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

Ideas For A Celiac Living In A Non-gluten-free Home?

acceberenna

By acceberenna
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

acceberenna Newbie
acceberenna
Posted

Hi, my name is Rebecca and I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2005. I have been coping well and have learned how to live with it on my own just fine. Recently, however, I moved in with my long-term boyfriend (who is amazing about my intolerance and is always searching for new things I can try), and I am looking for some guidance on how to make it easier to live with someone who is not gluten-free. He tries some of my food but typically prefers his regular food to mine (who could blame him!). I am concerned about the possibility of accidentally being glutened because it is not a 100% gluten-free environment. Aside from being diligent about cleaning, can anyone offer some suggestions on what has worked for you?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


KMMO320 Contributor
KMMO320
Posted

I can't offer advice really, I think I haven't worried too heavily about CC yet. Maybe I am waiting to see if I get sick to see how dilligent I need to be? I don't know. We share a toaster oven. I usually just wipe the rack off with a wet paper towel and then dry it before putting my bread or whatever on it, or I use a tray that only I use if I want to bake something in it. I do have my own colander for my pasta and veggies or whatever. I have my own cutting board. I have a shelf in a cabinet that is only for my things, up at the top of the cabinet so I am sure my kids wouldn't accidentally put anything up there. We don't have a dishwasher and I don't let my kids wash the dishes because they are still young and when they try, I end up having to re-wash everything anyway. I always have tons of paper towels on hand, and clean kitchen towels to wipe down counters, and wipe off pots and pans.

My sis in law has celiac disease too and she is really really dilligent, to the point she won't even make her kids a sandwich on regular bread or ever touch gluten. I will. I will make the kids pilsbury dinner rolls, I will bread their chicken with breadcrumbs, I will make them toast, sandwiches, etc. I simply wash my hands well afterwards. No big deal. There is only ONE thing I will not do...and that is touch flour. I don't know what it is. I will bake cakes with boxed cake mix..but I won't touch all purpose flour. It scares me for some reason, I don't even like having it in the house lol. But dh likes it for when he batters chicken wings he makes in his deep fryer. That is kept in a cabinet where there is nothing I eat in there at all, and I refuse to make him anything with it. But he knows that.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I'm in the "make most of the shared stuff gluten free". My husband has his granola bars, Fruit Loops, and wheat-based buns. But all the meals I cook, and we eat together are gluten free. (Outside of those buns on hamburgers, of course.) Chicken soup, beef stew, lots of stir-fries, bbq'ed meat and veggies, roasted veggies, salads... We just eat foods that are naturally gluten free. (Ok, I do use Tinkyada if I'm making pasta salad, and wheat-free tamari.)

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I share a kitchen not only with my gluten eating husband who eats with me but with in-laws who are not gluten free and haven't a clue what CC is, how it works or... well they're clueless. I have about 2 dozen dishcloths which I use to clean the counter every time I prepare food. Because I am super paranoid I clean it twice. These cloths then go immediately into a "contaminated" bin for washing. I also clean the knobs on the stove, the microwave handle/buttons, the oven handle if I will be using it and the refrigerator and freezer handles before I begin cooking or preparing food. I do this because normal practices here involve getting butter while making toast, microwaving all sorts of gluteny things, baking cinnamon toast, and other such things. I have completely separate dishes and pots and pans, because I can't rely on the in-laws not to do things like grab a plate while making toast. I also have a completely separate section of counter just for me where I can keep my grill, toaster and mixer.

When I cook, most of our meals are naturally gluten free now. Meat, potatoes, vegetables are all great things. For bread I often make arepas or Brazilian cheese bread, both of which are South American things and are naturally gluten free also. We also simply use gluten free pasta because it is good and the risk of CC when dealing with pasta is too high to mess with imo. When he does have bread, we simply keep it in a separate area, or a different counter while preparing our food. I also have my own section in the pantry and fridge, my own things that get double dipped in, all that stuff too. I have been free of CC since something like Sept or Oct, I would have to check for sure but it has been many months.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Here's a good topic to read. It's about how we keep gluten-free when living with a WE ( Wheat Eater).

I have red as the gluten-free color. I have a red toaster, red colander, red spatulas, etc. What I couldn't get red, I put a piece of red duct tape on it or keep it in a separate counter from the gluteny ones - my gluten-free cookie sheets are not red, so I keep them in a different place. I can't get red dish sponges so I get pink or purple ones and the regular blue for everyone else. I rotate 2 & put them in the dishwasher every night and get the fresh one out.

