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In laws taking my celiac disease as a personal slight

76 replies

BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 15:57

I was diagnosed with celiac disease a few months ago.

I follow a low carb diet anyway so it’s not really what much of a change as I’ve not eaten pasta or bread in yonks, swapped out all the little things that contained gluten, so it’s been fine for me really.

PIL though think i’m on a fad diet. And they won’t listen to anything else dh tells them.

They are Italian and have taken it very personally that I won’t eat their food (pre covid times we didn’t live close to them and would I have a meal off low carb when we visited them and ate the food they cooked so as not to be rude).

Now we live very near them.

Dh told them that I couldn’t eat gluten anymore in preparation for when we go to their house to eat again, and they now think it’s because I don’t like their food.

It’s quite tough as well eating at other peoples houses as gluten is in a lot of things you don’t realise, like stock cubes, lots of sauces, so I would just take something of my own as I wouldn’t expect anyone else to navigate my dietary requirements for one meal.

This is further compounded by the fact that I am half Indian and like to cook a lot of Indian food, which is, apart form all the breads, fine for me to still eat (thank God!)

There was the comment of “oh so her food is fine, it’s ours that she won’t eat?”

Back story with Indian food is that they used to love it, until dh met me and then they decided they hated it and always had.

They also have an issue with the fact that we pay for private healthcare and this is how I was seen/diagnosed so fast (they only know this as dh had an issue that he had sorted out fast so told them about the healthcare cover).

So now, I also keep getting told that he probably wasn’t a real consultant and that he’s only diagnosed to make money from me Confused and I can’t possibly have celiac as I don’t have symptoms. Which is true, I don’t get any physical symptoms - it’s a long story as to why he tested me and why was referred to him in the first place, but it’s all been confirmed with some horrible tests.

But obviously, gluten was causing issues inside my body and if i keep eating it, it will have long term health implications for me. I’m really quite strict so it’s not a case of just having one meal off - it’s all or nothing and it’s just become a way of life for me now.

Anyway they won’t let it go. Dh had repeated told them that this is how it is and to stop talking about it.

It’s ALL they talk about, ignoring them, changing the subject or telling them outright to stop doesn’t worked and it’s driving me nuts!

OP posts:
FuckingFabulous · 04/09/2021 18:12

Tsk.

Give a gentle tinkle of laughter and then apologise saying that you just thought any Italian would know many more authentic dishes than just pasta and pizza.

I always have pollo provolone and caprese salad, or bistecca dolcelatte and grilled vegetables with olive oil and garlic.

Fellow Coeliac and keto follower!

drpet49 · 04/09/2021 18:13

* Your FIL is a lying, controlling, racist arsehole. Why would you want that attitude around your children. Grandparents dismissing their Indian heritage and food as disgusting and hated?*

^This

AuntLydiasNewHairdo · 04/09/2021 18:38

@FuckingFabulous

Tsk.

Give a gentle tinkle of laughter and then apologise saying that you just thought any Italian would know many more authentic dishes than just pasta and pizza.

I always have pollo provolone and caprese salad, or bistecca dolcelatte and grilled vegetables with olive oil and garlic.

Fellow Coeliac and keto follower!

I wouldn't waste my tinkles on them, tbh.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

AcrossthePond55 · 04/09/2021 18:44

Yes I do have children. And our dr has suggested testing...

My DS2 had a simple blood test for genetic markers. He carries an allele that means he's unlikely to get Celiac himself but could pass it on. He is also now knows that he needs to be aware of any possible symptoms just in case.

DS1 refused to be tested. DS1 was over 18 so I couldn't 'make him', DS2 was a minor so I insisted.

SirVixofVixHall · 04/09/2021 18:46

OP you can do a mouth swab for the coeliac gene with your children. Giving up gluten without knowing if they are coeliac or not isn’t a good idea.

Embracelife · 04/09/2021 18:47

Italy is pretty good for senza glutine
Send links to Italian celiac society

Embracelife · 04/09/2021 18:47

www.celiachia.it/

multiplemum3 · 04/09/2021 18:48

You have my full sympathies, my youngest has it and loads of people still think it's bullshit???

grey12 · 04/09/2021 18:51

@Aquamarine1029

Veiled racist family is still family. It's like a doctor/patient thing. Are racist cancer patients not worthy of being treated?!

How anyone can compare a doctor treating a patient to a person being forced and/or encouraged to tolerate racist inlaws is beyond me. Being "family" doesn't give anyone a pass to be vile and abusive. Your standards for how you expect to be treated must be very low.

Not tolerate but sometimes you do need to take care of your family member Hmm

My mum is on occasion a closeted racist but I can't just stop being her daughter, can I? I just shut her down immediately and tell her she's out of line. This thread is not about OPs parents, so it's not up to her to say anything, unless her kids are involved

Chicchicchicchiclana · 04/09/2021 18:54

Sorry to hear you are going through this OP. Just stop eating with them until they get the message.

I do know a bit about celiac disease but just interested in a comment from a PP about the state of their teeth. I never knew this was a symptom. Can anyone tell me more?

RedSquirrelRoar · 04/09/2021 18:57

Italy seems to have really good awareness about coeliac disease- they routinely test kids, and restaurants all had GF options when I was last there a few years ago (I was told this is because eating together is such an important part of the culture, it’s unacceptable to leave anyone out).
Sorry to say, but I’d agree with others that it’s not your dietary needs they have a problem with.

