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

To Go To China Or Not ... Help!

Emilushka

By Emilushka
in Traveling with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

Hi! I'm new to the forums. My name is Emily. I am studying to be a doctor (less than a year to go until I get my MD! Woo hoo!) and I just got diagnosed with Celiac Disease a week and a half ago. I have already started feeling somewhat better, with less bloating and improving diarrhea and greatly reduced nausea (the gastritis seems to have been the worst of it for me). I'm definitely not at baseline yet, but I feel like the past week and a half have really confirmed my diagnosis.

As part of my medical school curriculum, I can pay extra money (which means extra loans) to go to China for a month and get some international medicine experience. The loans required aren't that prohibitive once you consider how much money I've already taken out.

But there's wheat in soy sauce, and there's lots of soy sauce in China. I do not speak Chinese. I will hopefully be in an area with a lot of English-speakers, but I won't be able to read labels or guarantee the source of my food. And the trip lasts for a month.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance if it doesn't make me horribly sick again, but if I spend the whole time feeling miserable, how can I enjoy it? Can I safely travel to China, not ever staying in a hotel, not speaking the language or reading labels?

I'd be living in a dorm. Eating a combination of cafeteria food (probably) and street/restaurant food. The program I'm going with is brand-new and poorly established. I'd be one of the first using the program at all. They have been slow to get back to me about required vaccinations, so I can only imagine what a nightmare the food experience could be.

What do you guys think, just knowing what you know about the difficulty associated with having Celiac? I don't want to spend my "glorious month" in China feeling sicker than a dog, or come back and feel the same. But I also don't want to miss out on an opportunity if it makes any sense for me to go.

Thoughts? Help?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Open Original Shared Link

This might be helpful.

Salem Rookie
Salem
Posted

I think it depends on a few things.

1. where in China- Hong Kong is the only place where gluten-free eating would be easy. Lots of Chinese food is naturally gluten free. Believe me, you can survive a pretty long time on rice, seafood, coffee and fruit. (at least that's what I survived on!)

2. can you be make your own food? It is much less stressful if you are making your own food and can focus on foods that are naturally gluten-free. I would suggest you bring soy sauce and lots of snacks with you.

3. when would you be going. You are still really new to this, it takes a while until you will feel more comfortable with cooking gluten-free

4. you can always volunteer your time afterwards to work short term in China (or anywhere else in the world)

?

Hi! I'm new to the forums. My name is Emily. I am studying to be a doctor (less than a year to go until I get my MD! Woo hoo!) and I just got diagnosed with Celiac Disease a week and a half ago. I have already started feeling somewhat better, with less bloating and improving diarrhea and greatly reduced nausea (the gastritis seems to have been the worst of it for me). I'm definitely not at baseline yet, but I feel like the past week and a half have really confirmed my diagnosis.

As part of my medical school curriculum, I can pay extra money (which means extra loans) to go to China for a month and get some international medicine experience. The loans required aren't that prohibitive once you consider how much money I've already taken out.

But there's wheat in soy sauce, and there's lots of soy sauce in China. I do not speak Chinese. I will hopefully be in an area with a lot of English-speakers, but I won't be able to read labels or guarantee the source of my food. And the trip lasts for a month.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance if it doesn't make me horribly sick again, but if I spend the whole time feeling miserable, how can I enjoy it? Can I safely travel to China, not ever staying in a hotel, not speaking the language or reading labels?

I'd be living in a dorm. Eating a combination of cafeteria food (probably) and street/restaurant food. The program I'm going with is brand-new and poorly established. I'd be one of the first using the program at all. They have been slow to get back to me about required vaccinations, so I can only imagine what a nightmare the food experience could be.

What do you guys think, just knowing what you know about the difficulty associated with having Celiac? I don't want to spend my "glorious month" in China feeling sicker than a dog, or come back and feel the same. But I also don't want to miss out on an opportunity if it makes any sense for me to go.

Thoughts? Help?

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted
  • Author

Open Original Shared Link

This might be helpful.

Thank you!

I think it depends on a few things.

1. where in China- Hong Kong is the only place where gluten-free eating would be easy. Lots of Chinese food is naturally gluten free. Believe me, you can survive a pretty long time on rice, seafood, coffee and fruit. (at least that's what I survived on!)

The two places I'm looking at are Shanghai and Beijing. My real worry is just that there will be soy sauce that sneaks into all the food and I'll end up feeling sick and miserable.

2. can you be make your own food? It is much less stressful if you are making your own food and can focus on foods that are naturally gluten-free. I would suggest you bring soy sauce and lots of snacks with you.

From previous posts to this forum, it seems like China doesn't allow anything organic to enter the country, so that would disallow snacks/soy sauce. But I will definitely ask if there's a way for me to cook for myself!

3. when would you be going. You are still really new to this, it takes a while until you will feel more comfortable with cooking gluten-free

I'd be going in April. By that point, I will be far from an expert, but I should have a better understanding of what I can and can't tolerate. I was diagnosed on September 10th, so that would get me over six months of experience with the gluten-free diet.

4. you can always volunteer your time afterwards to work short term in China (or anywhere else in the world)

Yes, and I plan to do exactly that. It's just hard to get a better opportunity than med school credit for traveling abroad for a whole month ... later on in life I'll have kids and a job. Right now I just have a really supportive and understanding fiance.

MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted

Shanghai is great. Assume Beijing would also be friendly. There is a local ex-pat support food allergy group there that can give a list of several restaurants. I think it's a Yahoo group. One of the large American hotels (Hyatt I think) makes gluten free bread that you can buy. There is also a grocery store chain called City Shop that carries western food and has tons of gluten-free food.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

I don't know much about China, but if you won't have access to a kitchen for full cooking you could buy a rice cooker when you get there. Buy a big bag of rice and subsist on rice and vegetables for a month. It would probably get boring but you could do it as long as you are not traveling to remote villages. Also many of the rice noodles I get at the Asian market here in the US just require hot water for several minutes to "cook". Seems like it would be easy to find plain rice noodles, but you will need an interpreter to help you.

