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Celiac in college dorms

bugg

By bugg
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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bugg Newbie
bugg
Posted

To give a little bit of an overview, I was diagnosed with Celiac back when I was about 8 years old (a little over a decade ago), but I most likely had it much longer. I struggled in school before my diagnosis, I would refuse to eat school lunches, one bite and I would feel terribly sick within minutes, headaches, nausea, and overall just ickiness. Teachers and school nurses thought I was just a picky eater, and they would force me to finish my food or I would get put out of recess, and many times I was forced to sit alone at lunch so they could "monitor me". Luckily my mom is also a celiac, and she decided to get me tested. I wouldn't say my reaction to gluten is as severe as I've seen it for others, but it's enough to ruin a good 3-4 days of my week, however I can get pretty sick just using an already washed dish that's had gluten on it before. I'm in my second year of college, and this year (2021) is my first year in the dorms. It's been terrible. Using the same sink, roommates not washing their dishes and leaving ramen or crumbs on my dishes has been a struggle. I'm throwing out and using a new sponge almost every week because of the cross contamination. I've sat down with my roomates before to talk about cross contamination but it really hasn't done much. I've been getting headaches, my body overall has just been heavy and sore, I'm struggling to get out this lethargic slump, sharp pain in my stomach, gas (embarrassing, but what can I do?), vomiting at odd hours of the day and night, lack of appetite, and worst of all has been the brain fog. I find it hard to retain information or study effectively at all. I'm not sure what to do, I attend a small school way up north in Canada, so there isn't much availability in terms of groceries, restaurants, or delivery. Has anyone else had to go through something like this? I'm coming to terms that avoiding gluten all together might not be possible, but if there's any way to limit it that would be more than amazing. 

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trents Grand Master
trents
Posted

Welcome to the forum, bugg!

What about buying your own cookware and utensils, cleaning paraphernalia, etc and keeping those sequestered in a footlocker or something?

There is also a product called GliadinX which is designed to neutralize small amounts of gluten such as you get from cross contamination. GliadinX is one of our sponsors here. Some people find it really helps.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I would suggest using disposable plates and cutlery if possible (even though I detest them) to cut down on what has to be washed.  If you can cook there get a box or tote to keep your small supply of pans and other stuff like can openers and a toaster out of reach of your roommates. If you have to share a fridge use a bag of some sort to put your own stuff like mayo, cheese etc. seperate and out of sight. You are in a tough spot and it wouldn't hurt to talk to your advisor to see if you can get a room by yourself for medical reasons or permission to live off campus.

UncertainTea Newbie
UncertainTea
Posted

I agree about the paper plates, if you guys use the same cooking ware just make sure to really clear it for crumbs etc. I live with people who are non Celiac and don't think about cross contamination so I make sure that their food never touches mines. If you use a microwave make sure to cover your stuff up in a paper towel so their gluten won't get into your food. Also if you have some gluten free bread and a toaster you can use a toaster bag so your gluten free bread won't touch the regular bread.  For the not washing the dishes personally I wouldn't wash theirs, I would only wash my own and create a nice corner where I have my food supplies etc. and they have theirs. Maybe you can get like a portable sink? And a mini refrigerator separate from theirs? Also I agree with the person above me all great points, if you can maybe you can try to get a dorm by yourself or at least with more understanding and mature roommates. 

  • 4 months later...
lilyvance21 Newbie
lilyvance21
Posted

I have the same problem.. I am just cooking myself and using paper plates.

lilyvance21 Newbie
lilyvance21
Posted

By the way, I don't know how are you guys feeling at college.. but for me its just awful. I have this celiac problem, and that's not all. Everyone is just bullying me at college. Moreover, the teachers don't like me, I feel discriminated. I have recently bought an essay about mental health from https://studydriver.com/mental-health/ and the teacher refused to give a high grade. But, as you can understand, the essay was perfect. I'm just so tired of this college.. do you guys have any advice how to get over it ..?

bugg Newbie
bugg
Posted
  • Author
3 minutes ago, lilyvance21 said:

By the way, I don't know how are you guys feeling at college.. but for me its just awful. I have this celiac problem, and that's not all. Everyone is just bullying me at college. Moreover, the teachers don't like me, I feel discriminated. I have recently bought an essay about mental health from https://studydriver.com/mental-health/ and the teacher refused to give a high grade. But, as you can understand, the essay was perfect. I'm just so tired of this college.. do you guys have any advice how to get over it ..?

Just a few questions if you're alright with answering. Are you attending a more rural or city centered school? As for the bullying, do you have the option to look into other schools, is there a counseling option provided by the school? If you know and feel like you're not being graded on the objective quality of your work, but rather with the teacher's bias, you should definitely bring it up to the school board. Keep your work, your teacher's feedback, and any emails or statements that were made. 

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trents Grand Master
trents
Posted
15 minutes ago, lilyvance21 said:

By the way, I don't know how are you guys feeling at college.. but for me its just awful. I have this celiac problem, and that's not all. Everyone is just bullying me at college. Moreover, the teachers don't like me, I feel discriminated. I have recently bought an essay about mental health from https://studydriver.com/mental-health/ and the teacher refused to give a high grade. But, as you can understand, the essay was perfect. I'm just so tired of this college.. do you guys have any advice how to get over it ..?

