Ignorant People

[angel42]

I totally understand. I used to bake constantly before I was diagnosed around 1 1/2 months ago. My MIL gave me such a hard time because I didn't bake for Thanksgiving. I told her I would be happy to make something gluten-free. She quite pointedly said "absolutely not" I'm sure I'll get the same hard time for Christmas. I'm just going to make some gluten-free cookies and bring them over and not tell her they are gluten-free.

My really sweet boss ordered me a salad from Fatz and went into great detail about NO CROUTONS, NO BREAD... and she requested that they mix it all in a clean bowl! My goodness, I love her!

[Rusla]

I would be compelled to sign said person up to bring a large rat poison lasagne. Then I would tell her that gluten and her pasta salad has the same effect on you as that rat poison lasagne would have on everyone else.

[tiredofdoctors]

I would be compelled to sign said person up to bring a large rat poison lasagne. Then I would tell her that gluten and her pasta salad has the same effect on you as that rat poison lasagne would have on everyone else.

That's the best one yet!!! We had Thanksgiving at my in-laws, and my MIL -- bless her heart -- just doesn't get cross contamination. My SIL, though, does, so she called, asked me about ALL of the ingredients, and made a special dish WITHOUT the cracker crumbs first, then covered it so that I would have SOMETHING to eat. At my mother's, my cousin was getting ready to put rolls in the oven. My aunt asked what a particular dish was, and my mother said, "Oh, that's Lynne's macaroni & cheese." She was standing right by the oven, so I quickly asked, "Is it covered?" No one answered . . . I again, kind of frantically said, "Is my macaroni & cheese covered?" My aunt turned around and said, "What's the big deal . . . there's no flour around here." I said, "Well, those rolls are getting ready to go into the oven, and if even a CRUMB gets into my macaroni & cheese I can't eat it." My aunt did the eye-roll thing. It made me furious, and my mouth just took over my body. I just looked at her and said, "You know, if I was a REGULAR 'stomach' celiac, I would throw up, have diarhhea, things like that. But one crumb of bread means that I will have at least one more brain cell destroyed. If it gets to my brain stem, you guys will have a neice that's a vegetable. On life support. Who's going to decide to pull the plug?" The whole kitchen got VERY quiet (we're talking a really loud family -- my mom & her sisters are LOUD -- not to mention, cousins, etc.) My mother said, trying to smooth things over, "Well, it's covered, so we don't have to worry." THEN, my aunts began to question my mother -- they said, "So it's an allergy?" From the other room, I said, "No, it's an autoimmune disease. Just like Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus." Then later on, my dad was trying to tell my uncles about it. They again said, "So, she has an allergy to wheat? My dad didn't quite get it right -- he said, "Oh no -- not just wheat, barley, rye, oats -- or ANYTHING that has it IN it. That's the problem. You don't know all the time if it's in it. It's really frustrating." I just gently said, "Daddy, you forgot the part that it's not an allergy. It's an autoimmune disease." Then he said, "Oh yeah. What happens is . . . . " and went on to describe the whole process of how it destroys the brain. I was impressed -- he's done his homework!

I think it's funny that even RELATIVES would be so callous about a disease that is so devastating. Co-workers -- it's no wonder they're like that. If they only had to live with this disease for two days . . . . .

I'm sorry to hijack the thread with my rant -- just realized I did. It just infuriates me that ANYONE would disregard a disease like this. SIGNED YOU UP TO BRING PASTA SALAD? PUHLEEEEEEEEZE. It would have been fun to have a friend cook some pasta salad and make it taste TERRIBLE. Bet they wouldn't sign you up for it again!!!!!!!

[2Boys4Me]

My aunt turned around and said, "What's the big deal . . . there's no flour around here." I said, "Well, those rolls are getting ready to go into the oven, and if even a CRUMB gets into my macaroni & cheese I can't eat it." My aunt did the eye-roll thing. It made me furious, and my mouth just took over my body. I just looked at her and said, "You know, if I was a REGULAR 'stomach' celiac, I would throw up, have diarhhea, things like that. But one crumb of bread means that I will have at least one more brain cell destroyed. If it gets to my brain stem, you guys will have a neice that's a vegetable. On life support. Who's going to decide to pull the plug?" The whole kitchen got VERY quiet (we're talking a really loud family -- my mom & her sisters are LOUD -- not to mention, cousins, etc.)

Lynne - you forgot the part where you tell them it's genetic and you got it from one of THEM. Start pointing fingers. "You! Passing out after eating the turkey and stuffing. You're next! This will be you one day!"

Of course you have to do that when your Mom and Dad are not within earshot but I bet you'd feel pretty good. That'd shut them up and stop their eye-rolling. Or would it?

[zansu]

Did you ever consider that WHY family are so bad about it. The possibility that they have or will have it? and that they are still in denial?

[ajay]

So, we are having a party at work today. Usually we sign up for food to bring and I will bring a big salad for myself and a coworker who have celiac disease. How about this girl signed me up to bring three pounds of pasta salad?

Since when do other people sign you up for what you're going to bring? That alone sounds rude to me.

I know I'm reaching here, but a surprising number of people don't think about food ingredients. It's possible that she didn't realize that pasta is a wheat product. I know that sounds ridiculous, but trust me, I've had people offer things like "Well, obviously I can't make it wioth bread-- should I use a pita pocket?"

Or one sweet waitress who kindly checked the ingredients of a dish and sadly informed me that the dinner rolls had wheat in them. Nice of her to check, but, yeah, I knew that one...

[Smooreberry]

Lynne - you forgot the part where you tell them it's genetic and you got it from one of THEM. Start pointing fingers. "You! Passing out after eating the turkey and stuffing. You're next! This will be you one day!"

Of course you have to do that when your Mom and Dad are not within earshot but I bet you'd feel pretty good. That'd shut them up and stop their eye-rolling. Or would it?

I'm crying I am laughing sooooo hard!!! I'm seriously saving this one. I avoided Thanksgiving but this may come in handy if I go home for Christmas. You ladies rock!!