Gaahhhh, glutened again (letting off steam)

[thiskiwicanfly]

Pre-amble - I have celiac and my family are very good at being careful not to "gluten" me.

Lovely meal last night with my family - sister suddenly goes pale and looks at me and says "sorry". Cue me asking why and she says she used honey in the dressing. No problem says I, honey doesn't contain gluten. And then she says "but I used the bottom of a jar that we have been using for our toast - and the kids have been at it with their knives".

I hoped I'd be okay, I really did. But here I am today again, in tears over an ad about sandals.

I so wish there was some form of treatment for this bit - I get mildish gastro effects but terrible emotional ones - tearful, paranoid, anxious, grumpy - for four days plus a migraine on day three.

I know there's no help but just needed to let off a wee bit of steam.

Thanks for reading.

[Lagoonablue]

Awww sorry for you. Not the same but yesterday took the family to a lively pizza restaurant as I know they do gf pizza. We ordered, not until after starters arrived did we find there were no gf bases in stock. I had a salad, no dressing. :(

Also had some mild symptoms later so think there was a bit of contamination.

I never get emotional though. Is this common? Quite new to this.

[thiskiwicanfly]

Don't you hate when you go somewhere and discover that your lunch/dinner is going to be a few undressed leaves and a slice of tomato? That's happened to me before today too. One Christmas my mother didn't think very hard and put the bread rolls on top of the roast veges to heat, and dad discovered that both of the roast meats he had purchased had stuffing in them. Peas and carrots, and nothing else, for Christmas dinner anyone? I keep "emergency protein bars and nuts" in my handbag now (and generally bring a dish to a meal that I can eat provided no-body cuts/serves it with a gluten containing utensil - the ultimate in frustration). I've been known to go to formal events with a gluten free cheese and salami sandwich in my evening purse too!

For me the emotional effects are now worse than the gastro ones. Don't get me wrong, those happen too, and the itchy spots and aching body, I can deal with those.

But the emotional/psychological effects - those are the worst. I just want to curl up in a ball under the duvet for about 4 days. I burst into tears this morning singing along to the radio on my way to work. And decided that DP is definitely seeing someone else (he's really not - the rational part of me knows this)... I used to think I had just become a moody cow, and at times thought I was going completely crazy, but once I got my diagnosis and gluten was gone from my diet I became the me I used to know in my teens - generally cheerful and positive and fun.

Not everyone has every symptom though - everyone's symptoms of exposure are different on a curve of almost no symptoms to feeling like the world will never be a good place again!

It takes ages to get used to this whole way of living where food becomes more important than it used to be, and requires more thought, but it's possible.

I wish you health, happiness and gluten free pizzas and hot cross buns for this time of year!

[Lagoonablue]

Mmmm GF hot cross buns. Yum.

[ClaireCampA]

My kids have Coeliac Disease and I know how upsetting it is to be glutenated! Hope you feel better soon x

[PHANTOMnamechanger]

I feel for you OP and hope you feel better soon.

DD is coeliac and going on a residential for 5 days this week. I am worried sick! I have written to the organisers but this was a very late booking due to someone else dropping out and her being offered the place so we have had no time to liase with the venue over catering issues etc. especailly with the venue being closed over the b/h weekend. I will be packing loads of snack foods and hoping for the best. Thankfully DD (15) is very sensible and won't take risks, she'd rather not eat than risk that someone does not fully understand her needs.