Most food is gluten-free. Get San J Tamari soy sauce. Stir frys, BBQ chicken, steak, mashed potatoes, soups, stews, chilis, eggs, etc are all easy to make gluten-free and it doesn't effect the taste.

acceberenna Newbie
acceberenna
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the suggestions. I am super sensitive to gluten so combining lives in a non-gluten free home is proving to be more difficult than I imagined. For instance, if he makes a sandwich and doesn't wash the counter afterward, I feel like I have to wipe down the counter before I place anything on it for myself. And when you're already adjusting to the normal things that come with learning how to live with each other, it just seems to complicate things even more. I've pretty much lived on my own since I was diagnosed, so this part of the lifestyle is totally new to me (and to him).

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Thank you for the suggestions. I am super sensitive to gluten so combining lives in a non-gluten free home is proving to be more difficult than I imagined. For instance, if he makes a sandwich and doesn't wash the counter afterward, I feel like I have to wipe down the counter before I place anything on it for myself. And when you're already adjusting to the normal things that come with learning how to live with each other, it just seems to complicate things even more. I've pretty much lived on my own since I was diagnosed, so this part of the lifestyle is totally new to me (and to him).

NEVER. Place your food on the counter! Always use a plate or bowl! Get into that habit and your life will be easier. Get him to do that, too.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cavernio Enthusiast
cavernio
Posted

Probably not helpful, but have him be gluten free too. At least in your shared home. Too hard otherwise.

If you're super sensitive you have to make sure he cleans his mouth before kissing you, doesn't use gluteny products during intimate times if, um, well, I'm sure you get it (and that includes things like soap that can have gluten), and if he does choose to eat gluten, HE has to be just as diligent as you are with cleaning and changing towels/clothes, etc.

I wouldn't be able to abide the finickiness to live in a shared house. No way no how, I'm far too messy. My BF went gluten free at first just because he couldn't bring himself to be eating yummy food I couldn't eat around me. Because he lost so much weight doing that though, he's stuck to it. On occasion (birthday, bachelor party, etc) he will indulge, but he never, ever brings in food (knowingly) that has gluten. He's absolutely amazing for doing this, I know, but honestly, it would be such a pain in the ass any other way, and I suspect I'd screw up too much for me to ever get fully better.

Also, making 2 meals instead of 1 is just stupid in terms of time and money.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

On the beginning we were a zero gluten house except beer. Fine, since its in a bottle.

Then I added gluteny hamburger buns/hot dog buns since they really disliked the gluten-free ones.

That caused quite a bit of contention because we all had to be very careful...no crumbs, dipping into jars, I had to be served first and I couldn't have seconds.... It was so bad hubs just said forget it. He'll have no bun at all. Now, ironically, neither one prefers burgers with buns. But my son still likes hot dog buns.

Both had to learn to be careful about cc. Don't touch things, eat it on a paper towel, wash hands, etc. It took a year to start allowing a few things in, and I almost always have those as prepared foods in a wrapper that can just be tossed out. I did allow cinnamon rolls from a tube, once, but only when hubs was here to run interference with them and I lined the pan in foil and they ate them all at once :).

So, it's a process. You'll figure out what works for you. Do warn him that you'll treat him like a turd on the floor though...something that must be cleaned up and dealt with. I think that look puts them off a bit, even when you try to hide it.

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular
Celiac Mindwarp
Posted

We are a mixed house. I did keep getting glutened until I told DH that the whole house would have to go gluten-free if it kept happening, as we couldn't afford to have him off work to look after the kids if I got glutened.

6 weeks and so far so good :)

acceberenna Newbie
acceberenna
Posted
  • Author

Well I do know that getting him to go completely gluten-free is out of the question. He will try a bite of my gluten-free food, but considering the price of it, he leaves it all for me to eat. Most of the meals we have together are naturally gluten-free, but his basics aren't (bread,rolls, snacks, etc). We use squeeze bottles for mayo and those kinds of things so we don't have to buy doubles. But, like last night for example, he came home with fast food and of course it left crumbs on the counter and then I worried about everything he touched afterward. I guess I just need to make him clean up a bit more...!

cavernio Enthusiast
cavernio
Posted

"But, like last night for example, he came home with fast food and of course it left crumbs on the counter and then I worried about everything he touched afterward. I guess I just need to make him clean up a bit more...!"

