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

Things People Say To Celiacs

researchmomma

By researchmomma
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Rachel85 Rookie
Rachel85
Posted

I think my best one to date has to be when I went to my friend's house, she was cooking dinner for a group of us and they all know I can't eat gluten. The dinner was lovely (I helped her work out what I could and couldn't have, and prepared it with her to be on the safe side) but when it came to dessert...that was another matter. She'd asked us what our favourite desserts were and had made mine, but as she was bringing it out said "oh yeah so I was going to make a gluten free version for you...but then I couldn't be bothered, so you can just watch us eat ours!!"

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

She'd asked us what our favourite desserts were and had made mine, but as she was bringing it out said "oh yeah so I was going to make a gluten free version for you...but then I couldn't be bothered, so you can just watch us eat ours!!"

:o

that's just wrong.

damn, just when I thought she "got it"....with the dinner prep and all. Sorry, hunny!

um, did anyone else at the table find that at all offensive? just wondering.

Rachel85 Rookie
Rachel85
Posted

um, did anyone else at the table find that at all offensive? just wondering.

Sadly no. While my boyfriend has been wonderfully supportive and understanding, my friends all think I'm over-reacting "with this whole er....food thing". Also, a friend's partner has celiac and is so relaxed about it (gluten evidently doesn't make him feel like he's dying), eating gluten whenever he fancies it, so that doesn't help!!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Sadly no. While my boyfriend has been wonderfully supportive and understanding, my friends all think I'm over-reacting "with this whole er....food thing". Also, a friend's partner has celiac and is so relaxed about it (gluten evidently doesn't make him feel like he's dying), eating gluten whenever he fancies it, so that doesn't help!!

That is a shame, ignoring a celiac DX like that. Even if he doesn't feel the damage, it is happening nonetheless. He is just a ticking time bomb. :ph34r:

Steel yourself against stupidity and unkindness--and look into your boyfriend's loving eyes whenever you find yourself in such moments and smile at him and tell yourself, "No matter. HE gets it." :) It's what I do with my dear hubs.

researchmomma Contributor
researchmomma
Posted
  • Author

The things people say are really amazing. Like Irish, we have had more than a few people say "oh, you are on that fad diet".

Then there are the friends who go out of their way to accommodate and have you over for a really nice gluten free dinner (all the while asking questions to make sure they don't accidentally gluten my daughter).

I have a neighbor who has two or three autoimmune diseases and when she brought her ailments again, I told her about gluten free and what it has done for us. She said she couldn't even think about how much work it is to be gluten-free and how many things she would miss. She also didn't think her family would support it. I guess they would rather hear about all her ailments and grief. :o:(

Kimbalou Enthusiast
Kimbalou
Posted

Or my personal favourite which I have heard from everyone from family members to grocery store cashiers..."Ugh, I would kill myself if I couldn't have pasta/bread/croissants/cake."

Wow. You just said my life is not worth living. Think about that for a second.

Last time I got that comment from a cashier I responded with, "Well, I would kill myself if I had to bag groceries all day." I know that was rude but I couldn't help myself.

So funny! I dealt with an ignorant cashier yesterday. ugh

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I have a neighbor who has two or three autoimmune diseases and when she brought her ailments again, I told her about gluten free and what it has done for us. She said she couldn't even think about how much work it is to be gluten-free and how many things she would miss. She also didn't think her family would support it. I guess they would rather hear about all her ailments and grief. :o:(

This is MY FAMILY.

:blink:

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


gfpirate Rookie
gfpirate
Posted

Love the video!

I've had a lot of varied reactions from people when they find out about my condition. I go to high school, and since kids there can be so rude and arrogant, I try to keep my condidition a secret. It seems every time I tell someone, an avalanche of questions follows.

I've had people say things such as,

"I would kill myself if I had to eat like that. Like, literally."

"Uhh, yeah, I'm a bit curious as to what you eat."

"That SUCKS."

"If I had that, I would just keep eating gluten and throw it all up. Big deal."

"Oh, THAT'S how you stay so thin."

