Googles

Okay,

I have another question to add to this thread, but not exactly the same topic. I have problems with pumpkin if I have been glutened. I also had trouble with it when I first went gluten free. It get indigestion and heart burn. Is this just some sort of irritation? Leaky gut? If I haven't been glutened for a long time it doesn't bother me (well, it may not bother me in small amounts if I haven't been glutened) I haven't had any large amounts when not glutened recently. I hope that makes sense. I had a large amount at christmas (multiple servings over multiple days) but had been getting glutened before that. I had been find at other times in the past when I hadn't been glutened for a while. Is this just that the pumpkin is irritating already irritated digestive track? I don't experience any other symptoms related to it.

Thanks for any insight.

Would the family consider a few gluten-free things? Like Rice Chex instead of Cheerios? Rice instead of bread? Kids like little pieces of meat and a bowl of rice. rice Krispies ( regular have malt but it's a much smaller amount of gluten then some snacks).

It is hard because he has trouble gaining weight so he is always allowed to eat (he is in the 10th percentile for weight and actually stopped gaining at one point). He eats outside of "meal" time, with two-three "meals" when I am there and snacks in between. He doesn't eat a lot of bread as their meals are mostly rice based, but I've noticed that it is mostly since he is now self feeding with crackers and cereal and things like that.

Does the 3 year old like to help with things? Maybe he/she could help with handling the food with gluten in it, or wiping the face of the 1 year old. After meals maybe you could take the 1 year old and wash his hands or get a bath if it's a really messy meal. Another idea could be to buy some disposable gloves to wear during meal time so that you are not directly touching the food.

They are two different families I nanny for. I have been trying to wash his hands after meals. I will try to be more proactive about it at this point. It is hard as he puts his toys in his mouth sometimes and then will re-gluten his hands when he holds them.

Can you bathe the child when you get there and then take extra precautions at meal time? It sounds like the whole house is a mine field at this point but if you are cautious about constantly washing up and not eating there maybe you will be ok?

His parents bathe him after I leave for the night, but I can ask about bathing him when I get there. Apparently recently he has started loving baths. I do think the whole house is a mine field. It is hard not to eat at some point when I am there because I come right from class to work and so don't have a chance to eat anything till 9pm if I don't eat while I am there. I think I am going to have to be more careful.

This experience shows me that if I ever have kids (I'm not planning to have kids at this point) my kids will be gluten free to keep me healthy. I am lucky that my roommate is hardly ever home and cooking as she mostly stays with her boyfriend. Plus she is really careful with the food and cleaning. I know that I'm not getting glutened at home as I only get glutened after working with the kids and since I have been on break and not working for them I'm not getting glutened.

Thanks for everyone for your help. I will keep trying to keep it gluten free by washing their hands and faces more often.

I nanny for two young children. One is just over 1 year old and the other is 3 years old. The one year old just started working on feeding himself and is now covered in gluten all the time. I keep getting glutened whenever I work with him. Giving up these jobs is not an option as I am a grad student and need the income (and there is no way I would be able to get another job to work in my schedule of school and practicum). So how do people with young children who eat gluten keep themselves safe? I need advice because I am getting glutened way too much. It was fine before he started feeding himself, but now he is just covered. Any advice (apart from getting a new job) would be appreciated.

Just remember to grab your own rolls before people start passing them around and possibly cc'ing them. As soon as they touch food with gluten and then the rolls, you have the potential of cc.

I also agree that you don't have to make an announcement of it. If they ask you can tell them, otherwise go and enjoy. It would be weird (I think) for you to bring (or them to expect) you to bring something you can't eat.

I was wondering what people's worst symptom is when you get glutened. I have been gluten free for about 2.5 years now. When I first started learning about celiac and what would happen when glutened I assumed that the GI problems would be the worst thing about being glutened. However, for me it ends up being the emotional dis-regulation and the insomnia. The two together just make me a mess. I end up being a weepy mess that can't control my down moods. What is your worst symptom to deal with when glutened?

I went over to my roommate's parent's house and then to her aunts house for Thanksgiving. I was talking about it yesterday with her after I had been given a gift of cookies at work that I passed on to her. She said that when we were going over to her aunt's house her aunt (who I had never met) had wanted to make me food. She tried to get through to her aunt that it was not a good idea. She gave up and told her dad (his sister) that he would have to get it through to her that I wouldn't be able to eat anything she made. He did a good job. It feels so wonderful to know that my friend and her dad stuck up for me to keep me safe. That they were looking out for my safety. And did it to the extent that I didn't even get asked why I brought my own food. I love my friend.

I'm glad that things are going well for you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy being with your family.

Before (and now after a couple times when I get cc'ed) I have had to rush to get home. The problem is that before I got diagnosed I traveled strictly by subway. And you can't make those go any faster. They really should be required to have bathrooms at all subway stations. When things were really bad before diagnosis and I had days where I got D I would take cabs home from work for fear of the subway breaking down and not being able to get off and find a bathroom.

So at the same position, my supervisor was giving all the interns candy. She said that as she was packing it up she was hoping that I would be able to eat what she got. She had caught me on a day where I was really tired and had to literally think hard as to if I could eat the Hershey kisses she had given me (given they were out of the original package so I didn't just have an ingredient list). She was so sweet to think about that. She knows because as my supervisor I had to tell her for any accommodations I might need, but it was so sweet of her to think of me.

