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Going On Vacation Wednesday...

love2travel

By love2travel
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

After cancelling our trip due to my intense ongoing pain we have rescheduled and are leaving Wednesday. We are flying to Italy then renting a car to drive to our house in Croatia for three lovely weeks. So, now we are doing about 392 last-minute things. However, I am still in much pain - I always am - so could you use your prayers. The flights are brutally long and excruciating but I am still doing it. I bought a portable TENS machine and have as many prescription drugs as I can take together. One of my sisters is coming with us this time and I absolutely cannot wait to live this trip through her eyes as she has never been to Europe before. We will be spending our last three nights in Venice so she can experience it. I have been playing tons of wonderful Croatian klapa music lately as I am trying to learn the language.

The thought of the gluten-free airplane food makes me nauseous but I am organizing lots of yummy snacks. Once we are in Italy and Croatia it will be fine - I just must plan for delays, layovers and so on. I am thankful that other countries are more advanced than ours when it comes to celiac disease knowledge. :)

So, I may be posting the odd time for the next couple of days but then we are so OUTTA HERE! It is wonderful to go from winter to paradise! :D Take care of yourselves, all!

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jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I'm so glad you were able to go! Have a safe trip, and I hope it's not too difficult for you. Enjoy!

jswog Contributor
jswog
Posted

What wonderful news!!! Can you adopt me as a sister and take me along? My husband has traveled Europe extensively, having lived in Germany for 6 years, but I have never been. We're truly hoping that his job will take us to Germany or Italy soon. Have a GREAT trip!

BabsV Enthusiast
BabsV
Posted

I'm so glad to see you finally get to take your trip. Enjoy! I hope it all goes smoothly and you have lots of sun and good times. We are headed to Athens, Greece in less than a week and while I am also dealing with pain issues and at times the thought of travel terrifies me (this is my first trip since diagnosis) I REFUSE to cancel this trip and let Celiac 'win'!

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Have a great trip!

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

I'm happy to see that you can go after all! Have a great trip. :)

wheeleezdryver Community Regular
wheeleezdryver
Posted

Enjoy your trip, and be sure to tell us about all your great gluten- free finds when you get back!!

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love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

What wonderful news!!! Can you adopt me as a sister and take me along? My husband has traveled Europe extensively, having lived in Germany for 6 years, but I have never been. We're truly hoping that his job will take us to Germany or Italy soon. Have a GREAT trip!

Germany is so wonderful - more of my family lives in Germany than here in Canada. It was so interesting to go and trace my roots. I went to a cemetary where many of my relatives were buried, six or more people deep. :o I also went to my ancient ancestral home - it was a huge mansion built many hundreds of years ago. My family still lives in it but it is about 1/4 the size as the rest was lost in a big fire.

Oh, I hope you get to go to Germany and Italy! I love them both but would pick Croatia as my favourite country on earth as it is far less commercialized than much of Italy. You are not charged for every tiny little thing such as toilets. It is too amazing for words. :)

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

I'm so glad to see you finally get to take your trip. Enjoy! I hope it all goes smoothly and you have lots of sun and good times. We are headed to Athens, Greece in less than a week and while I am also dealing with pain issues and at times the thought of travel terrifies me (this is my first trip since diagnosis) I REFUSE to cancel this trip and let Celiac 'win'!

Thanks so much! The weather forecast looks pretty perfect. We have not yet been to Athens but really want to. Where else are you headed? I honestly think that Celiac is pretty much a non-issue for travel. It is not even on my radar because it was so easy last trip. But then we have a house there so purchase groceries to cook at home. However, we did go out often, too, and were so impressed with their awareness. So, you have nothing to worry about celiac wise EXCEPT I would highly recommend taking lots of snacks with you as gluten-free airplane food is absolutely deplorable in my opinion. Makes me gag.

Pain can truly be debilitating - not only physically but mentally so I know how you feel. I am absolutely fearful of this trip knowing how awful my pain is. In my travel journal from the last trip on the first night I wrote, "DO NOT EVER EVEN CONSIDER DOING THIS AGAIN. SO NOT WORTH IT. THE PAIN IS TOO GREAT. IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A TORTURE CHAMBER." However, after massage treatments and lots of drugs on the fourth day I wrote, "This is SO worth it. Do this again." My pain comes from accident injuries (multiple) and fibromyalgia and herniated discs. I am not kidding when I say I cannot sit longer than 30 minutes - literally. So, when we had lots of turbulence last time I begged the flight attendant to let me lie down in the aisle. I was desperate and crying and rocking back and forth in agony. I will never, ever forget that.

I tell myself that pain really sucks but I would rather be in pain in Europe than here. It is just GETTING there that is soooooooo rough.

The best of luck on your trip. Friends of ours were in Greece this year and traveled with a friend who has celiac. She was absolutely fine. (They spent several days in Athens.) Do you have travel cards printed for restaurants? I have them in several languages - they outline what we can/cannot have and describes preparation of food. They can be very helpful.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

Enjoy your trip, and be sure to tell us about all your great gluten- free finds when you get back!!

