I Had To Laugh...

[Guest imsohungry]

My hubby and I went to a local restaurant the other night...

I never really think of myself as a person with Celiac, Epilepsy, Lupus, etc. (I just quietly go about my business until one of my problems gets in the way).

So here I am last Friday, sitting in this restaurant...when I suddenly realize what it has taken to get my body "comfortable" and "accommodated."

1. I am in a booth with plenty of leg room due to my poor leg circulation and bad knee

2. The booth must be in a warm side of the restaurant or my Raynaud's is bothersome (so I'm sitting in my booth wearing a JACKET in JULY!)

3. I must avoid cigarette smoke due to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and have plenty to drink due to the Sjogren's.

4. The lighting in the restaurant and patterns on the table-top were making me "seizury" so my hubby and I had to cover the table with napkins in order to avoid a seizure. (I think our waiter thought I was germ-phobic)

5. The waiter comes to take my order, I reply, "I'll have a hamburger, plain, no bun. A potato, plain. And a side of vegetables with no seasonings.

And so, there I sat, sprawled out in my booth, wearing a jacket, sitting over a table covered in neatly folded white napkins, eating food that was special-ordered and self-seasoned.

I just had to giggle. -Julie

[skbird]

I'm laughing now. I was cracking up about this the other day - somehow I still consider myself low maintenance!!! I used to laugh my head off when watching the movie "When Harry Met Sally" and she thought she was low maintenance, but he says she's the worst kind - she thinks she's low maintenance, but really she's high maintenance. Well, that's me, now.

I tell people I can't have gluten. Then they say ok, how about this? Then I have to say, oh wait, I can't have nightshades. Ok, how about this? Oh wait, I forgot to mention, I'm allergic to shellfish. Hmmmm. What else? Oh yeah, I avoid corn, don't eat much sugar, and can I read that label to see if it has MSG or citric acid on it?

By the way, I can't be in the sun too much, mold causes me problems, and caffeine and alcohol are also out. Sorry! Are you sure you still want me to come over?

Anyway, even with all that, I think I do pretty well. Of course I'm about 4 days away from finding out if I have a connective tissue disease on top of all this, but heck, that at least won't add any more food restrictions (except maybe alfalfa sprouts!) to my list so I'm ok with that!

Thanks for the post... I have been saying for the last week to anyone who rolls their eyes at me that I really hope they broke the mold after they made me...

Stephanie

PS at least I haven't had a migraine in a while!

[Guest imsohungry]

I was cracking up about this the other day - somehow I still consider myself low maintenance!!!

Hee, hee

Yeah, I know what you mean. I really don't think of myself as "high maintence" until I stand back and look at it all! I'm just an easy-going kind of person

Congrats on no recent migraines...I know from experience that everyday without one is a blessing!

We gotta appreciate the irony of life!

[Merika]

I tell people I can't have gluten. Then they say ok, how about this? Then I have to say, oh wait, I can't have nightshades. Ok, how about this? Oh wait, I forgot to mention, I'm allergic to shellfish. Hmmmm. What else? Oh yeah, I avoid corn, don't eat much sugar, and can I read that label to see if it has MSG or citric acid on it?

Stephanie,

Hahahahahaha, lol Same story here!

Merika

[lgranott]

Thats so funny, I can completely relate. At first I was just a vegetarian by choice. Never made a fuss and always found something to eat--still low maintenance...

Then I slowly (perhaps b/c I am slow, lol) realized that I couldn't do the dairy thing--ok, I could still consider myself lowish maintanace...

NOW!!!! No gluten???? No one wants me around when it comes to food:)

I just don't understand why--lol. I am still low maintenance, aren't I? I'm easy going about all of it--I just can't eat anything

Talk about there being nothing to do but laugh at yourself...

I had all this energy!!!! So I went on a fast-paced bike ride, then a 5 mile run. Wow!!! Haven't been able to do that in a while. Realized at mile 4 1/2 that I had hardly eaten and was about to pass out:) oops. So I took my very shaky self to Whole Foods and went to the prepared foods (which I never do) and found something that I thought was gluten-free. It had tofu tomato and soy cheese--great! Took it home and shovelled it in my mouth. After swallowing 5 bites w/o even chewing I began to taste what I was eating... I wondered what the chewy thing was--AHHHHH!!!!! Noodles. I read the ingrediants 3 times, I don't know how I missed it:( I guess I was too hungry, I haven't done anything that stupid before... Well I had a little while before I knew I would have a reaction--so after panicking, I just laughed b/c there was nothing else I could do. So now on day two of my punishment--ouch!

