Celiac, how to explain to others

[caitlin]

Hey there, my names Caitlin and I'm new here so sorry if this has been posted about before!

I'm recently diagnosed with Celiac and I'm awaiting my biopsy so in the meantime I've had to continue eating gluten to avoid a false negative result.

I'm currently living with my in-laws and I'm exasperated trying to find ways to explain to them how extreme the change is going to be regarding eating habits and cross contamination. They don't take me seriously about it. Does anyone have any advice? Or links to anywhere that explains to people how vigilant I have to be about cross contamination? I feel like I'm repeating myself to them over and over and they still never seem to get it.

Any help will be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!

[NotLupus]

Set up a second "kitchen" in your room with a mini fridge and toaster oven so you can have your gluten free things without risk of contamination until they have adjusted to it.

Once they see you get better, it should help them realize how much gluten hurts you. I have lived with roommates but thankfully not relatives after being diagnosed. Roommates were easy, because they didn't have worry about me eating all their pizza and beer.

[kristiemarie]

May 8, 2014 19:58:23 GMT -5 caitlin said:

Hey there, my names Caitlin and I'm new here so sorry if this has been posted about before!

I'm recently diagnosed with Celiac and I'm awaiting my biopsy so in the meantime I've had to continue eating gluten to avoid a false negative result.

I'm currently living with my in-laws and I'm exasperated trying to find ways to explain to them how extreme the change is going to be regarding eating habits and cross contamination. They don't take me seriously about it. Does anyone have any advice? Or links to anywhere that explains to people how vigilant I have to be about cross contamination? I feel like I'm repeating myself to them over and over and they still never seem to get it.

Any help will be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!

I had a really hard time with this when I was diagnosed. My family has gotten A LOT better but they still don't actually get it which is super annoying at times. The best piece of advice I can give you is that you just have to make sure you are vigilant and on top of things. I learned that I (unfortunately) couldn't rely on my own family to help me be careful. I use my own plates, silverware, pans etc and nobody else in the house can use them. I wash all of my own stuff too. I plate my own food, etc..you get the idea. Last Thanksgiving (this is 4 years after being diagnosed with CD) I made myself some GF rolls. I wasn't paying attention after dinner and my mom put the rolls on the same plate as their croissants. My mom still doesn't understand why they can't be on the same plate and touch or why I can't just have a "little bite." Actually, doing AIP made things easier for me because I have to cook all of my own food anyway since nothing my family eats is AIP compliant. There are lots of websites and books out there that go over Celiac Disease and the dangers of cross contamination, gluten etc that you could show them but I think that it's going to take some time regardless. Like I said, my family has gotten better about it but they still don't understand and it's frustrating!