Awww, that really sucks. You have to nail it into him that this is your health you're talking about, that being lax about it isn't optional. It's a complete fail on his part if he didn't even wash his hands after eating. At least if you wash your hands before you eat anything you don't need to worry about doorknobs and stuff. But it's NOT ok to dump a gluten filled bag and then spread crumbs around the house, especially in the kitchen where you make your gluten free food. Totally inacceptable.

Marilyn R Community Regular
Marilyn R
Posted

On the beginning we were a zero gluten house except beer. Fine, since its in a bottle.

Then I added gluteny hamburger buns/hot dog buns since they really disliked the gluten-free ones.

That caused quite a bit of contention because we all had to be very careful...no crumbs, dipping into jars, I had to be served first and I couldn't have seconds.... It was so bad hubs just said forget it. He'll have no bun at all. Now, ironically, neither one prefers burgers with buns. But my son still likes hot dog buns.

Both had to learn to be careful about cc. Don't touch things, eat it on a paper towel, wash hands, etc. It took a year to start allowing a few things in, and I almost always have those as prepared foods in a wrapper that can just be tossed out. I did allow cinnamon rolls from a tube, once, but only when hubs was here to run interference with them and I lined the pan in foil and they ate them all at once :).

So, it's a process. You'll figure out what works for you. Do warn him that you'll treat him like a turd on the floor though...something that must be cleaned up and dealt with. I think that look puts them off a bit, even when you try to hide it.

Prickly, have you tried parchment paper? It's sooooo much easier to deal with than aluminum foil. And OP, parchment paper is great to cover your food that you cook in a shared microwave.

My household went from shared to totally gluten-free, then shared again. Squeeze bottle condiments are good, too. I live with Dennis the Menace, but I caved. He can't even get it that he should put his stuff on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator vs. the top, but he likes to pile meat on top of meat in the refrigerator, and doesn't know the difference between an artichoke and an avacado.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Prickly, have you tried parchment paper? It's sooooo much easier to deal with than aluminum foil. And OP, parchment paper is great to cover your food that you cook in a shared microwave.

My household went from shared to totally gluten-free, then shared again. Squeeze bottle condiments are good, too. I live with Dennis the Menace, but I caved. He can't even get it that he should put his stuff on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator vs. the top, but he likes to pile meat on top of meat in the refrigerator, and doesn't know the difference between an artichoke and an avacado.

I use parchment paper for most baking but this needed to mold to the deep dish so I used foil.

I haven't gotten to the point of allowing gluten (except prepacked sushi) in the fridge. I do have one bag of gluteny hot dog buns in the freezer and double Ziplocked them.

Founds my son eating gluteny valentine candy then sticking his finger in my gluten-free chocolate mocha pecan torte....scraped the frosting off where he stuck his grubby finger and threatened his life.

