Ok.. Gotta Rant..

[Nor-TX]

I work in an elementary school. Today certain staff were supposed to bring in treats - it was my day. I brought in gluten-free/dairy free hummous and gluten-free riceworks chips and labelled the platter gluten free and dairy free.

Our school nurse was in the room stuffing herself with rice krispie squares, melted cheese from the inside of a bread bowl and when I pointed out what I brought she said, oh good, because I can't eat wheat. I told her that my platter was gluten free but I then pointed out that the rice krispie treats and the melted cheese she was eating had gluten. She told me in a condesending manner that no, they are RICE Krispies... hence no wheat, and the cheese was ok because she scooped it from the center of the bread bowl. I tried to point out some issues and she finally said, "No, it is just the wheat in bread that she can't eat!!!" This woman is the school nurse???!!!

The staff always makes me feel like I am just trying to be difficult because I don't eat their food and usually bring my own treats. I just don't even bother going in to the lounge when food has been brought in... it's just now worth it. I gotta say, not sure which is harder - dealing with the public or dealing with the diet.

[jenngolightly]

I work in an elementary school. Today certain staff were supposed to bring in treats - it was my day. I brought in gluten-free/dairy free hummous and gluten-free riceworks chips and labelled the platter gluten free and dairy free.

Our school nurse was in the room stuffing herself with rice krispie squares, melted cheese from the inside of a bread bowl and when I pointed out what I brought she said, oh good, because I can't eat wheat. I told her that my platter was gluten free but I then pointed out that the rice krispie treats and the melted cheese she was eating had gluten. She told me in a condesending manner that no, they are RICE Krispies... hence no wheat, and the cheese was ok because she scooped it from the center of the bread bowl. I tried to point out some issues and she finally said, "No, it is just the wheat in bread that she can't eat!!!" This woman is the school nurse???!!!

The staff always makes me feel like I am just trying to be difficult because I don't eat their food and usually bring my own treats. I just don't even bother going in to the lounge when food has been brought in... it's just now worth it. I gotta say, not sure which is harder - dealing with the public or dealing with the diet.

I vote "public."

[kareng]

I work in an elementary school. Today certain staff were supposed to bring in treats - it was my day. I brought in gluten-free/dairy free hummous and gluten-free riceworks chips and labelled the platter gluten free and dairy free.

Our school nurse was in the room stuffing herself with rice krispie squares, melted cheese from the inside of a bread bowl and when I pointed out what I brought she said, oh good, because I can't eat wheat. I told her that my platter was gluten free but I then pointed out that the rice krispie treats and the melted cheese she was eating had gluten. She told me in a condesending manner that no, they are RICE Krispies... hence no wheat, and the cheese was ok because she scooped it from the center of the bread bowl. I tried to point out some issues and she finally said, "No, it is just the wheat in bread that she can't eat!!!" This woman is the school nurse???!!!

The staff always makes me feel like I am just trying to be difficult because I don't eat their food and usually bring my own treats. I just don't even bother going in to the lounge when food has been brought in... it's just now worth it. I gotta say, not sure which is harder - dealing with the public or dealing with the diet.

I would have said something like "I know that even the barley malt in the Rice Krispies and the crumbs in the bread bowl will cause an immune response and distruction of my intestines."

[Gemini]

I work in an elementary school. Today certain staff were supposed to bring in treats - it was my day. I brought in gluten-free/dairy free hummous and gluten-free riceworks chips and labelled the platter gluten free and dairy free.

Our school nurse was in the room stuffing herself with rice krispie squares, melted cheese from the inside of a bread bowl and when I pointed out what I brought she said, oh good, because I can't eat wheat. I told her that my platter was gluten free but I then pointed out that the rice krispie treats and the melted cheese she was eating had gluten. She told me in a condesending manner that no, they are RICE Krispies... hence no wheat, and the cheese was ok because she scooped it from the center of the bread bowl. I tried to point out some issues and she finally said, "No, it is just the wheat in bread that she can't eat!!!" This woman is the school nurse???!!!

The staff always makes me feel like I am just trying to be difficult because I don't eat their food and usually bring my own treats. I just don't even bother going in to the lounge when food has been brought in... it's just now worth it. I gotta say, not sure which is harder - dealing with the public or dealing with the diet.

One of the things which has never, even after almost 6 years gluten-free, failed to amaze me is the general level of ignorance regarding cc from most people I encounter with regards to Celiac. Most people seem to grasp the idea that someone with a peanut allergy cannot come into contact with a peanut, on any level, or they could die on the spot. Maybe that's what it takes for people to get it?

I realize that Celiacs can touch bread and have bread in their presence without an issue but why anyone would think you can eat around the gluten and be fine is mind blowing. Would they do that with something that had salmonella bacteria in it? I hardly think so. I have also found that it's medical people in particular who are the most ignorant or in denial about things and then when you point something out, nicely, they get all bent out of shape because they automatically assume they know more than you do about these things.

As much as I would like to help others learn as much as they can about their condition, I have stopped helping people, unless they ask me for help. It just isn't worth the aggravation. As for those people who like to make us look difficult with regards to food issues, the problem is theirs. I think there are many who resent those who have self control over what they eat and don't have a hissy fit because we can't eat the donuts. What I get at work are questions from people as to why I won't eat the frosting off the cake when the other Celiac in our group does? I always reply that I am not stupid, that's why!

[India]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but wasn't the nurse saying only that she had couldn't eat wheat? I agree that as the school nurse, she should have a better understanding of coeliac disease, but she seemed to be describing her own condition as a wheat intolerance, not a problem with gluten. It may be that she can eat barley products or even tolerate small amounts of wheat.

