Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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
  • Kelly Carter
    Kelly Carter

    A Love Note to the Partners of a Celiac Sufferer

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Journal of Gluten Sensitivity Summer 2019 Issue

    A Love Note to the Partners of a Celiac Sufferer - Image: CC BY-ND 2.0--hildaaa
    Caption: Image: CC BY-ND 2.0--hildaaa

    Celiac.com 07/22/2019 - I was thinking...the significant others of someone with celiac put up with a lot.

    They endure the constant discussions at every social gathering about celiac disease. New social contacts mean an explanation of why we can't come to your house for dinner without a 20 minute conversation about bringing our own food. It means the camaraderie of a pitcher of beer is ruined by our need to order cider or a glass of wine. It means that the well-intentioned friend at a pot luck brought something gluten free, but we can't eat it because we don't know how it was prepared.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    They cannot make dinner reservations at a new place without first a 20 minute review of the menu, then a 5 minute grilling of the wait staff, only to watch helplessly as we endure the results of the inevitable cross contamination.
    They hold our hair back, bring us the heating pad to put on our sore stomachs, and deliver emergency toilet paper for each request in the bathroom.

    Just not in the mood—really means, I want to but I was sick all day and don't want anyone in that general area. And sometimes it means, everything hurts, so I just don't want anyone to touch me.

    Travelling with us requires hours of planning where to stop to ensure we have a safe place to eat, then later speeding to the next exit to find a restroom in sometimes questionable gas stations. And then standing outside the bathroom at those questionable gas stations to ensure our safety.

    They also go gluten free in the house to make sure we have a safe place to live. They brush their teeth after their beer but before kissing us. They understand that paying for a gluten free loaf of bread that is half the size of normal bread and three times the cost shows us love. They check every label when going to the grocery store for us, just to make sure they buy the right stuff.

    Our partners often put themselves in awkward social situations, endure financial burdens, and put themselves in sometimes dangerous places to protect us. Celiac disease affects them is obvious ways and many that we may not see. They do all of this out of love for their partner.

    And your partner may not do any of those things or maybe all of them or maybe just a few—they love and support you. And if they don't, dump them!

    The bottom line is that we should appreciate those that choose to spend their time with someone with Celiac. We didn’t make a choice to have this disease, but every day they choose to be with us. So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love and support.


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Linmelito
    On 7/30/2019 at 11:09 AM, Guest Deborah Beauvais said:

    Thank you for sharing the different degrees and wonderful for those less affected. A very strict diet is key for many of us and good quality enzymes before meals, makes a huge difference in cutting down bathroom trips and absorbing nutrients..also a quality probiotic. Thank you for such a great article!

    Can  I ask what kind/brand of enzymes you take before meals? I do take probiotics everyday, not sure if I also should be taking a prebiotic too

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Evelyn

    Posted

     

    On 7/29/2019 at 3:11 PM, Guest celiac disease exaggerated said:

    The teeth brushing thing is a bit extreme. I have celiac since 2008 and I do not think if someone drinks beer and you kiss them you are contaminated. In my kitchen we still have some gluten items. You just need to be careful and smart. Trips don't have to be all that complicated. Bring things and do not eat fast food...

    Obviously you’re lucky enough not to have a severe sensitivity to even tiny amounts of gluten. Everyone’s sensitivity is different, and whether you experience it or not, even a few bread crumbs can cause reaction in some people (a.k.a., me). So, yes, kissing someone who just drank a beer or who has beer on their lips CAN cause a reaction for some. My body is that sensitive to it. I’m glad you, however, don’t have to be extra vigilant. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Kathy in FL

    Posted

    I am a highly sensitive celiac and my husband and son have always been extremely supportive of me.  We have a completely gluten free household.  If my husband wants anything with gluten in it, he eats it at a restaurant or place like Whole Foods away from the house.  He is great at finding new gluten free products for us to try. 

    I plan all our vacations and our hotel choice is always a place that offers gluten free meals.  Restaurants are similarly chosen.  Since Europe is usually more gluten free friendly than the USA I get no complaints from my family when we travel. 