"Are you still on your weird gluten free thing?"

And then they want to try my food...

"This tastes like I stuck my tongue in a helicopter propeller."

"Ew, does everything you eat taste this weird?"

But it's not all bad. I've had some really nice reactions as well...

"If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here."

"You have Celiac? Me too!" (She was my teacher and we had a nice conversation about all the local places with gluten free food).

I think the worst was actually BEFORE I was diagnosed. I was always feeling miserable and wanting to leave school early. I got called a hypochondriac many times, an attention hog, and worse. Thankfully, many apologized when I told them that I finally figured out what was wrong with me.

jeanzdyn Apprentice
jeanzdyn
Posted

I have heard a lot of stupid statements and I was just diagnosed this past November.

I like to tell them about Kinnikinnick Pizza Crusts -- I start by saying "even if I did not have to be gluten-free I would buy these pizza crusts, because they are better than any pizza crust I have ever had..."

Also, maybe I am weird, but I have not found it that difficult to observe the gluten-free diet. I guess that maybe I was not consuming that much gluten any more, without really thinking about it. I had only a small bag of food items that I needed to discard.

I just feel like I have found a lot of good, and tasty foods that are gluten-free. Yes, I have had a couple of 'disasters'-gluten-free things I bought to eat that were truly awful, but by and large, I am not disatisfied with the gluten-free diet and I do not feel deprived at all. As long as I can have chocolate, yogurt, cheese, then I will be okay with this.

But I have to agree that I wish people who don't know what they are talking about would keep their comments to themselves.

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

A few more things I've gotten:

"What's glucose?"

"You don't need to be on a diet! You're so skinny!"

"Can you hold a baby who has just eaten gluten?" :huh:

Also, I was at a restaurant with a bunch of friends (I wasn't eating - it wasn't the type of restaurant that would be able to accommodate) and had mentioned my diet to a new friend. She said, "Oh me, too! I have a gluten intolerance." And then she proceeded to eat some chicken wings that were drenched in sauce, probably filled with gluten. <_<

Monklady123 Collaborator
Monklady123
Posted

Yes, as someone said, these are funny and sad. Some of my favorites are:

- "Well just what *can* you eat anyway?" -- um...almost everything, just not wheat, barley, rye, or non gluten-free oats.

-- "You can just taste this, right? It's small." :ph34r:

-- "So-and-so [insert name of friend/cousin/woman from church] follows a gluten free diet and she never reads the salad dressing labels in restaurants." [this was during a church meeting we had at a local restaurant, and the server was nice enough to bring me the bottle since he wasn't sure of the ingredients.] -- And that would be because "so-and-so" either isn't really gluten intolerant/celiac or isn't worried about damaging her body. (which is exactly what I said! I was annoyed...lol.)

-- And one of my personal favorites, which many of you have already mentioned: "I made this with white bread so you can eat it, not whole wheat." [spoken by more than one person at church potlucks. But they do mean well...]

As someone said in another thread, we have to educate people. The ones that annoy me are the ones who HAVE heard me talk about it, more than once. If I've said "no I cannot eat even a 'little bit' of gluten" more than once then don't keep asking me if I can "just taste this cookie"! (a lady at church does this to me.) And once I've explained to you that white bread is also "wheat" unless it specifically says otherwise please don't keep offering me your bread pudding. :ph34r:

But if someone is new to the whole thing then I am happy to give them information because I know I was totally ignorant before I was diagnosed.

gfpirate Rookie
gfpirate
Posted

I've also had a similar experience as posted above... A lady my mom works with told me that she had Celiac as well. (This was when I was first diagnosed). I believed her at first but as time went on and I did more research, it seemed as if she was stretching the truth... this was confirmed when she walked in with a big bag of Chick Fil A and said that she didn't get me a chicken sandwich because of the bread, but I was "welcome to have one of the fried chicken strips, because those are gluten free." *facepalm!* The things we put up with...

curlyfries Contributor
curlyfries
Posted

Just had an interesting conversation at lunch today. It's not unusual for people who know me to ask, "So what is that you're eating?" A friend asked and I told her and she said, "I thought you couldn't eat meat."

