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Gluten Free Support Groups In Southern Ca?

FruitEnthusiast

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FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted

Does anyone know of any gluten free support groups in the Los Angeles/Orange Co area? There's one in San Diego, but that's too far. I'm in Long Beach. I'd like to find a group near one of the beach cities between Santa Monica and Newport Beach if possible. Haven't had much luck so far looking on the Gluten Intolerant Group site or the Celiac Foundation Site.

I've been gluten free for 3-4 months now, and I'm still healing, and sick off and on. I'm not even close to going out to eat yet, so gluten free dining groups are not an option at this point. I have experienced what happens with even slight gluten exposure :( and my diet is extremely limited, as I have other food sensitivities from Leaky Gut. I just found a great Naturopathic Doctor locally who has helpful information and is very supportive. She has me drinking a natural supplement powder to heal the damage. Can't tell if it's working yet.

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kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Did you check the category of support groups on the main page yet?

https://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-Support-Groups%2C-Organizations-%26amp%3B-Contacts/United-States-of-America%3A-Celiac-Disease-Support-Groups-and-Organizations/

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

Yes. The Los Angeles group was more of a social/dining group, and pretty far from me, considering LA freeway traffic. I was looking for a meet weekly and talk sort of group, hopefully a bit closer. Unfortunately traffic is a huge consideration in these parts.

When I left two voice mails for the contact person in Orange County on the Gluten Intolerant Group site, and never heard back after two weeks,I was a little deflated.

I just looked at the main page list again on this site, and I'm going to try the contact numbers listed for the Orange County and Newport Beach groups. Less traffic in that direction. Thanks!

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

check the celiac Disease Foundation site. I don't know what part of L.A. you are in but sthere is a very active group in Pasadena. Also one in Burbank/Glendale area.

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to say closer to the coast, but I may try those if nothing else turns up. Good to know.

AGH2010 Apprentice
AGH2010
Posted

I'm in Santa Monica and have similarly had no luck finding a support group for my 2 year old who is celiac. I was hoping for a playgroup so she wouldnt feel like the only celiac kid out there. I emailed the Celiac Foundation and was told they'd forward my contact but still haven't heard anything. I'm surprised our area has so few groups when other areas (like NorCal where I used to live) have so many!

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

I agree. I thought I would find lots of options anywhere in CA. I thought Santa Monica in particular would be one of the likely locations for a gluten free support group. I'm from both southern and central CA. I've always related more to central or northern CA mindsets. Sometimes it seems people in the LA area are too busy being happy to stop and think about reality. I'm happy, but also very down to earth. Sigh. I had the same problem years ago when I was looking for a divorce support group. Nothing.

I did just find a gluten support group in OC that meets for dinners about once a month. It's for adults though. If I hear of something for kids I'll let you know.

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AGH2010 Apprentice
AGH2010
Posted

What irks me is that these same neighborhoods are now full of restaurants serving gluten-free foods in contaminated ways to appeal to people avoiding gluten just to be trendy. So now I have to explain to friends that we can't just eat out because places claim to serve gluten-free when they use the same grill to make them. They probably think I'm being over-protective.

Thanks, I appreciate you keeping an eye out for groups tailored for kids. Good luck meeting fellow adults!

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

Celiac Disease Foundation Southern California support groups:

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena contact tenaya3@earthlink.net

East San Gabriel Valley contact travelynne812@yahoo.com

Inland Empire contact treshearer@aol.com

Los Angels-Santa Monica contactsfrieder@earthlink.net

San Fernando Valley contact

RonSchon Explorer
RonSchon
Posted

What irks me is that these same neighborhoods are now full of restaurants serving gluten-free foods in contaminated ways to appeal to people avoiding gluten just to be trendy. So now I have to explain to friends that we can't just eat out because places claim to serve gluten-free when they use the same grill to make them. They probably think I'm being over-protective.

Well stated!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I just encountered upon emailing a restaurant.

I got an appropriate response from the GM, then the CEO of the restaurant group wrote back to me a little later and his response made me nervous. He talked about the gluten-free items in a "trendy" context, like low cal or organic context.

People can't grasp how little it takes for us to get a cross contact/contamination. I feel like many people must think since we aren't hospitalized because of it that it isn't that big of a deal.

Losing 3 productive days of our life (in many cases more) because of their trendiness is not what we need.

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

Celiac Disease Foundation Southern California support groups:

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena contact tenaya3@earthlink.net

East San Gabriel Valley contact travelynne812@yahoo.com

Inland Empire contact treshearer@aol.com

Los Angels-Santa Monica contactsfrieder@earthlink.net

San Fernando Valley contact

  • 6 months later...
CaliSparrow Collaborator
CaliSparrow
Posted

I'm in South Orange County. Looking for one in this area!!

Cali

  • 7 months later...
sequoiakam Newbie
sequoiakam
Posted

I live near Orange in Southern California and am looking for a support group too. I had my first major flare ups recently, but have been trying to get a diagnosis for over 20 years. I am still getting sick, I had a salad I made myself for dinner and I don't have any idea which ingredient was wrong. It was walnuts, arugula, balsamic vinegar, tomato and olives.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I live near Orange in Southern California and am looking for a support group too. I had my first major flare ups recently, but have been trying to get a diagnosis for over 20 years. I am still getting sick, I had a salad I made myself for dinner and I don't have any idea which ingredient was wrong. It was walnuts, arugula, balsamic vinegar, tomato and olives.

Here's a group that meets in Garden Grove.

 

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