Is There A Food You Miss So Much That It's Worth The Consequences?

[zus888]

Granted, I haven't started the diet yet (just one more week!), but I was thinking as I was downing a sweet roll at Golden Corral that I might just take the consequences of being glutened by eating one of those rolls. Obviously, I have no idea how bad being glutened will be for me, but I'm wondering if I'll cheat and deal with the consequences. Drinking alcohol affects my digestive system quite dramatically. Last time, I was sick for 2 days. But I know I'll probably drink again. Prior to my last time, it had been 6 months since my last drink and prior to that it had been years. It's just that, sometimes, it's worth the consequences.

Does anyone here cheat at all and just deal with the consequences or is everyone very stringent?

[Strawberry-Jam]

I've only just started the gluten-free diet myself (diagnosed two days ago), but still... why would you want to cheat if it's gonna make you sick? I guess it would depend on how sick you were gonna get, but... I'm pretty good about enduring pain/discomfort in the present to avoid it in the future (or at least I like to think so).

[zus888]

Sorry! I didn't see the other post that asks pretty much the same exact question. I would delete this if I could.

[waterlily-]

Sooo many foods. ack!

[GlutenFreeManna]

No. I never cheat. Well, I did once, when I was early in the diet and unsure if I really needed to stick to it. Never again. The consequences for me are so severe--everything from bleeding to seizures--and the pain and fatigue lasts for almost a week. I would rather not go back to having my driver's license medically revoked because I wanted a certain food. And if I forget how bad the symptoms are, the word CANCER keeps me on the straight and narrow. I know the cancer is not common but I have a strong family history of intestinal cancer. I saw those family members suffer and waste away before my eyes and I suspect they really had untreated celiac. No cinnimon roll or slice of pizza is worth the risk of cancer surgery and chemo in my future.

[hockeymomofceliacchild]

I've only just started the gluten-free diet myself (diagnosed two days ago), but still... why would you want to cheat if it's gonna make you sick? I guess it would depend on how sick you were gonna get, but... I'm pretty good about enduring pain/discomfort in the present to avoid it in the future (or at least I like to think so).

Cheating is a personal choice those with serious and very uncomfortable symptoms probably wouldn't even dream of it. My brother was diagnosed about 10 years ago he wouldn't dream of cheating his DH (skin rash) kicks in. My son was just diagnosed and I hope to get him gluten free as soon as I can (need to learn where all it is hiding first). As for myself I cringe at the thought of my test results coming back positive but it would explain so many other things I would never have assotiated with celiac.

My sons pediatrician explained it like this "gluten is a carsinegin (spelling?) to a celiac if it is ingested it can cause cancer amoung many other issues" She said it would be like handing my son a cigarette, lots of people know the consequences but still do it.

I just had a conversation with an acquintance who told me she has it too then I watched her eat at the arena at least three things she should not have eaten. I of course pointed a few things out then realized she is aware and chooses to eat as she likes and suffer for it later You have to want to do it no one can make you do it. Good luck and hope you find the will power to stay on track and get healthy I may have to find some support too if my results come back not in my favor

[Terri O]

No. I never cheat. Well, I did once, when I was early in the diet and unsure if I really needed to stick to it. Never again. The consequences for me are so severe--everything from bleeding to seizures--and the pain and fatigue lasts for almost a week. I would rather not go back to having my driver's license medically revoked because I wanted a certain food. And if I forget how bad the symptoms are, the word CANCER keeps me on the straight and narrow. I know the cancer is not common but I have a strong family history of intestinal cancer. I saw those family members suffer and waste away before my eyes and I suspect they really had untreated celiac. No cinnimon roll or slice of pizza is worth the risk of cancer surgery and chemo in my future.

I agree totally with you! You must equate eating gluten with eating rat poison (that was in an article I read) would you do it? Nope!

[cyberprof]

I can't bring myself to cheat. If you think of human biology, we have negative associations with things that make us sick. It's negative reinforcement. I even have trouble eating at restaurants that gluten me by accident.

I don't characterize it as rat poison, I liken it to arsenic because a little will make you sick but a lot will kill you...you just don't know how much it will take to kill you. But a carcinogen is a good analogy too.

[annegirl]

I'm finding that there really is nothing that is good enough to make up for feeling sick for days after. I'm still recovering from a double whammy of ranch of my dressing (hopeful test of my lactose tolerance....fail!) and hot wings that I took a chance on because my gluten intolerant friend ate them.

I guess it would depend on you, but I sorta feel like Pavlov's dog. After a couple times of getting sick, I am conditioned to see things with gluten (and lactose!) as poison.

[ravenwoodglass]

There is nothing that would tempt me to cheat. It is so not worth it.

[India]

Easting gluten sets off an immune reaction that attacks the lining of the intestines and can cause a myriad of seen and unseen symptoms that can last for weeks. I can't see why anyone would you deliberately do that to themselves for the sake of eating a roll.

There is nothing that would make me consider eating gluten. I'm lucky that I was diagnosed with coeliac disease before getting seriously ill but in lots of lower level ways it has had such a bad effect on my quality of life. I know from being accidentally glutened that it's not just a matter of feeling ill for a week or so but also how unpredictable my health will be for some time afterwards.

[cahill]

Does anyone here cheat at all and just deal with the consequences or is everyone very stringent?

When I first started eating gluten free ( I was gluten free MAYBE 2 or 3 months) , I did cheat ONCE,, never ,ever,NEVER will I intentionally consume gluten again . There is no food worth that !!

[luvs2eat]

I miss LOTS of foods... but NONE are worth a cheat... EVER.