Reallyreallyborednow · 04/09/2021 18:57

Some people really don’t like others having allergies

Coeliac disease isn’t an allergy, it’s an autoimmune disease, and the risks are very different.

Calling it an allergy is likely to mislead people into thinking it’s a lips swell, epipen job, so when it doesn’t do anything that dramatic it is dismissed as not serious.

O/p I don’t know what the answer is. If they won’t be educated on autoimmune disease- can you explain that you have a gene that means you will get cancer in the future if you eat gluten? Dramatic but might get the message across it’s a long term danger that needs constant management rather than eat it and die immediately scenario. Only other thing is to avoid them or simply not eat when you go to theirs.

BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 19:09

@RedSquirrelRoar

Italy seems to have really good awareness about coeliac disease- they routinely test kids, and restaurants all had GF options when I was last there a few years ago (I was told this is because eating together is such an important part of the culture, it’s unacceptable to leave anyone out). Sorry to say, but I’d agree with others that it’s not your dietary needs they have a problem with.
Both their families moved from Italy to England for work in the 1960s, so I doubt they would be clued up on testing in Italy.

I didn’t realise you could get a swab for children - it was just a very quick “you should probably consider..” conversation with a GP.

I will follow it all up. None of them show any symptoms - not that it really means much! My eldest is 19 and he’s keen to get checked out.

Thank you all for your comments.

When say it’s affected the relationship between them and dh and the children, it’s because we have really pulled back. It’s a shame as we are now only 5 mins down the road, we were 3 hours away until last year, but they have seen the dc only a few time as FIL behaviour has been unbearable for dh since we moved closer.

OP posts:
MzHz · 04/09/2021 19:19

The incidence of gluten intolerance is higher in Italy than anywhere else!

There are so many wonderful gluten free pastas, takes a little more attention to cook, but you’d never really know!

And yes, we’re gf AND lacto free in our house, that’s trickier but again we do eat a lot of Italian AND Indian food

Why not invite them to yours? Cool italian for them or something?

BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 19:19

I’ve also got quite a lot of anxiety surrounding the. diagnosis still.

I’m 41 and I’m panicking about the damage I’ve already done not knowing until now.

But I’m so thankful the test was done. It was only because I had mentioned to the consultant I was seeing about having the colonoscopy that I’d had some bloods done a few week earlier and that my CRP and ESR levels were raised with no standout reason. So he said “I’d like to add in a blood test for celiac”.

I was pretty floored when he called a few days later to say that I had it (confirmed later with internal tests).

I’m scared because my mum had colon cancer in her mid 30s and died at 40, and my dad also had colon cancer last year (he’s 86 though). But it means I’ve got it both sides.

OP posts:
PalmTreesAndWarmSeas · 04/09/2021 19:20

Threads like this make me sad. My DD is coeliac and I really struggle letting other people feed her because of attitudes like theirs. They need educating.

You have my sympathy OP.

Reallyreallyborednow · 04/09/2021 19:32

I’m scared because my mum had colon cancer in her mid 30s and died at 40, and my dad also had colon cancer last year (he’s 86 though). But it means I’ve got it both sides

Have you asked about genetic testing?

BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 19:33

@Reallyreallyborednow

I’m scared because my mum had colon cancer in her mid 30s and died at 40, and my dad also had colon cancer last year (he’s 86 though). But it means I’ve got it both sides

Have you asked about genetic testing?

It has been mentioned but part of me thinks what more can I do than keep myself as healthy as I can?
OP posts:
BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 19:35

Oh and as for PIL - their diet is pasta, pasta and more pasta. All Italian meals they cook are pasta based. Dh said that when he left home he didn’t eat it for years he was so sick of it.

OP posts:
Reallyreallyborednow · 04/09/2021 19:37

It has been mentioned but part of me thinks what more can I do than keep myself as healthy as I can?

You will probably be able to access regular screening and possibly preventative surgery. Sorry it’s been a while since I worked in the field so I’m not sure what is current best practice. Likely it won’t be pleasant- regular colonoscopies for example to check for polyps before you become symptomatic, but definitely things you can do other than diet and lifestyle.

BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 19:39

Also re genetic testing - I take steps to avoid the causes of colon cancer, diet wise (I saw a dietician and I’ve seen one again a few times recently for celiac and spoken about foods for cancer prevention etc).

And I should’ve been having colonoscopies from the age of 35. But I am going to be having them regularly now that I’ve finally set that in motion.

Knowing I did or didn’t have a higher risk wouldn’t change those things.

OP posts:
BillyJoe111 · 04/09/2021 19:41

@Reallyreallyborednow sorry cross posted! But all those things are in place already.

Colonoscopy I had there were no polyps, but obviously they would have been removed and tested if there were.

So I will be having regular screening.

OP posts:
TiddleTaddleTat · 04/09/2021 19:48

Haven't rtft but I'm suspected coeliac too. I don't eat at other peoples houses at all, except for one close family member who is very careful and understands. I've been glutened several times by accidental well meaning family and friends . Not worth it .

TiddleTaddleTat · 04/09/2021 19:50

Also, it's the social side that seems to cause the biggest issue in cases of food allergies, intolerances and in this case, autoimmune diseases that require an adapted diet.
It's not an emotional issue for me to avoid gluten and cross contamination. But it seems to really get other peoples backs up when I say I can't eat those fish and chips/ sorry can't have the cake they baked for me in their kitchen / can't eat at that restaurant etc etc

beastlyslumber · 04/09/2021 20:02

There's loads of celiac disease in Italy and it's very well catered for.