have it, you can't understand it. But to be disrespectful like that? No excuse!

[loco-ladi]

Been there done that! dont feel bad about it! i make sure if any BBQ'ing is done when i am not there, the grill grates get a very good washing

[sandsurfgirl]

Thanks for the support. My celiac peeps get it! It is so scary to think I could face days of being ill because somebody is being a jerk. The sad thing is he's not a jerk. He's a pretty nice guy and good friend, but I don't know what got into his head. He saw how sick I was before. He's seen the changes in me since going gluten free.

I couldn't believe I even cursed at him! I did not really say "effing." Just being polite here. I gave that word particular emphasis!

[Charlie's Girl]

I, too, am soooooo sick of people's cavalier attitude with my health.

I have been sick off and on most of the summer. I am desperate to feel well and after having my first taste of it in June- I am willing to live off sticks and twigs if that's what it takes. I was cc'ed one week ago Monday and still have lingering symptoms.

We aren't doing this to be prissy. This isn't fun. And it is most certainly an inconvenience.

What will it take for the mainstream to understand that yes, just a little bit really can hurt- a lot- for a long time?

Sorry to hear you were cc'ed. I can't imagine adding bronchitis to the mix. Poor baby!

I'm glad your grill wasn't contaminated and that you have moved past this with your friends. Look at it this way- you have taught another person about Celiac in the manner that it took for him to understand. We all learn differently. Guess he just needed a "stronger" lesson.

[Marilyn R]

This evening I reacted strongly to my dear boyfriend sticking his unwashed hand into a bag of corn chips! (He was drinking a beer at the time, and we were having a nice conversation when he walked into the kitchen and grabbed the bag of chips and did the dirty deed.)

I've talked to him several times about cc in a calm manner. Tonight I guess he'd had it and I've had it. I told him I'm sick of being sick and this is a disease...why can't he get it? You pour the chips on a plate or a paper napkin or into your hand and not stick your dirty glutened hand into my safe food!!

He called me BUBBLE GIRL!

Even though he has apologized and was very sweet about making amends, I'm still seething about it. What really bums me out is that my family and our mutual friends would commisserate with him and concur that I'm whacked.

[kareng]

I've been doing this for a 7 months. It can take months for new habits to take effect, especially for the gluten eaters. I just told them if they screwed up and got the bread out & then used their hands to get the cheese slices, tell me. We mark them & I get a new package for me. I try not to be mad cause I want them to tell me if something might be contaminated.

Remember, Bubble Girls can't come out of the bubble for chores or affection.

[K8ling]

YOU GO GIRL!!!!

I am so proud of you for standing up for yourself!!

[aderifield]

I totally understand how you felt. Very few people understand exactly what it is like to battle what lurks within our environments all the time. My sister told me the other day that I could sneak a cookie a few times a year....

Gluten-free, please.

I'm making three trips between now and the end of the year, health willing. I'm scared to death of staying in the homes of my relatives during this time. I know I'm going to be freaking out and paranoid the whole time.

[mommyto3]

My relatives were recently "upset" because I brought my own toaster to a cottage that didn't have a toaster and they didn't understand why they couldn't toast their whole wheat bread in it. I could feel the eye rolling behind my back.

I wanted to yell but didn't......in hindsight I wish I had!

Good for you

[kitgordon]

This is mean, but when I read here I am SO grateful almost all my relatives were diagnosed before me. I always feel safe at their houses, and everyone understands.

[Marilyn R]

This is mean, but when I read here I am SO grateful almost all my relatives were diagnosed before me. I always feel safe at their houses, and everyone understands.

Karen, your post about bubble girl was like a tonic for what ailed me. Thank you! And Kit, your post wasn't mean at all, it just reinforces that there are people who really understand/empathize and are safe ... people who have celiac disease.

I wish you with the best with your travels, aderifiele, and know what you're going through even though I only have one trip planned before then end of the year. I hope everything goes smoothly.

Mommyto3, I'm really proud of you for having the backbone not to screech when your outlaw relatives wanted to use your dedicated toaster.

This website keeps me (reasonably) sane. Thank you so much for your positive feedback everyone. And if I "hijacked" this last thread last night, I'm ss.

[kareng]

Karen, your post about bubble girl was like a tonic for what ailed me. Thank you! And Kit, your post wasn't mean at all, it just reinforces that there are people who really understand/empathize and are safe ... people who have celiac disease.

I wish you with the best with your travels, aderifiele, and know what you're going through even though I only have one trip planned before then end of the year. I hope everything goes smoothly.

Mommyto3, I'm really proud of you for having the backbone not to screech when your outlaw relatives wanted to use your dedicated toaster.

This website keeps me (reasonably) sane. Thank you so much for your positive feedback everyone. And if I "hijacked" this last thread last night, I'm ss.

I don't think of it as " hijacking". I think of it as our minds wandering off on a tangent.....

[sandsurfgirl]

My parents are just the opposite. They are so worried I will get sick they go overboard and tell me not to eat things that are safe. I love it. I know I can eat safely at their house even if there's gluten being prepared.

[aderifield]

Thanks, guys.

[Cheryl-C]

Some people have a hard time understanding, and I can't say that I really blame them. A couple of months ago I was eating small amounts of gluten (tortillas, a piece of rye bread here and there) and I was ok. Yes my stomach hurt and my bowels were irregular, and I was tired, but I was ok. Since going off gluten entirely, coming into contact with even a *little* makes me really, really sick. People have a hard time figuring it out: "Two months ago you ate that just fine. Why are you freaking out now? How can it be so serious now?" It doesn't help that I don't have an answer.

Deep breath, patience, and between the eyes when they deserve it.

[Marz]

My hubby says this to me sometimes, I try keep the lid on my anger because he really just doesn't understand. I tried to compare it to a peanut allergy, but he really just rolled his eyes at me.

Otherwise he's very understanding about it, and even saved me a few times from eating something unsafe. He just doesn't understand why even a little bit could hurt!

I try toe the line between expressing how necessary it is to keep gluten out of my food/plate/mouth, "even breadcrumbs", and not getting so worked up about it that it affects the rest of our day together.