Liatt

[celiac3270]

Ha...that's kind of funny, but in a twisted way

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Laughing about it is the best thing to do! It's a lot of things to do but at least you are out there doing them and being happy!

[Carriefaith]

It's nice to be able to laugh at ourselves and also be able to go out and have fun at the same time

[jenvan]

I always say I'm high-maintenance in ways I can't choose--but in the ways that matter--like relationally, I am low maintenance--I don't get into fights, don't like 'drama' in relationships etc. So, at least we're not trying to be a pain in the butt like some people are--we can't help it when we're a pain !! lol !

[Guest imsohungry]

...So, at least we're not trying to be a pain in the butt like some people are--we can't help it when we're a pain !! lol !

HA! Very true. I work with a lady who is never happy with anything...when the office goes out for lunch, she complains about everything from the service and seating to the temperature of the food and the background noise. (Needless to say, she is a pain in the butt...not to mention no fun...to eat with).

I may be "high maintenance," but at least I can still laugh about most things!

Just for the record Jen...I've don't get in fights either.

Julie (High maintenance; Low drama)

[watkinson]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say how refeshing this thread is. I love how all of you have such great attitudes. Life may be a difficult at times but it's as good as we make it.....Life is great!!!!

Wendy

[Guest gliX]

haha that stories hilarious..

whenever i go out to eat i just say i'm allergic to bread and they seem to understand

it's easier than explaining celiac disease

whenever i get fast food they go crazy, call a manager over, and have no idea what i want, after i say "no bun."

[mouse]

Also love this topic. I just about never get invited to anyone's home to eat as they are just to afraid to feed me. Had one couple invite us over last fall for a cookout and she made me a gluten-free chicken breast and a fantastic tossed salad. I really appreciated the extra effort she went through so that I could be part of the group. Have a sister-in-law who lives about 1 1/2 hours east of us and my husband had had them over last fall and he did the cooking on the grill - burned it all and started over. I was still to weak to do much cooking or entertainting. We all had a good laugh over his cooking skills. In 42 years of marriage he had never had to cook or grill and I have to give him all A's for his efforts. But, the same sister-in-law was suppose to be a fantastic cook and she invited us to their place. She emailed a list of all the ingredients and I felt like a fool, when I had to email her back with no or if OK, what brand she had to use. I was so embarrased by the time the dinner came around. But STUFF my embarrasment - THAT WAS THE BEST MEAL, I have had since my diagnosis in 2/04. Now if I can only get them to move nearer to us. HA HA. We generally meet friends at restaurents, unless I cook the meal. When we do get invited to cookouts (not sit down's) I just bring something I like and cook triple of it - that way everyone can try it and I still get to stuff myself. Also usually bring a gluten-free cake or brownies and chuckle inside when they all rave about the great brownies, etc. I figure if maybe they realize this is not a big deal, maybe I can get invited to actual dinners.

[Guest imsohungry]

Armetta and Wendy...nice to meet you! I don't think I've met ya'll before. Glad you are enjoying the thread... I can't always find the humor in the health issues, but I try to laugh when I can! Keep smiling everyone.

[Pegster]

We have to laugh when my family goes to a restaurant together. I, too, just say I'm allergic to bread or to flour so the waiters understand. But daughter #1 is allergic to cashews and pistachios and avoids cheese and creamy sauces. Daughter #2 has the peanut allergy. My husband eats everything so he tells the waiter to bring him MY BREAD, and everyone else's nuts, cheese, etc. on a plate. He doesn't want anything to go to waste!

[KaitiUSA]

We have to laugh when my family goes to a restaurant together.  I, too, just say I'm allergic to bread or to flour so the waiters understand.  But daughter #1 is allergic to cashews and pistachios and avoids cheese and creamy sauces.  Daughter #2 has the peanut allergy.  My husband eats everything so he tells the waiter to bring him MY BREAD, and everyone else's nuts, cheese, etc. on a plate.  He doesn't want anything to go to waste!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HAHA thats great My family would have probably dont the same thing...hey if your paying for it anyway you might as well get anything you can out of it.