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KMMO320

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KMMO320 Contributor

I waitress in a restaurant with a tiny kitchen. We have always tried very hard to accomodate allergies but sometimes it is very difficult not to CC because, as I said, the kitchen is just SO small and everything is on top of each other.

So as I am not Dx yet, I am not gluten-free. But today, I just really didn't want to feel lousy at work so I had the cook make me just 2 eggs, a fruit cup and ham. I read the label for the ham, but I admit, I do not know what the scientific words to avoid are. There was definitely something added to it, preservatives or whatever, but I have no idea what it was. I need to find out what the magic components to avoid are.

Anyway, I had a reaction to it, almost immediately. I had some really bad stomach cramping and a slight headache.

I watched the cook take a new pan and wash it out for me for the eggs, but he did grill the ham on the flat top..I saw him wipe it down but maybe its not enough..its where he makes pancakes.

So I think that either I just have a lot of healing to do, or my food was CC, or I am also having reactions to eggs (which I always suspected but never eliminated to figure out)

I just want to find out one way or the other so I can live my life. I really hate waiting. :(


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IrishHeart Veteran

As you are still awaiting DX and you still have gluten in your system, it is difficult to say what "got you" or if you are still just inflamed. Yes, grills that handle pancakes are a tough surface for CC.

I know how hard it is to wait.

When is your testing to be done?

KMMO320 Contributor

As you are still awaiting DX and you still have gluten in your system, it is difficult to say what "got you" or if you are still just inflamed. Yes, grills that handle pancakes are a tough surface for CC.

I know how hard it is to wait.

When is your testing to be done?

I dont see the specialist until the 22nd.I assume I will meet with him and then go from there.

I can handle my stomach issues because I have been dealing with that for 17 years and its gotten to the point where I am just so used to it, its like routine. Its the brain fog, dizzy spells and nausea thats really wearing me down. :(

GFinDC Veteran

You shouldn't avoid gluten before your testing. The antibody tests depend on detecting active antibodies in your blood. That means you need to keep eating gluten until the testing is done. After that you can stop immediately and start the gluten-free diet. Of course you don't have to be tested, there is no law saying you have to get a doctor's diagnosis of celiac

Eating from the work kitchen is probably not going to work out. It's not just the grill surface, but also the spatula, the counter, the plates, anything in a flour using area can have flour dust settle on it. Glasses, bowls, anything.

If they don't do much baking (getting flour in the air), you might be ok. But washing everything before cooking is really important. Toasters and shared mayo or butter etc are bad too. It would be safer to bring your own food from home.

IrishHeart Veteran

Its the brain fog, dizzy spells and nausea thats really wearing me down. :(

I know, hon. I had those too. So sorry. :( Hang in there.

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