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Do You Want A Cigarette...

Compassion

By Compassion
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Compassion Newbie
Compassion
Posted

I had an interesting conversation with my boss today about Thanksgiving at my in-laws and how I wasn't looking forward to having to explain my "odd" eating habits, since this is only the second month I am gluten-free and I am still "technically" not diagnosed, although I am getting it through my skull that a positive dietary reaction is enough B) . My husband's family all have issues with food, as in they use it as a substitute for love, for attention, for stuffing anger, you get the picture... so a carb helps anything right? And since they equate food with love, me turning down food is akin to not accepting their love. Understandable and immature though it may be, it is my current reality there.

My boss brought up the analogy about how to keep my willpower during the event and since I am personally opposed to smoking (my lungs only, do with your lungs as you will), she asked me what I would do if they offered me a cigarette? Well of course I would turn it down I said... and she said, consider it like that... gluten is harmful to your body, it doesn't matter what they do with it, but you shouldn't eat it.

For some reason that clicked with me and helped elminate the last of my guilt. I thought I would share in hopes that it may help someone else over that hump...

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gabby Enthusiast
gabby
Posted

That is the most fantastic thing I've ever heard. It makes perfect sense, and your boss is right. I don't smoke, and if someone offered me a cigarette...even if it was a cigarette convention and everyone else was doing it, I would not smoke. And I'm not allergic to smoking, nor do I have a disease that prevents me from smoking. i just don't do it. As a personal choice. And I never feel the need to explain myself and my non-smoking choice to others.

Thanks for posting this!

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

It often amazes me why more people don't intrisically see it that way to start with, but, as you note, many people think of food through emotionally-colored lenses, only they don't realize they do so.

Angeleyes Newbie
Angeleyes
Posted

I think that is a wonderful analogy! Whatever works to make you realize that your choices are YOUR choices to make, without guilt! My dog suffers from Celiac disease we believe, though definitely SEVERE food allergies to all glutens. So if I have company I'm constantly eyeing everyone to be sure that they aren't feeding Maximus (my dog) anything he shouldn't, and God help them if they drop something!!! It's bad for my dog to get these foods, he will be sick for a week from eating ONE potato chip... IMO there is no room for a slip-up. Good for you for finally realizing that choosing your own health and realizing that anyone too blind to see your reasoning isn't worth getting yourself sick for!

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted

Thanks for sharing that. I really like it. :)

Creative-Soul Newbie
Creative-Soul
Posted

Thank you for sharing that; it's an awesome perspective to have been given. You are fortunate to have such an understanding boss!

SchnauzerMom Rookie
SchnauzerMom
Posted

That's a great idea! I never thought of it that way. I'll keep that in mind if I come across someone who is pushy. So far most people have not tried to push anything on me. But, Thanksgiving is coming. I'm working on a plan for dealing with it. :)

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Compassion Newbie
Compassion
Posted
  • Author

I am glad that it made sense to others too :).

Yes, I do have an amazing boss, I am incredibly fortunate. I couldn't ask for anything better. She is so understanding and has lots of good insight. I have learned a lot from her.

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      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
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