Does it annoy you when others make comments about your celiac. I was at practicum the other day and one of the interns brought in cookies. We were all waiting in the little kitchenette area and one of the staff (as people were eating cookies) 'at least you don't have to worry about eating these'. It was so frustrating. I just was like "uh, huh." When I really wanted to say was, "WTF? I wish I could eat those things. It would make my life a lot easier." Ugh. I know she was just trying to make it less awkward, and I realized this right after I took a breath. I wish people weren't uncomfortable eating around me. I've gotten over it (most of the time) when people eat around me. I wish they would be comfortable. I don't even have gluten cravings after getting glutened any more (knock on wood). I wish I could just tell people in my life to not worry about me and food and they would believe me.

I'm conveniently avoiding the Christmas party tomorrow because I have a client and supervision. They are doing white elephant exchange, with my luck I would end up with gluten filled food at the end of it.

Thank you all for your replies. it really sucks. I wish that it would save it's damage for the GI track. Does anyone know what type of damage it causes to bones and joints? Does the damage to the brain make the problems you get when glutened become permanent? I am working really hard but lately have been getting glutened more lately (from CC). Ugh I hate this all.

When I get glutened I tend to get bone and joint pain and neurological symptoms (there may be others but these are the big other two) in addition to the digestive problems. I was wondering if there is damage being done to those other body parts (ie bones and joints or brain) when I get trouble in those areas. Is it just inflammation in some areas, or is it more serious damage? I know it destroys the intestines, but was wondering if it is also destroying other areas where there is pain. Thanks for any insight.

Some people in this thread seem to think that you can't become homeless after you get diagnosed with celiac disease. Just because someone at one point had the ability to see a doctor who could diagnose them with celiac does not mean that they can not become homeless, or need to get food from a food bank. A lot of people who work or have homes, still need help from food banks. There is a large percentage (can't remember the exact amount off the top of my head), of individuals (before the recent downturn in the economy) who work paycheck to paycheck. Losing their jobs can mean losing their housing or ability to buy food. I have faced the prospect of homelessness twice, once before diagnosis (after graduating from college and refusing to move back in with my severely abusive parents) and once after (when I moved for graduate school and could not find a job that would work with my school schedule when they said that you could go part time and work and yet had required classes in the morning and afternoon every day for the first year). The worst fear when I was facing possible homelessness after diagnosis and was trying to figure out how I would live in my car if needed, was what I would do if glutened. You say that people would just go back to eating gluten. Have you read the experiences of people who have done gluten challenges? How would you expect someone who is homeless, and hence doesn't necessarily have ready access to a bathroom, to deal with the D that comes with it for some people? Getting the effects of gluten for me would make it even harder for me to be able to get back on my feet. Not all people who are homeless are mentally ill. It really only takes job loss to make someone homeless. And it isn't like that isn't happening all over the place right now.

When I get CC'd I can get bone, joint, and muscle pain. I haven't found anything that helps. Though when it makes my carple tunnel flare, I use a brace and ice my wrists.

My dad actually biked across the country a number of years ago (averaging 80 miles/day, range from 60 to 120). I don't know how much long distance biking you have done, so you might already know this. But remember that the number of calories you will need to do this is going to greatly increase. So the amount of food you need to ingest is going to increase. Keep that in mind when you make your plans. The amount of food you would usually eat will not cut it. Without support you will also have to carry all your own water. So keep in mind that water weighs a lot too.

Hello.

Just so everyone knows I don't have any weapons in my home. My problem is that when this happens if I don't realize that I have been glutened I am terrified that my depression is back. The depression hasn't lasted more than three days, but during that time it takes so much effort to even get out of bed. I am in therapy for other things, and have dealt with the diagnosis in therapy. But these days just knock my legs out from under me. Thank you all for your input.

When I get glutened I get crushing depression. How do people deal with it? I end up feeling suicidal when it happens. Help me please. I work really hard to keep it from happening, and it's only been CC. I can't imagine what would happen if I like went to a restaurant and they accidently gave me something with gluten in it instead of gluten free. Ugh.

I get very very depressed when I get glutened. It usually lasts about three days. I think it is one of the hardest symptoms for me to deal with.

I hope it's okay that I add another one.

Other people's pity when they are eating and you can't, and the look they give you.

I often watch Masterchef (UK) - yes I understand the irony, watching a program with chefs who are cooking food I'll never, for the most part, be able to eat - and think it would be a really cool 'challenge' for Michel Roux Jr to say 'right for this test you have to cook a gluten free meal for a panel of celiacs to judge'.

I was thinking they should do this on Top Chef.

I get reflux when I am glutened. It sucks.

I'm glad to hear your first cocktail hour went well. I love the name.

My boss I work for nannying is really understanding and awesome. She always tells me to eat anything that I can when I am working at her house. One day a friend of hers came over with cake. She felt bad that I couldn't have any. I told her not to worry that I was fine. Then she asked if I could have brownies. She was then like "wait, those will have wheat in them wont they?" She is wonderful and still learning and she is very understanding. She asked me if there was anything that I would like that they could get for me while I am working for them as I can't eat most of their food. I asked for orange juice as it is something I can't afford on my budget and was just able to start eating acidic foods again when I started working for them. They now get me orange juice to drink when I am there. Yum.

I've had other families I've worked for nannying that are disappointed when I have to tell them they can't feed me when I work for them.

I almost wish that the Olive Gardens that have ONE chef who really gets it would just put up a "Now serving gluten-free." sign on their webpages/storefront when that chef is in so that their capabilities are less in question than their availability.

If someone can't/won't get it, in the interest of our health and safety, I wish they wouldn't even try.

That doesn't necessarily help as her story reports. That ONE chef isn't on the whole time they are open. So this could give patrons a false sense of security.