:blink:

So maybe she heard something incorrectly in the past. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

I am also totally sugar/grain free. This same friend proceeded to tell me that salt is essentially the same as sugar. "You know that, right?"

:huh:

"Welll....my body doesn't think so."

"Are you sure?"

:rolleyes:

xjrosie Apprentice
xjrosie
Posted

I've also had a similar experience as posted above... A lady my mom works with told me that she had Celiac as well. (This was when I was first diagnosed). I believed her at first but as time went on and I did more research, it seemed as if she was stretching the truth... this was confirmed when she walked in with a big bag of Chick Fil A and said that she didn't get me a chicken sandwich because of the bread, but I was "welcome to have one of the fried chicken strips, because those are gluten free." *facepalm!* The things we put up with...

Actually, I wouldn't chalk this one up to ignorance. When my daughter was diagnosed in December, one of the first meals I made was chicken nuggets. As I was frying them, I realized they were covered in gluten-filled coating! The first two weeks were a major wake-up call as to what my kids could and could not have. When we went to McDonald's for the first time after the diagnoses (more than one kid with Celiac) I had to break the news to her that she couldn't have a filet-o-fish. In my head I was thinking, "Oh, she can just have chicken strips." But then I remembered that they're BREADED! Sheesh, we had to leave and find someplace else to eat that night.

I, too, have had people say how horrible it would be to not eat all the gluten-filled goodies. I just tell them we can, but our food is better because we're not poisoning ourselves with unnecessary food additives. In fact, when I make things for my kids, they say my homemade foods are better than the store-bought foods I'm replacing!

ctenny Rookie
ctenny
Posted

"I know you can't have Ice cream, so I got you a malt"...

WTF

I swear, if anybody offers me a malt... I will... grrrr..

But we can have basic flavors of ice cream as long as they don't have ingredients containing gluten right? Like pure vanilla ice cream is still okay... right?

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

pure vanilla ice cream is fine--cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla. Read the ingredients.

That is, of course, if you don't have a problem with lactose or casein.

Rachel85 Rookie
Rachel85
Posted

"So if you can't eat anything, why aren't you like, really slim?"

faithforlife Apprentice
faithforlife
Posted

Yes IrishHeart I take gluten-free communion myself and share with 2 other gluten-free families!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Yes IrishHeart I take gluten-free communion myself and share with 2 other gluten-free families!

I am happy to hear that so many churches are accommodating the parishioners. That's great news! :)

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,558
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Ortega
    Newest Member
    Ortega
    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

    • Scott Adams
      gluten-free Oatmeal

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Oats naturally contain a protein called avenin, which is similar to the gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. While avenin is generally considered safe for most people with celiac disease, some individuals, around 5-10% of celiacs, may also have sensitivity to avenin, leading to symptoms similar to gluten exposure. You may fall into this category, and eliminating them is the best way to figure this out. Some people substitute gluten-free quinoa flakes for oats if they want a hot cereal substitute. If you are interested in summaries of scientific publications on the topic of oats and celiac disease, we have an entire category dedicated to it which is here: https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/oats-and-celiac-disease-are-they-gluten-free/   
    • knitty kitty
      My only proof