That's another problem. He's so used to being able to do stuff like that because the house is 98% gluten-free. It just doesn't occur to him he may have gluten on his hands - he's so accustomed to it not being an issue at home. When we do have it (generally) it's a huge to-do and he knows to be careful.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,979
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    volivier
    Newest Member
    volivier
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @tiffanygosci, Hello.  I apologize for your thread being hijacked.   I recognize your symptoms as being similar to what I experienced, the migraines, food and chemical sensitivities, hives, nausea, the numbness and tingling, joint pain, tummy problems, sleep problems, emotional lability, and the mom brain.  My cycle returned early after I had my son, and I became pregnant again with all my symptoms worsening.  Unfortunately, I lost that baby.  In hindsight, I recognized that I was suffering so much from Thiamine deficiency and other nutritional deficiencies that I was not able to carry it.   Celiac Disease affects the absorption of nutrients from our food.  There's eight B vitamins that must be replenished every day.  Thiamine Vitamin B1 becomes depleted first because it cannot be stored very long, less than two weeks.  Other B vitamins can be stored for two months or so.  But Thiamine can get low enough to produce symptoms in as little as three days.  As the thiamine level gets lower, symptoms worsen.  Early symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are often attributed to life situations, and so frequently go unrecognized by medical professionals who "have a pill for that".   I used to get severe migraines and vomiting after gluten consumption.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins are needed to turn carbohydrates, fats and proteins into fuel for our bodies.  With a large influx of carbohydrates from gluten containing foods, the demand for Thiamine increases greatly.  Available thiamine can be depleted quickly, resulting in suddenly worsening symptoms.  Emotional stress or trauma, physical activity (athletes and laborers) and physiological stresses like pregnancy or injury (even surgery or infection) increase the need for Thiamine and can precipitate a thiamine insufficiency. Pregnancy requires more thiamine, not just for the mother, but for the child as well.  The mother's Thiamine stores are often depleted trying to meet the higher demand of a growing fetus.  Thiamine insufficiency can affect babies in utero and after birth (autism, ADHD).  Having babies close together doesn't allow time for the mother to replenish thiamine stores sufficiently.   Thiamine insufficiency can cause migraines, pins and needles (paresthesia), and gastrointestinal Beriberi (gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, back pain).   Thiamine deficiency can cause blurry vision, difficulty focusing, and affect the eyes in other ways.  Thiamine deficiency can damage the optic nerves.  I have permanent vision problems.  High histamine levels can make your brain feel like it's on fire or swelling inside your cranium.  High histamine levels can affect behavior and mood.  Histamine is released by Mast Cells as part of the immune system response to gluten.  Mast Cells need Thiamine to regulate histamine release.  Mast Cells without sufficient thiamine release histamine at the slightest provocation.  This shows up as sensitivities to foods, smelly chemicals, plants, and dust mites.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins are needed to lower histamine levels.  Vitamin D is needed to calm the immune system and to regulate our hormones.  Menstrual irregularities can be caused by low Vitamin D.   Celiac Disease is a disease if Malabsorption of Nutrients.  We must take great care to eat a nutritionally dense diet.  Our bodies cannot make vitamins.  We must get them from what we eat.  Supplementation with essential vitamins and minerals is warranted while we are healing and to ensure we don't become deficient over time.  Our bodies will not function properly without essential vitamins and minerals.  Doctors have swept their importance under the rug in favor of a pill that covers the symptoms but doesn't resolve the underlying issue of malnutrition. Do talk to your doctor and dietician about checking for nutritional deficiencies.  Most blood tests for the eight B vitamins do not reflect how much is available or stored inside cells.  Blood tests reflect how much is circulating in the blood stream, the transportation system.  Blood levels can be "normal" while a deficiency exists inside cells where the vitamins are actually used.  The best way to see if you're low in B vitamins is to take a B Complex, and additional Thiamine and look for improvement.   Most vitamin supplements contain Thiamine Mononitrate, which is not easily absorbed nor utilized by the body.  Only thirty percent of thiamine mononitrate listed on the label is absorbed, less is actually utilized.  This is because thiamine mononitrate is shelf stable, it won't breakdown sitting on a shelf in the grocery store.  It's so hard to breakdown, our bodies don't absorb it and can't turn it into a form the body can use.  Take Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which the body can utilize much better.  (Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test for Thiamine level.  Though not accurate, this test does better picking up on a thiamine deficiency than a blood test.) Are you keeping your babies on a gluten free diet?  This can prevent genetically susceptible children from developing Celiac Disease.   P. S. Interesting Reading  Thiamine deficiency in pregnancy and lactation: implications and present perspectives https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10158844/ Descriptive spectrum of thiamine deficiency in pregnancy: A potentially preventable condition https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37458305/ B vitamins and their combination could reduce migraine headaches: A randomized double-blind controlled trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9860208/
    • trents
      Outgrow celiac?