TrillumHunter Enthusiast
TrillumHunter
Posted

GO! GO! GO!

If you were my kid, that's what I'd tell you. Eating plain rice and vegetables would hurt you at all for just one month. You can work it out. Don't let fear guide your decisions. Educate yourself and GO!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Here's an emergency plan. Because these are big cities, they probably have American hotels like Hyatt ( like Janet said). If you get in a pinch, you could always go to them for help and food.

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

GO! GO! GO!

If you were my kid, that's what I'd tell you. Eating plain rice and vegetables would hurt you at all for just one month. You can work it out. Don't let fear guide your decisions. Educate yourself and GO!

I agree! Life is to short for "I should haves".

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the tips, especially about the ex-pats and Hyatt and other possibilities.

I WILL GO. :-D

I may come back a couple pounds thinner from all the rice and veggies, but what's a couple more pounds between friends? I'll probably fit in better over there if I'm a couple pounds skinnier. From what I've heard from Chinese people I've known, the standard of "fatness" is quite different in China.

OK. I will admit that I am very nervous, but I will make it work. You guys are an inspiration.

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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Sarah Grace's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      21

      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      @Sarah Grace, Thank you for the update! It's so good to hear from you! I'm glad Thiamine, B Complex and magnesium have helped you. Yes, it's important to take all three together. I had to quit eating cheese and nuts a long time ago because they triggered migraines in me, too. They are high in tyrosine, an amino acid, found also in fermented...
    2. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      0

      Related issues

      Its been a complete nightmare dealing with all these health issues one thing after another and being told many different things.I am looking for a new primary care physician considering when I told my past doctor of 25 years I was diagnosed before any foods eliminated from my diet and now this year at age 54 no longer able to push considering Im always exhausted...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to Sarah Grace's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      21

      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to jessicafreya's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Tamale ingredients

      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    5. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Roses8721's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      6

      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      Just a gluten free diet is not enough. Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition. Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome. Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely. It takes...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,145
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kundrey
    Newest Member
    Kundrey
    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

    • knitty kitty
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Sarah Grace,  Thank you for the update!  It's so good to hear from you!  I'm glad Thiamine, B Complex and magnesium have helped you.  Yes, it's important to take all three together.    I had to quit eating cheese and nuts a long time ago because they triggered migraines in me, too.  They are high in tyrosine, an amino acid, found also in fermented foods like sauerkraut and red wine.   I found taking Tryptophan very helpful with migraines.  Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin and people with migraines are often low in serotonin.  (Don't take tryptophan if you're taking an SSRI.)     This recent study shows tryptophan really helps. The association between dietary tryptophan intake and migraine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31254181/   For immediate respite from a migraine, try smiling REALLY BIG, mouth closed, tongue pressed against roof of mouth, and crinkle up your eyes like you just heard or saw the funniest thing...  This causes an endorphin release in the brain.  Usually it's the funny event, then the endorphin release and then the smile.  Smiling first makes the endorphin center think it missed something and it catches up quickly by releasing endorphins after the big crinkle eyed smile.  Must make crinkly eyes with smile or it won't work.  If you do this too frequently within a short time frame (several hours), you can deplete your endorphins, but you'll make more in a couple of hours, so no worries. Get your thyroid checked, too.  Migraines are also seen in low thyroid function (Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism).  Celiac and thyroid problems go hand in hand.   Vitamin D helps, too.  Low Vitamin D is found in migraine.   I'm so glad you're doing better.  
    • Jmartes71
      Related issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Its been a complete nightmare dealing with all these health issues one thing after another and being told many different things.I am looking for a new primary care physician considering when I told my past doctor of 25 years I was diagnosed before any foods eliminated from my diet and now this year at age 54 no longer able to push considering Im always exhausted, leg pain , stomach,skin and eye issues,high blood pressure to name a few all worsen because I was a  school bus driver and few years until my immune system went to hell and was fired because of it.Im still struggling now, Im sibo positive and been told im not celiac and that I am.I have a hernia and dealing with menopause. Its exhausting and is causing depression because of non medical help. Today I saw another gastrointestinalist and he said everything im feeling doesn't add up to celiac disease since my ITg levels are normal so celiac disease is under control and it's something else. I for got I had Barrett's esophagus diagnosed in 2007 because recent doctors down played it just like my celiac disease. Im currently looking for a pcp in my area because it is affecting me personally and professionally. Im told since celiac looks under control it's IBS and I need to see a therapist to control it. Gastrointestinalist around here think only food consumption and if ITG looks normal its bit celiac disease it's something else. Is this right? This is what im being told. I want medical help but told its IBS.Im feel lost by " medical team "
    • trents
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By trents · Posted

      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan out in the long run. I'm not sure it's any one thing but may, instead, be a combination of things that coalesce at certain times. It's very frustrating. The medication (sumatriptan or "Imatrix") is effective and is the only thing that will quell the pain. NSAIDs, Tylenol, even hydrocodone doesn't touch it. But they only give you 9 does of sumatriptan a month. And it doesn't help that medical science doesn't really know what causes migraines. They know some things about it but the root cause is still a mystery.
    • Scott Adams
      Tamale ingredients

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    • Wheatwacked
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Just a gluten free diet is not enough.  Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition.  Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome.  Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely.  It takes time to heal and you need to focus on vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free foods are not fortified like regular processed foods.  
×
×
  • 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.