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Well said, @Mari!
    • knitty kitty
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hi, @Ginger38, I've had shingles in the past.  I understand how miserable you're feeling.   Not only do i have the chickenpox virus lurking about, I also have the cold sore virus that occasionally flares with a huge cold sore on my lip when stressed or exposed to gluten.  The virus lives dormant in the nerves on the left side of my face.  It causes Bell's Palsy (resulting in drooling).  The cold sore virus is also in my eye.  My eye swells up and my vision is diminished permanently whenever I have a flare, so it's of the utmost importance to keep flares away and treat them immediately if they do happen so I don't lose any more vision.   I take the amino acid supplement L-Lysine.  Lysine messes with the replication of viruses, which helps the body fight them off.   I haven't had an outbreak for several years until this year when exceptionally stressed and contaminated, it flared up again. Lysine has been shown to be beneficial in suppression of viruses like the cold sore virus (a herpetic virus), the chickenpox virus (also a herpetic virus), as well as the HIV virus, and even the Covid virus.   I also take additional Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) because Thiamine has antiviral properties as well.   For pain, a combination of Thiamine (like TTFD or Benfotiamine or Thiamine Hydrochloride), with B12 Cobalamine, and Pyridoxine B6 have been shown to have analgesic properties which relieve pain and neuropathy.    The combination of Thiamine B1, Pyridoxine B6 and Cobalamine B12 really does work to relieve pain.  I take it for back pain from crushed vertebrae in my back.  This combination also works on other pain and neuropathy.   I usually buy a supplement that combines all three and also Riboflavin B2 called EXPLUS online.  However, it's made in Japan and the price with the tariffs added makes it really expensive now.  But the combination of Thiamine B1, Pyridoxine B6 and B12 Cobalamine (and Riboflavin B2) still work even if taken separately.   I can't take Tylenol or ibuprofen because of stomach upsets.  But I can take the vitamin combination without side effects.  However, you can take the three vitamins at the same time as other pain relievers for added benefit.  The vitamins help other pain relievers work better. I hope you will try it.  Hopeful you'll feel better quickly. Interesting Reading: Thiamine, cobalamin, locally injected alone or combination for herpetic itching: a single-center randomized controlled trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23887347/ Mechanisms of action of vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) in pain: a narrative review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35156556/ Analgesic and analgesia-potentiating action of B vitamins https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12799982/ A Narrative Review of Alternative Symptomatic Treatments for Herpes Simplex Virus https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10301284/
    • Mari
      My only proof

      By Mari · Posted

      I think, after reading this, that you areso traumatized by not being able yo understand what your medical advisors have been  what medical conditions are that you would like to find a group of people who also feel traumatized who would agree with you and also support you. You are on a crusade much as the way the US Cabinet  official, the Health Director of our nation is in trying to change what he considers outdated and incorrect health advisories. He does not have the education, background or experience to be in the position he occupies and is not making beneficial decisions. That man suffered a terrible trauma early in his life when his father was assonated. We see now how he developed and worked himself into a powerful position.  Unless you are willing to take some advice or  are willing to use a few of the known methods of starting on a path to better health then not many of us on this Celiac Forum will be able to join you in a continuing series of complaints about medical advisors.    I am almost 90 years old. I am strictly gluten free. I use 2 herbs to help me stay as clear minded as possible. You are not wrong in complaining about medical practitioners. You might be more effective with a clearer mind, less anger and a more comfortable life if you would just try some of the suggestions offered by our fellow celiac volunteers.  
    • Jmartes71
      My only proof

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Thus has got to STOP , medical bit believing us! I literally went through 31 years thinking it was just a food allergy as its downplayed by medical if THEY weren't the ones who diagnosed us! Im positive for HLA-DQ2 which is first celiac patient per Iran and Turkey. Here in the States especially in Cali its why do you feel that way? Why do you think your celiac? Your not eating gluten so its something else.Medical caused me depression. I thought I was safe with my former pcp for 25 years considering i thought everything I went through and going through will be available when I get fired again for health. Health not write-ups my health always come back when you're better.Im not and being tossed away at no fault to my own other than shitty genes.I was denied disability because person said he didn't know how to classify me! I said Im celiac, i have ibs, hernia, sciatica, high blood pressure, in constant pain have skin and eye issues and menopause intensified everything. With that my celiac nightmare began to reprove my disregarded disease to a bunch of clowns who think they are my careteam when they said I didn't have...I feel Im still breathing so I can fight this so no body else has to deal with this nightmare. Starting over with " new care team" and waisting more time on why I think I am when diagnosed in 1994 before food eliminated from my diet. P.s everything i went through I did write to medical board, so pretty sure I will continue to have a hard time.
×
×
  • 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.