4 ms·

When I was first diagnosed and was largely a loner playing World of Warcraft, it was very easy to stick to a Gluten Free diet. Now, I've gotten older, am in a r

When I was first diagnosed and was largely a loner playing World of Warcraft, it was very easy to stick to a Gluten Free diet. Now, I've gotten older, am in a relationship and spend more time with people, it's been a lot harder to stay well. My symptoms are specific: when my immune system is working well, I start to act like I'm drunk (slur, can't remember things), and I'll basically sleep for 24 hours. When my immune system is down (like I'm sure it is now), I just sleep all the time and get rashes. The worst thing that has gotten me as I get older is people guilt me into eating out with them. I really wish people would stop it, because I know it's going to lead me to getting cancer. Despite the protestations, no one takes it seriously. Even comparisons don't work. Unfortunately for most people, unless it's anaphylaxsis they don't think it's real. I have a strict sick-once, no return policy for restaurants. I don't blame the restaurants, because unless they advertise themselves as Coeliac-accomodating, it's a risk I take. When I go out with family I usually just try to avoid eating, but my girlfriend doesn't like me skipping meals and can be quite indignant about it. The first month we were together I got violently ill because a work function she was at glutened me badly. I wanted to eat nothing, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. The kitchen made some "gluten free" food. It was not gluten free.

copperx 7y ago
Your friends are not going to be by your bedside when you get cancer. You need to be forceful and stick to your beliefs.
shadowprofile77 7y ago
If your girlfriend shows this little understanding of how serious your situation is and even stoops to guilt tripping you into meals in certain places for whatever reason "and not taking no for an answer" (as if it were some sort of game) despite the distinct risk of you getting badly sick, you should also seriously reconsider your relationship with her. Any relationship is fraught with difficulties and compromises but being chronically ill and enduring one in which the other party can't make accommodations about vital health requirements is just an extra burden of stress that really shouldn't be tolerated. I'm basing this on the anecdotes your wrote in your comment. Maybe she's become more understanding since then or there are things you haven't mentioned that mitigate.
GoodDreams 7y ago
Occasionally people will get angry that I won’t eat the same food they’re eating. This prompted me to get business cards printed where on one side is an acknowledgment of the social value of eating the same food together and an explanation that I cannot because if I do I will in severe pain. On the other side is a list of ingredients and foods that have gluten. I’ve found that when people see that their behavior has prompted me to get business cards printed they will stop and have empathy.
t-writescode 7y ago
I know someone with celiac. Your friends don’t sound like friends. That’s what I’m hearing.

copperx 7y ago

Your friends are not going to be by your bedside when you get cancer. You need to be forceful and stick to your beliefs.

shadowprofile77 7y ago

If your girlfriend shows this little understanding of how serious your situation is and even stoops to guilt tripping you into meals in certain places for whatever reason "and not taking no for an answer" (as if it were some sort of game) despite the distinct risk of you getting badly sick, you should also seriously reconsider your relationship with her. Any relationship is fraught with difficulties and compromises but being chronically ill and enduring one in which the other party can't make accommodations about vital health requirements is just an extra burden of stress that really shouldn't be tolerated. I'm basing this on the anecdotes your wrote in your comment. Maybe she's become more understanding since then or there are things you haven't mentioned that mitigate.

GoodDreams 7y ago

Occasionally people will get angry that I won’t eat the same food they’re eating. This prompted me to get business cards printed where on one side is an acknowledgment of the social value of eating the same food together and an explanation that I cannot because if I do I will in severe pain. On the other side is a list of ingredients and foods that have gluten. I’ve found that when people see that their behavior has prompted me to get business cards printed they will stop and have empathy.

t-writescode 7y ago

I know someone with celiac. Your friends don’t sound like friends. That’s what I’m hearing.