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

Ok.. Gotta Rant..

Nor-TX

By Nor-TX
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Nor-TX Enthusiast
Nor-TX
Posted

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.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jenngolightly Contributor
jenngolightly
Posted

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 Grand Master
kareng
Posted

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 Experienced
Gemini
Posted

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? :blink:

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! :P

India Contributor
India
Posted

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 Experienced
Gemini
Posted

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 Experienced
notme
Posted

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. :o 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.......

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

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 Enthusiast
Nor-TX
Posted
  • Author

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 Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

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

The public, hands down, no contest.

lynnelise Apprentice
lynnelise
Posted

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 Enthusiast
Nor-TX
Posted
  • Author

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 Contributor
Salax
Posted

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. :P

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

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 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

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 Proficient
mushroom
Posted

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" :lol:

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

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.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,919
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    globello
    Newest Member
    globello
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celic.com community @Dizzyma! I'm assuming you are in the U.K. since you speak of your daughter's celiac disease blood tests as "her bloods".  Has her physician officially diagnosed her has having celiac disease on the results of her blood tests alone? Normally, if the ttg-iga blood test results are positive, a follow-up endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining to check for damage would be ordered to confirm the results of "the bloods". However if the ttg-iga test score is 10x normal or greater, some physicians, particularly in the U.K., will dispense with the endoscopy/biopsy. If there is to be an endoscopy/biopsy, your daughter should not yet begin the gluten free diet as doing so would allow healing of the small bowel lining to commence which may result in a biopsy finding having results that conflict with the blood work. Do you know if an endoscopy/biopsy is planned? Celiac disease can have onset at any stage of life, from infancy to old age. It has a genetic base but the genes remain dormant until and unless triggered by some stress event. The stress event can be many things but it is often a viral infection. About 40% of the general population have the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% actually develop celiac disease. So, for most, the genes remain dormant.  Celiac disease is by nature an autoimmune disorder. That is to say, gluten ingestion triggers an immune response that causes the body to attack its own tissues. In this case, the attack happens in he lining of the small bowel, at least classically, though we now know there are other body systems that can sometimes be affected. So, for a person with celiac disease, when they ingest gluten, the body sends attacking cells to battle the gluten which causes inflammation as the gluten is being absorbed into the cells that make up the lining of the small bowel. This causes damage to the cells and over time, wears them down. This lining is composed of billions of tiny finger-like projections and which creates a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients from the food we eat. This area of the intestinal track is where all of our nutrition is absorbed. As these finger-like projections get worn down by the constant inflammation from continued gluten consumption before diagnosis (or after diagnosis in the case of those who are noncompliant) the efficiency of nutrient absorption from what we eat can be drastically reduced. This is why iron deficiency anemia and other nutrient deficiency related medical problems are so common in the celiac population. So, to answer your question about the wisdom of allowing your daughter to consume gluten on a limited basis to retain some tolerance to it, that would not be a sound approach because it would prevent healing of the lining of her small bowel. It would keep the fires of inflammation smoldering. The only wise course is strict adherence to a gluten free diet, once all tests to confirm celiac disease are complete.
    • Dizzyma
      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      By Dizzyma · Posted

      Hi all, I have so many questions and feel like google is giving me very different information. Hoping I may get some more definite answers here. ok, my daughter has been diagnosed as a coeliac as her bloods show anti TTG antibodies are over 128. We have started her  on a full gluten free diet. my concerns are that she wasn’t actually physically sick on her regular diet, she had tummy issues and skin sores. My fear is that she will build up a complete intolerance to gluten and become physically sick if she has gluten. Is there anything to be said for keeping a small bit of gluten in the diet to stop her from developing a total intolerance?  also, she would be an anxious type of person, is it possible that stress is the reason she has become coeliac? I read that diagnosis later in childhood could be following a sickness or stress. How can she have been fine for the first 10 years and then become coeliac? sorry, I’m just very confused and really want to do right by her. I know a coeliac and she has a terrible time after she gets gluttened so just want to make sure going down a total gluten free road is the right choice. thank you for any help or advise xx 
    • xxnonamexx
      Fermented foods, Kefir, Kombucha?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      very interesting thanks for the info  
    • Florence Lillian
      gluten free cookie recipes

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      More cookie recipes ...thanks so much for the heads-up Scott.  One can never have too many.  Cheers, Florence.
    • Russ H
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By Russ H · Posted

      Hi Charlie, You sound like you have been having a rough time of it. Coeliac disease can cause a multitude of skin, mouth and throat problems. Mouth ulcers and enamel defects are well known but other oral conditions are also more common in people with coeliac disease: burning tongue, inflamed and swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, redness and crusting in the mouth corners, and dry mouth to name but some. The link below is for paediatric dentistry but it applies to adults too.  Have you had follow up for you coeliac disease to check that your anti-tTG2 antibodies levels have come down? Are you certain that you not being exposed to significant amounts of gluten? Are you taking a PPI for your Barrett's oesophagus? Signs of changes to the tongue can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, B12 and B9 (folate) deficiency. I would make sure to take a good quality multivitamin every day and make sure to take it with vitamin C containing food - orange juice, broccoli, cabbage etc.  Sebaceous hyperplasia is common in older men and I can't find a link to coeliac disease.   Russ.   Oral Manifestations in Pediatric Patients with Coeliac Disease – A Review Article
×
×
  • 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.