    My extended family is also very supportive and my daughter-in-law always prepares gluten free food for me when I visit.  She is a pharmacist and knows how to avoid cross-contamination.  I am very thankful for these wonderful, supportive family members. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Shirley McLeod Mensch

    Posted

    Has anyone experienced a very tight or pressure in their head? Please let me know. This has been going on for 3 months now. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Elisabeth Gerritsen

    Great!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Kelly Carter

    I was diagnosed with Celiac in 2012 and have been gluten free ever since.  I live in Atlanta with my husband and two medium sized children.  I run a blog at FatCeliac.net that covers real life issues with celiac disease, upcoming drug trials, and try to be a reliable source of information for the celiac community.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Danna Korn
    When Friends, Family or Loved Ones Just Don't Get It
    This article originally appeared in the Winter 2006 edition of Celiac.com's Open Original Shared Link.
    Celiac.com 04/30/2010 - The gluten-free lifestyle is a big part of who we are.  So when friends, relatives, and loved ones don’t get it—I should clarify—when they seem to choose not to get it—we sometimes get a little cranky.
    I know—I was reminded of how it feels when loved ones don’t choose to get it this past Thanksgiving when one of my relatives who shall remain nameless glutenized the mayo jar.  Now I realize it may seem petty to get tweaked about someone dipping a knife in a mayo jar—but it had gluten all over it, and worse yet, she did the same thing last Thanksgiving, and I threw a tizzy about it then.
    Realizing the first dip alone contaminated the entire jar (of course ...


    Danna Korn
    Dealing with Denial
    Celiac.com 10/06/2005 - You’ve all heard the joke proclaiming that “denial is not a river in Egypt.”  No, it’s not.  What it is, though, is a very real issue for many, if not most people who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.  There are a couple of types of denial—the first type affects us—while the other type affects those around us.
    When We’re in Denial
    Many people who are diagnosed—or when their kids are—go through some type of denial.  It usually occurs at a few key times after diagnosis—and for a few different reasons, here are some examples:
    Immediate denial—the diagnosis isn’t right.  Nope.  Couldn’t be.  I don’t know anyone who has that.  I don’t even know what gluten is.  I’ve never heard of celiac disease.  I don’t have symptom...


    Emma Haan
    Celiac Teens: Dealing With Friends
    I am 15 years old and was diagnosed with celiac disease almost two years ago.  After many years of stomach pains and rheumatoid arthritis I was relieved to finally have an answer.  Even today I still remember the shock that comes with the realization that you will never have another bite of "normal" food again.  After coping with the different emotional struggles that accompany a life changing diagnosis, I still had some difficulties. Most of these had to do with my friends.  Over time I have learned how to handle the awkward social encounters pertaining to my celiac disease.  
    Here are some of the most common:
    Refusal:  I had some friends that flat out refused to eat in front of me, in order to not make me "feel bad.". Although I am flattered that they would sacrifice something for m...


    Melody Stiles, MSW, LCSW, MAC, LCAC
    You're Not Crazy: Coping with Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity
    Celiac.com 12/29/2017 - Do you remember the moment when you were diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? Most people I talk to have it etched in their memory. After all, the information is life transforming. Yet, I doubt if most of us understood the enormity of the information until time passed and we had the opportunity to actually fully understand what it meant besides the gluten free diet (GFD).
    Along with having to learn that gluten is everywhere, we also learn that having to eat differently is, to put it mildly, upsetting. In fact, the psychological impact of living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity usually involves depression and anxiety. There are other emotional responses as well; these include grief and, for some, trauma (depending upon how long it took...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - sh00148 replied to sh00148's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      Nighttime Soiling (5 year old)

    2. - cristiana replied to sh00148's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      Nighttime Soiling (5 year old)

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Blue Roan's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      2

      Lymph nodes in neck + thyroid issues

    4. - Scott Adams replied to StrongerThanCeliac's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      2 Separate Glutenings - Recovery Timeline?

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Therockfrog's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      2

      Itchy skin, tingling in feet and scalp


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,786
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Randolph
    Newest Member
    Randolph
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      68.9k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • Elliebee
    • mswhis
    • Dhruv
      20
    • Sking
    • jmiller93
      8
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...