[Gemini]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but wasn't the nurse saying only that she had couldn't eat wheat? I agree that as the school nurse, she should have a better understanding of coeliac disease, but she seemed to be describing her own condition as a wheat intolerance, not a problem with gluten. It may be that she can eat barley products or even tolerate small amounts of wheat.

If the school nurse cannot eat wheat, then the Rice Krispies and bread bowl would have been a no-no. Even if she has an allergy vs. Celiac, those foods are a wheat bomb and would cause her a problem....if she really does have a problem. Wheat allergy can be as bad as Celiac....the reaction may be different but wheat should not be consumed.

[notme]

I tried to point out some issues and she finally said, "No, it is just the wheat in bread that she can't eat!!!" This woman is the school nurse???!!!

seriously!! ok, is this because: WE know more about this disease than most medical professionals?? the nurse (at my GI's office) called to give me my test results and then when i had questions for her she referred me to..... umm...... HERE! last month i had bronchitis that wasn't getting any better so i went to my doctor's office and saw one of the nurse practitioner to get antibiotics. when she was writing my prescription she checked my drug allergies and i told her to add gluten to the list because i have celiac disease. she acted like she had never heard of it and i (in shock!) explained to her what i could and couldn't ingest. i said, "haha i even had a bad reaction to lip gloss" and she says, (sarcastically!) "you can't even *touch* it???" i don't know where she applies her lip gloss. maybe her butt, because when i gave the office girl my chart back, i saw that the np had written "celiac sprue" (i never say 'sprue') on it so *obviously* she had heard of it. maybe she slept through that class.......

[psawyer]

Kellogg's Rice Krispies ingredients, taken from their web site:

RICE, SUGAR, SALT, MALT FLAVORING, IRON, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), NIACINAMIDE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B12, VITAMIN D.

There is no wheat. The gluten comes from the fourth ingredient, malt flavoring. It's barley.

[Nor-TX]

I heard the nurse telling another staff that she can't eat wheat because of the gluten in it. To me, that means she needs to be on a gluten free diet. She is always complaining of headaches and body aches... now I know why.

[jerseyangel]

I heard the nurse telling another staff that she can't eat wheat because of the gluten in it. To me, that means she needs to be on a gluten free diet. She is always complaining of headaches and body aches... now I know why.

She's only fooling herself

[kayo]

I gotta say, not sure which is harder - dealing with the public or dealing with the diet.

The public, hands down, no contest.

[lynnelise]

I was going to say that I have a friend who gets sinus congestion when she eats a lot of wheat so while she avoids it for the most part she will occassionally eat white bread (for some reason enriched bread doesn't cause as bad of a reaction in her, only whole wheat). I thought maybe the nurse had a similar situation but since you've clarified that she said it was the gluten causing her reaction then it would be in her best interest to not be so rude and to accept your help!

I agree the public is worse than dealing with the diet.

When I bring gluten free dips with crackers or chips it never fails that someone will dip a piece of bread or a regular cracker in there. Then they act like they don't know why I can't eat anymore...Infuriating!!!

[Nor-TX]

I was going to say that I have a friend who gets sinus congestion when she eats a lot of wheat so while she avoids it for the most part she will occassionally eat white bread (for some reason enriched bread doesn't cause as bad of a reaction in her, only whole wheat). I thought maybe the nurse had a similar situation but since you've clarified that she said it was the gluten causing her reaction then it would be in her best interest to not be so rude and to accept your help!

I agree the public is worse than dealing with the diet.

When I bring gluten free dips with crackers or chips it never fails that someone will dip a piece of bread or a regular cracker in there. Then they act like they don't know why I can't eat anymore...Infuriating!!!

Yep, their comment is usually... "Oops... sorry, a little won't hurt you." and then they giggle.

[Salax]

Yep, their comment is usually... "Oops... sorry, a little won't hurt you." and then they giggle.

Oh I hate that! It's they think its a joke or its a fun/funny thing..hehe, haha, giggle....When I want to do is slap them when they make that ignorant comment. It's like you want to grab their food and sprinkle it with a arsenic and give it back to them while saying, "Oops sorry, a little won't hurt you." then giggle. OOOOH that would feel good.

[Gemini]

Kellogg's Rice Krispies ingredients, taken from their web site:

RICE, SUGAR, SALT, MALT FLAVORING, IRON, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), NIACINAMIDE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B12, VITAMIN D.

There is no wheat. The gluten comes from the fourth ingredient, malt flavoring. It's barley.

Thanks for clarifying that, Peter. As a non-cereal eater, I assumed krispies had wheat, as everyone with Celiac seems to avoid it. However, I would also assume that the bread bowl did contain wheat, and maybe barley also, but I know there is definitely wheat in bread. That's such a no-brainer, it's mind boggling to think anyone who avoids wheat would do that but they do.

[cap6]

How about when they say "oh, you can't eat it? Well, too bad. I can" and then stuff it in their face. grrrrr!!

[mushroom]

Just picture boils erupting all over their body, their fingers crippling into arthritic claws, their bodies doubled over in cramping pain, hives and DH erupting and their trying to scratch them with their arthritic limbs, and say, "Enjoy"

[Juliebove]

Did she say why she can't eat wheat? BTW, Rice Krispies do not contain wheat. Gluten yes. But wheat? No.

My mother is not supposed to eat wheat. For her it is not an allergy but it does bother her athritis. She does eat it though and much like the nurse thinks of it only in things like bread. She doesn't even think of it in things like pancakes which also contain eggs, which she IS allergic to.

People avoid things for different reasons. But when they do things like that, it makes it really tough for the rest of us who really do have to avoid things because of problems like celiac and allergies.