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

A Big Surprise Of My Life!

Simona19

By Simona19
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Simona19 Collaborator
Simona19
Posted

Hi!

On Saturday I attendet my Girlfriend's Bitrhday party. She knows me and my medical history for about 5 years. She was so kind and made gluten and casein free dinner for me. I was very thankful for that, but the remark what she told at the end was the biggest surprise of my life. She said: " You need to change your job because all your problems with allergies and intolerances are in your head. Change your job and you will feel better." Other friend agreed to that. I was stunned. What? I made my food intolerances and allergies in my head? How? I explain to them that I'm not depresed and I'm not making nothig in my head. My body is reacting to something - nuts, flour, milk casein, kiwi, fructose and more.

And the worst part from this is that my friend was a nurse in my country for many years and here, in the USA, she is a nurse assistent, or caregiver. She was in school for that. I can't get over that.

I just wanted to share this with somebody who understand.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted

It's really quite amazing how many people (who have no "issues" or at least who think they don't) are totally insensitive and uncomprehending and unempathetic about it. Forty years ago when my mom was so sick and as yet undiagnosed (because so few doctors knew anything about celiac disease), she had a whole string of doctors who told her it was in her head. As for other people in her life, they were of course totally ignorant about celiac disease and its effects, so they often seemed to think my mom was overacting about it all...."Can't you eat just a little bit of gluten?" She should have invited such people into the bathroom with her as she threw up for hours and of course the D that went with it all.

I think you just have to accept and understand that this is how people often are, and how they often don't take this seriously. Nothing you can do about all this, either, but learn to not let it bother you!

gary'sgirl Explorer
gary'sgirl
Posted

Hi!

On Saturday I attendet my Girlfriend's Bitrhday party. She knows me and my medical history for about 5 years. She was so kind and made gluten and casein free dinner for me. I was very thankful for that, but the remark what she told at the end was the biggest surprise of my life. She said: " You need to change your job because all your problems with allergies and intolerances are in your head. Change your job and you will feel better." Other friend agreed to that. I was stunned. What? I made my food intolerances and allergies in my head? How? I explain to them that I'm not depresed and I'm not making nothig in my head. My body is reacting to something - nuts, flour, milk casein, kiwi, fructose and more.

And the worst part from this is that my friend was a nurs in my country for many years and here, in the USA, she is nurs assistent, or caregiver. She was in school for that. I can't get over that.

I just wanted to share this with somebody who understand.

I'm so sorry that your friends responded in this way. I don't know what people are thinking when they say such ignorant things such as what your friend said to you. I come across responses like this too - I'm sure I would more, but I am pretty much secluded from people right now, but they still say really discouraging things.

Try to remember that they have no idea what it's like to have a problem like this and even if they do some times people just can't look past what they are going through.

I wish all of us could have a close friend that live near us who was going through the same thing and could understand and just be an encouragement.

I hope you have some encouragement soon!

~Sarah

lynnelise Apprentice
lynnelise
Posted

I think one reason that people like to think that stuff like this only exists in our mind because to admit that it's real would be admitting it could happen to them. My friends and family act like their whole world would be over without gluten. It's really ridiculous to give food that much power over your life but they do it. Just ignore them. You know the truth. Give them graphic details about what happens when you eat gluten if that is what it takes. Also point out that if your job was the cause of your issues then removing a food from your diet wouldn't make any difference at all assuming you still work the same job!

Dixiebell Contributor
Dixiebell
Posted

I think one reason that people like to think that stuff like this only exists in our mind because to admit that it's real would be admitting it could happen to them.

Well said lynnelise.

This is so true.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I'll tell you another reason people think food problems are all in our heads. When my High School senior was in grade school, peanut allergies were all the rage. I know they are real and immediately life threatening. We had so many kids with supposed peanut allergies eating M& Ms and fries cooked in peanut oil. Kids with allergies to things they didn't like like broccoli. It was nuts! It got to the point that if you offered some of these kids something they didn't want, instead of " No, thank you.". You got " I'm allergic!"

I felt bad for the kid with the real peanut allergy.

Oh yeah! Most of the active boys had ADHD. I said mine just needs a bit of exercise each day.

Katie B Apprentice
Katie B
Posted

This would be in my "time to get new friends" category - but you would know more about the context. Oftentimes you can't force people to understand things even if there are a million sources on the internet (and your friend is a nurse?!).

Fine to still talk to them but it might be nice to make some more connections with people who you don't have to convince.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Simona19 Collaborator
Simona19
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the kind words of comfort. It helps to know that I'm not alone. I think it was a long time ago that my friend - nurse gradueted from her nursing school. I wasn't even able to say something. All guests agreed with her. I just looked at my mom and shook my head with disbelieve. I can't get over, still. I'm lucky that my mom is on my side. She was the one who forced me to go gluten free.

Thank you again for all your replies. I hope that ones there will be time when people and specialy doctors would know and understand the celiac disease. B)B)B)

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

Why didn't she tell you how she really feels! People are so clueless, even in the medical profession.. Sorry you had to experience that ---- I would ditch the friend & find one that truly understands & cares for you as you are...gluten free & all !!!! The good news is you are not married to her......

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

I would LOVE it if celiac were in my head. Too bad I have BLOOD TESTS to prove otherwise. EYEROLL. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I'm sure you would have loved to slap them... in your head of course.

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. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to Dizzyma's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      Hi @Dizzyma I note what @trents has commented about you possibly posting from the UK. Just to let you know that am a coeliac based in the UK, so if that is the case, do let me know if can help you with any questions on the NHS provision for coeliacs. If you are indeed based in the UK, and coeliac disease is confirmed, I would thoroughly recommend...
    2. trents
      - trents replied to Dizzyma's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      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...
    3. Dizzyma
      - Dizzyma posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      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 s...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Better-Than-Takeout Gluten-Free Chicken Fried Rice

    5. Kimmy88
      - Kimmy88 commented on Scott Adams's article in Winter 2026 Issue
      2

      Gut Healing After a Celiac Diagnosis: What Science Says About Recovery Time (+Video)

      Excellent article!! I shared with my family, so they would understand!
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,921
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Rusty49
    Newest Member
    Rusty49
    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

    • cristiana
      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @Dizzyma I note what @trents has commented about you possibly posting from the UK.  Just to let you know that am a coeliac based in the UK, so if that is the case, do let me know if can help you with any questions on the NHS provision for coeliacs.    If you are indeed based in the UK, and coeliac disease is confirmed, I would thoroughly recommend you join Coeliac UK, as they provide a printed food and drink guide and also a phone app which you can take shopping with you so you can find out if a product is gluten free or not. But one thing I would like to say to you, no matter where you live, is you mention that your daughter is anxious.  I was always a bit of a nervous, anxious child but before my diagnosis in mid-life my anxiety levels were through the roof.   My anxiety got steadily better when I followed the gluten-free diet and vitamin and mineral deficiencies were addressed.  Anxiety is very common at diagnosis, you may well find that her anxiety will improve once your daughter follows a strict gluten-free diet. Cristiana 
    • 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.
×
×
  • 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.