Crying wolf with celiac disease?

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Posted on : 21-07-2010 | By : Elizabeth | In : Misc, Personal trials and tribulations

42-15516596I just read an article online that really ticked me off…to no end!  Reader’s Digest has written an article telling people that if they are at dinner party and don’t want to eat the dessert…just tell them you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance to make it easier on yourself….WHAT???  They have got to be kidding me…right?

I have been dealing with celiac disease for years now and every time I go to someone’s house or out to eat, I am embarrassed to have to say “no thank you” to 90% of the items that are being served.  Not only that, but then I have to go into a huge conversation to explain why I can’t eat the food and then what would happen if I did.  It is embarrassing and it gets old…quick.  I would love to be able to go anywhere and say “yes…thank you” when someone offers me something to eat.

Reader’s Digest has just opened a whole can of worms that they are probably going to wish they didn’t.  People with celiac disease already get the eye rolls and the attitudes from people, because they think “we’re making it up” or “it’s really not that big of deal” and “we can have 1 piece…it won’t kill us”…all because the medical community won’t teach people about the disease or learn about it. This little article is just going to make it so much worse for us.

I have a question…is there a reason that people just can’t say “no thank you…I am really full” or just “no thank you”?  I don’t understand why anyone would have to say or even want to tell people they have a horrible disease or food allergy…do people think that having celiac disease or food allergies is a fun thing?

Please let me know your thoughts on this…and I hope you all have a happy and healthy day!!

  • Whatwouldgingerdo
    I prefer to say. "No thank you." and leave it at that, but someone almost always asks..."Why?" or "Do you have Celiac?" Some people think that because I don't have celiac or deadly allergies then I should be fine eating what I want. I have to explain that while I don't have celiac I have way too many food intolerances to eat something unless I know exactly what's in it. And mind you, I'm fairly new to all of this so I don't quite have my explanation down. I often get odd stares or people who roll their eyes at me like I'm a nut case or drama queen. It's very hurtful and I wish I could educate them without coming across as a weirdo.

    Today I was told to just let it go and eat what I want - enjoy life and be happy! I immediately snapped and told he who apparently knows more than my doctor that I would love to eat whatever I want, but doing so makes me miserable and unable to enjoy life. I avoid these foods because I can enjoy life when I feel good and happy.
  • I found another stupid comment in Reader's Digest while searching for the story you referenced -- I replied to the writer and to the magazine editors with the following: Wow! I was really disappointed with your response to the first question in 'Life's Little Etiquette Conundrums'. I would like to think that the comments were not made simply because you are insensitive, but only uneducated about special diets - specifically the 'gluten free' diet that you mentioned in your answer.
    Let me begin by saying, that the word 'diet' should not be automatically considered a 'fad' or 'elective' condition, that can be ignored by anyone not wanting to comply with the restrictions. While certainly there are plenty of fad diets - 'gluten free' is not one that is usually used in that way simply because of how hard it is to adhere to. It is also a prescribed medical necessity for as many as 1 in every 130 Americans who have Celiac Disease, a serious autoimmune disease - and not a 'little etiquette conundrum'. It is a very serious 'allergy' to the protien found in wheat, barley, rye, and other contaminated grains - and everything made with them --- breads, sauces, gravies, emuslifiers, etc. Eating even minute amounts of gluten can have very painful and long-lasting results to us. It severly damages our small intestines in additon to causing a host of other problems, from IBS to cancer. So if you don't care enough about your dinner guests to prepare a meal that won't cause them physical pain, then don't invite them -- they will thank you for it. Rebecca Kinney, www.birminghamceliac.spaces.li..., or Birmingham Celiac Disease Support Group on Facebook
  • KH
    To me that just doesn't make sense... I am sure that person just ate a meal full of gluten and no care about cross contamination, then they get to dessert and say "no, I have Celiac". That just wouldn't make sense! What a dumb article.
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