Do you ever feel like you are living in a bubble? If I go here and eat will I get glutened? My extended family jus’t don’t understand how to keep food safe. So, I guess I’ll take my own container of food over. Or here’s a good one, The coworkers or boss gets food for the office and then there is me. If they get me something then it is usually from an unsafe place. I here that one alot.
Just yesterday I did Career day at a school as the special guest and the PTO mom had an individually wrapped cookie she said she made as a thank you gift. It looked amazing and I looked at her thinking is it safe. Then she said it wasn’t gluten free but maybe would be okay this once. Or something like that.
Sweetest lady ever. But still…. no way. If I leave my “bubble” then its like playing Russian Roulette. I know you know what I am talking about. Like at church functions they will put one or two things on the table with everything else and label it “Gluten Free”. No one seems to understand that although that is a sweet effort, the crumbs from all the other things will likely get on it and contaminate. I was at one recenlty and the pastor prayed and said “Well, who wants to go first”? Honey, I sprung to my feet and said “Me”! I was first there and probably surprised everyone. But, I ate safely. Can’t be shy and safe.
I’m a celiac as is my son Connor. We have pretty bad reactions depending on the severity of the contamination. But, I’ve known through my gluten free bakery so many others that have a severe allergy that has even worse reactions. One girl has a ceizure and I’ve met countless others that immediately vomit. Connor has a severe wheat allergy and celiac. He can has EOE reactions.
So, I’m wanting your thoughts on here. How do you live? In a bubble? How do we get out of the bubble or do we? Connor is twenty two and says he is not living in a bubble anymore. He takes regular risks eating out or at friends. He does get sick and often, but he’s as stubborn as they come. I”ve told him the damage it causes his intestines, stomach, esophogus and immune system. Did I mention he’s stubborn.
I strongly inform as kindly as possible the server in a restaurant my condition. I also ask if they undersand what gluten is and then proceed to ask them to tell me. This definitley embarrasses my son. But, I don’t get glutened often. I keep snacks in my vehicle and for church or weddings I usually eat prior or after. Still I know it is a pain. So, tell me what do you do? What is your answer: Bubble or no Bubble?
The photo is of my husband and me recently at The Ark Encounter. We at at Emzara’s Kitchen and it was GREAT! The manager showed me the buffet. All items were labeled for Food Sensativities. He asked what I wanted and went into the kitchen to plate my food there. This controlled the chance of cross contact at the buffet. I’ve never been a buffet person. But, this was high quality great food. They has old fashion fried chicken using rice flour. Pot Roast and so much more. Everything I had was incredible. My husband was equally stuffed with a big smile on his face. Highly recommend. Oh and the ARK is cool too.
2 Comments on “Living in a “Bubble””
I think it depends on how and when you suffer the effects of being glutened. For example, I am one of those who immediately vomits, so choosing to be social anywhere and throwing caution to the wind isn’t an option unless I want to puke on my friends and their food. If Conner’s reaction is a headache and brain fog or the typical celiac urgent bathroom needed 30 min-1 hour after he eats, I can see why a boy his age would risk it. I don’t think girls are as likely to take that risk because it’s less socially acceptable/more embarrassing to tell your friends what’s happening.
My kitchen is fully celiac safe. I choose to eat before events and only at places I trust. That limits my options which is emotionally challenging, but the last 2 times I was glutened, I ended up needing IV fluids, and it took my body weeks to recover. So yes, it’s a bubble for me!
I am forced to live in a bubble because my allergies have increased way beyond just wheat problems. I now have progressed to where I react to all lectins.
That means I cannot eat rice, tomatoes, potatoes, several fruits, and other vegetables will make me very sick.
There is power in knowing exactly what is bothering you and I got the good list and the bad list from Dr Steven Gundry. I follow his list and as long as I do, I have been able to start eating again. I consider Dr. Gundry a gift from God. He is my miracle.
There are restaurants that I can eat at as I went out to lunch with my neighbor this week. We went to saltgrass. I was able to eat a plain salad with vinegar and oil, A baked sweet potato, and a very nicely done small steak.
I did not get any desserts because they have so many ingredients in them. It’s too dangerous for me. I have to be careful and can only have A2 milk or goat milk products.
The A1protein in most American milk products is poison to me.
It’s been a year since I ate out at a restaurant. Saltgrass listened.to me and made sure my food was safe.
I avoid buffets because as you said, people don’t understand if they stick their spoon and something with lectins in it and then stick that same spoon in the dish that has no lectins it contaminates that dish.
I have tried educating people, but they don’t really listen and some of them get kind wirh nasty with me so I don’t go to buffets and I don’t go to church dinners anymore.
I have found that I can eat tortillas that I make from millet seed flour and Cassava flour.
I feel fortunate that I now know all of the things that I can’t eat and as long as I avoid them, I am OK.
Like you, if I go somewhere, I’ll eat before or I’ll eat when I get home and if other people are insulted, I just consider them to be people that don’t belong in my life and I avoid them.