
Celiac Disease Support Group
Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder of the digestive system that occurs in genetically-predisposed individuals. It is characterised by damage or flattening to all or part of the villi lining the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. This damage is caused by eating anything with gluten (gliadin), a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley...

deleted_user
I just need to vent about dealing with friends and family that don't understand the GF diet.
I was diagnosed 3 years ago and am from a very small town, no one I know or am related to has Celiac.
I recently went to visit my 2 aunts for the day. They decided to make beef stew for supper. My aunt Mary (who diagnosed me correctly after my doctor told me I had Irritable Bowel syndrome and eat more bread and refused to test me for Gluten sensitivities) pulled out flour to cook with. After reminding her that I couldn't eat the flour she got upset and said she couldn't make stew without flour. I didn't know what to do, I felt like a burden on my whole family, but I also felt let down by them. Luckily my Aunt Andrea had some Tapioca flour so they used that instead.
Then a few weeks later I went shopping with my best friend and a few other friends from High school. My friends decided without me that they wanted to eat at Fazoli's. I have not been to a fazoli's in the 3 years since I have been diagnosed and had no idea if there was anything I could eat there. My friend got mad at me when I asked if we could eat somewhere else.
My other friend was just diagnosed with Chrone's and so has a special diet too. However she can eat pasta, which is served at almost every resteraunt around. So I was reminded that I wasn't the only one with a specail diet and that they would not change their plans for me. (my friend is 7 months pregnant and very hormonal and has appologized profusely since this happened)
When we got there I ordered a chicken salad not knowing if I could eat it or not. When I got to the table I realized the chicken was breaded and I couldn't eat any of it. I felt let down by my friends and hurt that they didn't care. I don't know how to show them how hard it is without sounding like a whiny little kid. Any suggestions about how to make family and friends understand?
I was diagnosed 3 years ago and am from a very small town, no one I know or am related to has Celiac.
I recently went to visit my 2 aunts for the day. They decided to make beef stew for supper. My aunt Mary (who diagnosed me correctly after my doctor told me I had Irritable Bowel syndrome and eat more bread and refused to test me for Gluten sensitivities) pulled out flour to cook with. After reminding her that I couldn't eat the flour she got upset and said she couldn't make stew without flour. I didn't know what to do, I felt like a burden on my whole family, but I also felt let down by them. Luckily my Aunt Andrea had some Tapioca flour so they used that instead.
Then a few weeks later I went shopping with my best friend and a few other friends from High school. My friends decided without me that they wanted to eat at Fazoli's. I have not been to a fazoli's in the 3 years since I have been diagnosed and had no idea if there was anything I could eat there. My friend got mad at me when I asked if we could eat somewhere else.
My other friend was just diagnosed with Chrone's and so has a special diet too. However she can eat pasta, which is served at almost every resteraunt around. So I was reminded that I wasn't the only one with a specail diet and that they would not change their plans for me. (my friend is 7 months pregnant and very hormonal and has appologized profusely since this happened)
When we got there I ordered a chicken salad not knowing if I could eat it or not. When I got to the table I realized the chicken was breaded and I couldn't eat any of it. I felt let down by my friends and hurt that they didn't care. I don't know how to show them how hard it is without sounding like a whiny little kid. Any suggestions about how to make family and friends understand?
Posts You May Be Interested In
-
theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
-
I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
One way to deal with eating out is to research ahead. Many national restraunt chains offer gluten-free menus. "http://www.celiaccentral.org/" has a great brochure that lists these chains as well as tons of useful information.
omastoy: I don't usually eat out w/ friends unless it's a resteraunt that I know, in that case we shopped from 6am to 8pm so I had to eat!
Teachermom322: sometimes I explain and sometimes I just say no thanks, depends on the situation. If i'm at a resteraunt and order a sandwhich and say no bread, sometimes i say I can't eat bread, I guess I don't want people to think i'm on the atkins diet (that was really popular when I was diagnosed and I hate when people though i was not eating bread cuz of the diet) It's a stupid and dangerous diet.
chensley: my boyfriend was the same way saying you can try a little it won't hurt all the time. He won't eat any of my food either. A lot of the GF foods are expensive but a cheap alternative when you are making dinner for your family is to buy some GF noodles (walmart has some now at a reasonable price) and the Ragu sauces (cheese, alfredo, parmeson etc.) they are GF throw in some chicken or other meat and you have an easy meal that you can take leftovers for lunch the next day. It was hard on my relationship for awhile too, until I got into a routine of planning coordinating meals (if you only have to buy GF for yourself its not quite so bad, but feeding it to your family would cost a fortune)
dy8736: I had trouble last year at thanksgiving, all i could eat was mashed potatoes and turkey at my bf's family thanksgiving. My family went out of the way for me using GF flour for gravy and my grandma made me stuffing out of GF bread that my mom went out of her way to buy, it was great. this year I made all the dishes i knew had gluten in ahead of time and took my own GF versions of everything with me to dinner with my b/fs family. they were relieved that I had brought my own and could enjoy the meal with them.
Amiranda: I know what you mean, my mom will buy me all kinds of GF foods when I go home to visit but often it is stuff that I've tried and don't like and I don't want to tell her because I know she spent a lot of money and went out of her way to buy special foods just for me. It's hard to create a balance. It does get easier but it takes a lot of time.
Some people require lots of patience. My aunt has been trying for 8 years to make food for my sister and I. She is just starting to understand what she needs to do.
I am sorry you had to go through that with your friends, I guess at this point in my life I would change friends if I were you. Maybe too drastic...
Hope things get better for you
Adriana