You "bought" and essay and turned it in as your own work?

knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted

Yah, @trents, I'm flabbergasted, too.  

@lilyvance21,

You bought an essay???!!!???

You are shortchanging yourself on your education.  

In my day, turning in work that was done by someone else was grounds for expulsion.

Learn how to learn.

You would be much better off learning HOW to do research and how to write papers. 

 

bugg Newbie
bugg
Posted
  • Author

@trents @lilyvance21

I just noticed where it was mentioned they bought their essay. I completely misread it as they "wrote" it. Yikes... Buying premade content for submission and assignments can get you expelled as @knitty kitty mentioned. At my university if you're caught buying or selling material you're made to immediately withdrawal from your program. It might have a good idea to initiate a conversation with your teacher about ways to improve in the class, I'm sure your professor knows it was not your own work. Most of the time purchased essays and projects are not up to par with normal class standards. GoodLuck... 

 

 

 

 

lilyvance21 Newbie
lilyvance21
Posted

Yes, guys. I bought that essay, because my teacher was always angry and giving me low grades..

trents Grand Master
trents
Posted
21 hours ago, lilyvance21 said:

By the way, I don't know how are you guys feeling at college.. but for me its just awful. I have this celiac problem, and that's not all. Everyone is just bullying me at college. Moreover, the teachers don't like me, I feel discriminated. I have recently bought an essay about mental health from https://studydriver.com/mental-health/ and the teacher refused to give a high grade. But, as you can understand, the essay was perfect. I'm just so tired of this college.. do you guys have any advice how to get over it ..?

Why are people bullying you? Why do you think a different college would change the way teachers and students treat you? So, you bought this essay on mental health. Are you yourself struggling with mental health issues? Are you currently receiving counseling?

knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted
3 hours ago, lilyvance21 said:

Yes, guys. I bought that essay, because my teacher was always angry and giving me low grades..

Lily,

Can you give us examples of the assignments you were given?

What's your major?

Why are you taking this class?

areed Newbie
areed
Posted

I have faced very similar complaints! I tested positive for Celiac about a month ago. I am a sophomore in college. I made gluten "rules" to my roommates and have communicated many times about the problems with cross contamination. It lasted maybe a week. 

I would consider hiding all of your cookware so that there is no risk cross contamination. Although it sucks, hand wash EVERYTHING. Also get your own sponges and dish clothes as the particle can carry there. Make sure your food is kept in a locked container and encourage everyone to wipe off counters after making food. 

Also, I don't know if alcohol is a part of your college routine but make sure you are checking online. Even some alcohol which claims it is gluten free is not due to issues with the distillation process. 

Brain fog in college is impossible. I got glutened this morning and have been unable to study for my huge test tomorrow. The best advice I can give is communicate with your professors and groupmates when you are too sick to work on an assignment or come to class. 

Although it is nearly impossible to avoid gluten in college and with roommates, see what you can do to keep your things separate. Maybe communicate with your roommates what happens when you get sick. Most empathetic people will at least initially make more of an effort. Good luck!

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      Good evening @EssexMum You are quite right to be concerned about this situation.  Once diagnosed as coeliac, always a coeliac, and the way to heal  is through adopting and sticking to a strict gluten diet. That said... I have travelled twice to France since my diagnosis, firstly in May 2013 and again in August 2019.   My spoken French isn't bad, and whilst there I tried my best to explain my needs to chefs and catering staff, and I read labels very carefully when shopping in supermarkets, but both times I came away with worsening gastric symptoms and pain. Interestingly,  after the second holiday, my annual coeliac review took place the following month and although I'd been very careful to avoid gluten all year, thanks to that August holiday my coeliac antibodies were elevated,  Clearly I hadn't been imagining these symptoms and they must have been caused by gluten sneaking in somehow. When I spoke to my gastroenterologist on my return, who is an excellent doctor, he told me with a smile that this was a very common experience in France among his patients, and not to worry too much about it! In fact, before we went away in May 2013, which was just after I had been formally diagnosed, he told me not to even bother trying to adopt a gluten free diet until I returned, knowing what France was like, but I was feeling so awful at that time I ignored his advice and at least tried to make a start with it. (I ought to say - both these visits were some time ago, so perhaps things are a lot better there now.) So what to do?  I would say at least try to explain to catering staff the situation - they should be able to rustle up a plate of cheese, boiled eggs, tuna, salad and fruit, and if things like crackers and gluten-free pot noodle or oats can be packed in the UK, those can be produced at mealtimes.    Of course, most larger supermarkets in France do now cater for coeliacs, but when I was last there the the choice wasn't as wide a range as we have in the UK but I think that is partly because the French like to cook from scratch, whereas our gluten-free aisles have quite a lot of dried or pre-baked goods in them/convenience foods, because I think we as a nation tend to use them more. I would be worth doing a bit of research on the internet before the trip, - the words you want are 'sans gluten'.  I've just googled 'sans gluten Disney Paris" and this came up.  I do hope at least some of this is of help. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g2079053-zfz10992-Disneyland_Paris_Ile_de_France.html  Whatever befalls in France, at least your stepdaughter can resume her usual diet on her return. On a related tack, would you be happy to post any positive findings/tips upon her return - it might be of use to others travelling to Disneyland Paris with children in future? Cristiana
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