Thanks! I will be taking along some Genius bread as the gluten-free bread there (Schar brand) is very, very bad. It is like a cross between cardboard, drywall and crazy glue. However, I did read that recently they came out with fresh bread that you heat. Will have to try that. Will be going to a certified gluten-free gelato place in Venice as well as a gluten-free pizzeria. Now THEY know pizza! :D

jswog Contributor
jswog
Posted

Do you have travel cards printed for restaurants? I have them in several languages - they outline what we can/cannot have and describes preparation of food. They can be very helpful.

Can one purchase these somewhere? Or did you have someone make them for you?

Jen

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

Can one purchase these somewhere? Or did you have someone make them for you?

Jen

I used a combination of www.CeliacTravel.com cards (free but a donation is happily accepted) and added a bit extra on preparation (i.e. a blurb on checking stocks in risotto for example). I had my husband laminate them and carry them to each country.

jswog Contributor
jswog
Posted

I used a combination of www.CeliacTravel.com cards (free but a donation is happily accepted) and added a bit extra on preparation (i.e. a blurb on checking stocks in risotto for example). I had my husband laminate them and carry them to each country.

Thank you!

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

Thank you!

You are welcome! They are a great aid.

BabsV Enthusiast
BabsV
Posted

Thanks so much! The weather forecast looks pretty perfect. We have not yet been to Athens but really want to. Where else are you headed? I honestly think that Celiac is pretty much a non-issue for travel. It is not even on my radar because it was so easy last trip. But then we have a house there so purchase groceries to cook at home. However, we did go out often, too, and were so impressed with their awareness. So, you have nothing to worry about celiac wise EXCEPT I would highly recommend taking lots of snacks with you as gluten-free airplane food is absolutely deplorable in my opinion. Makes me gag.

We're renting an apartment in Athens -- it was recommended by a friend and will allow me to cook. It is less than a 15 minute walk from the Acropolis with a view of the Parthenon from the balcony! I cannot wait...even better, there is a large supermarket right nearby so shopping won't be a hassle. As long as the air traffic controllers don't go on strike we should be ok! We will probably try a couple day trips, one to Delphi at least.

I have my travel cards for Greece (and Germany since we fly through Munich) and from what I've read eating gluten-free shouldn't be a big problem.

I figure I am far from 100% but not bad enough to miss out on this chance to see Athens (due to work and school schedules, etc. it was now or never!). If I have a bad day my husband and daughter can head off without me. At the very least I can sit on the balcony and look at the Parthenon!

I'll report back on the travel forum once I'm back.

Oh, that Schar bread is pretty bad isn't it?!?! Schar is one of the big gluten-free options here in Poland and while my family does ok with the pasta and some of the crackers the bread is a no go. Scarily enough, it is better than some of the local gluten-free bread products we taste tested before I went on an elimination diet. Those were ghastly.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

We're renting an apartment in Athens -- it was recommended by a friend and will allow me to cook. It is less than a 15 minute walk from the Acropolis with a view of the Parthenon from the balcony! I cannot wait...even better, there is a large supermarket right nearby so shopping won't be a hassle. As long as the air traffic controllers don't go on strike we should be ok! We will probably try a couple day trips, one to Delphi at least.

I have my travel cards for Greece (and Germany since we fly through Munich) and from what I've read eating gluten-free shouldn't be a big problem.

I figure I am far from 100% but not bad enough to miss out on this chance to see Athens (due to work and school schedules, etc. it was now or never!). If I have a bad day my husband and daughter can head off without me. At the very least I can sit on the balcony and look at the Parthenon!

I'll report back on the travel forum once I'm back.

Oh, that Schar bread is pretty bad isn't it?!?! Schar is one of the big gluten-free options here in Poland and while my family does ok with the pasta and some of the crackers the bread is a no go. Scarily enough, it is better than some of the local gluten-free bread products we taste tested before I went on an elimination diet. Those were ghastly.

How wonderful to have an apartment so close to the Acropolis and Parthenon! Wow. I cannot wait to hear all about the trip - I am a travel fiend.

I know what you mean about bad days - they do happen too frequently. But I am also amazed at how distractions can enable one to forget about pain for a moment.

Schar is an interesting company - some things (i.e. the dry breadsticks) are decent but the breads are horrid! I would love to see them come out with new products.

I, too, will report on my trip on the Travel forum. Have a glorious time! :)

lucia Enthusiast
lucia
Posted

Wonderful news! How delightful for your sister that you are taking her to Venice! Have a great trip!!!

(P.S.: I can't imagine you'd enjoy airline meals, whether they were gluten-free or not. ; )

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Thanks! I will be taking along some Genius bread as the gluten-free bread there (Schar brand) is very, very bad. It is like a cross between cardboard, drywall and crazy glue. However, I did read that recently they came out with fresh bread that you heat. Will have to try that. Will be going to a certified gluten-free gelato place in Venice as well as a gluten-free pizzeria. Now THEY know pizza! :D

Aaaah, I will be thinking of your enjoyment. Have a great time and beat the pain back!!

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    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
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      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

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    • knitty kitty
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      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
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