      By trents · Posted

      @Riley, on this forum we sometimes get reports from people with similar experiences as you. That is, their celiac disease seems to go into remission. Typically, that doesn't last. At age 18 you are at your physical-biological peek in life where your body is stronger than it will ever be and it is able to fight well against many threats and abuses. As Wheatwacked pointed out, absence of symptoms is not always a reliable indicator that no damage is being done to the body. I was one of those "silent" celiacs with no symptoms, or at least very minor symptoms, whose body was being slowly damaged for many years before the damage became pronounced enough to warrant investigation, leading to a diagnosis. By that time I had suffered significant bone demineralization and now I suffer with back and neck problems. Please, if you choose to continue consuming gluten, which I do not recommend, at least get tested regularly so that you won't get caught in the silent celiac trap down the road like I did. You really do not outgrow celiac disease. It is baked into the genes. Once the genes get triggered, as far as we know, they are turned on for good. Social rejection is something most celiacs struggle with. Being compliant with the gluten free diet places restrictions on what we can eat and where we can eat. Our friends usually try to work with us at first but then it gets to be a drag and we begin to get left out. We often lose some friends in the process but we also find out who really are our true friends. I think the hardest hits come at those times when friends spontaneously say, "Hey, let's go get some burgers and fries" and you know you can't safely do that. One way to cope in these situations is to have some ready made gluten-free meals packed in the fridge that you can take with you on the spot and still join them but eat safely. Most "real" friends will get used to this and so will you. Perhaps this little video will be helpful to you.  
    • Wheatwacked
      Outgrow celiac?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      @Riley., Welcome to the forum.   It was once believed that Celiac Disease was only a childhood disease and it can be outgrown.  That was before 1951, before gluten was discovered to be cause of Celiac Disease, also called Infantilism.  Back then Cileac Disease was thought to be only a gastro intestinal disease, once you  "outgrew" the colicky phase, you were cured. You were so lucky to be diagnosed at 5 years old so your developing years were normal.  Gluten can affect multiple systems.  The nervous system, your intellegence. The muscules, skeleton. It can cause neurological issues like brain fog, anxiety, and peripheral neuropathy.  It can cause joint pain, muscle weakness, and skin rashes. Epilepsy is 1.8 times more prevalent in patients with celiac disease, compared to the general population. Because through malabsorption and food avoidances, it causes vitamin D and numerouus other essential nutrient deficiencies, it allows allergies, infections, poor growth, stuffy sinuses and eustacian tubes. There is even a catagory of celiac disease called "Silent Celiac".  Any symptoms are explained away as this, that or the other thing. Gluten is one of the most addictive substances we consume.  Activating the Opiod receptors in our cells, it can numb us to the damage that it, and other foods are causing.  It has become socially acceptable to eat foods that make us feel sick.  "There's a pill for that".   It is generally accepted that n fact you are weird if you don't. The hardest part is that if you don't eat gluten you will feel great and think why not.  But slowly it will effect you, you'll be diagnosed with real diseases that you don't have. You'll be more susseptable to other autoimmune diseases.  As you read through the posts here, notice how many are finally dianosed, after years of suffering at older ages.  Is it worth it? I think not. Perhaps this book will help:  Here is a list of possible symptoms:   
    • Riley.
      Outgrow celiac?

      By Riley. · Posted

      Hi! Im Riley, 18 years old and have been diagnosed for 13 years.. the testing started bc I stopped growing and didn’t gain any weight and was really small and thin for my age.  I got diagnosed when I was 5 and have been living gluten free since, in elementary and middle school it was hard for me and I kept contaminating myself bc I wanted to fit in with my friends so so badly. I ate gluten secretly at school and mostly regretted it 30 minutes later.  I’ve had symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, headaches, stomachaches, threw up a lot and was really emotional.  In 2022 I really started working on myself and tried to stay gluten free and if I did eat gluten I wouldn’t tell anyone and suffer in silence.  Last year in July I begged my mom to let me „cheat“ one day bc I just wanted to fit in… I ate a lot of different stuff, all the stuff I missed out on in my childhood like nuggets, pizza and all that.. I didn’t have symptoms that day and was doing really fine My mom and I wanted to test how far we can go and said we would test it for 12 weeks to get my blood taken after to see if I’m doing good or if symptoms start showing  As a now 18 year old girl who finally gained a normal weight and doesn’t get symptoms I’m to scared to get tested/my blood taken cuz I finally found comfort in food and it got so much easier for me and my family.  A year and 4 months later i still didn’t get any symptoms and have been eating gluten daily.  I’m scared to get tested/my blood taken cuz what if I’m actually not fine and have to go back to eating gluten free. Any tips to get over that fear and „suck it up“ cuz I know I could seriously damage my body… sorry if I seem like a idiot here… just don’t really know what to do :,)
    • Mari
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By Mari · Posted

      There is much helpful 'truth' posted on this forum. Truths about Celiac Disease are based on scientific research and people's experience. Celiac disease is inherited. There are 2 main Celiac 'genes' but they are variations of one gene called HLa - DQ What is inherited when a person inherits one or both of the DQ2 or the DQ8 is a predisposition to develop celiac disease after exposure to a environmental trigger. These 2 versions of the DQ gene are useful in diagnosing  celiac disease but there are about 25 other genes that are known to influence celiac disease so this food intolerance is a multigenic autoimmune disease. So with so many genes involved and each person inheriting a different array of these other genes one person's symptoms may be different than another's symptoms.  so many of these other genes.  I don't think that much research on these other genes as yet. So first I wrote something that seem to tie together celiac disease and migraines.  Then you posted that you had migraines and since you went gluten free they only come back when you are glutened. Then Scott showed an article that reported no connection between migraines and celiac disease, Then Trents wrote that it was possible that celiacs had more migraines  and some believed there was a causal effect. You are each telling the truth as you know it or experienced it.   
×
×
  • 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.