Last Thursday, when the doctor told us that my son is allergic to wheat (and potatoes, carrots, and peanuts), my head began to spin. How on earth was this possible?? We are all about the wheat around here. I buy it in 50 lb bags, for goodness sake! And potatoes? With MIL living here, potatoes are a part of EVERY meal.
My first reaction was "I want another test!" After the doc vetoed that and assured me that the test was, in fact, accurate, my next reaction was "C, you are grounded!"
Ok, so he wasn't really grounded. But seriously. WHEAT? Are you KIDDING me?? And as I got to looking for gluten-free items I began to feel the same way about potatoes. Do you know how hard it is to find gluten-free mixes that DON'T contain potato starch?? Yeesh. Which is why I'm now making much of our items from scratch. I can sub the potato starch for something else.
Meanwhile, we had to face The Question. Do we buy C his own special food and maintain the rest of the household on a "regular" diet? Do we all convert to all wheat/potato/carrot/peanut free all the time? Do we have the house be an allergy-free zone and the rest of us live "normally" away from home? What are the pros and cons of each option?
With the first option, the child is the only one in the house with diet restrictions. He is the only one eating "special" bread or pizza while everyone else is eating what was, quite possibly, the child's former favorite foods. However, he is in a place where if he accidentally (or not!) eats an off-limits item, parents are there to react quickly. It is good practice for self-control, and the rest of the family maintains normalcy.
With the second option, the whole family goes allergy-free all the time. This affords the child to have an allergy-free home and a good support system as he deals with his limitations. The whole family benefits from practicing self-control, and who knows...maybe some undiagnosed allergies for the rest of the family may be revealed. Maybe the whole crew will feel better!
Option three is the one we've actually chosen. Our home is a C safe zone. No allergens are allowed in. We feel it is important for one's home to be a safe haven. C has to practice plenty of self-control when he is out of the house. However, those of us who are not allergic (as far as we know!) don't stick to the allergy-free diet while we are out. At home, we do feel it is important for him to see us eating the same foods he is and all of us trying new things. As time goes by and he adjusts to his new way of eating and learns a little more self-control than he's had in the past, perhaps we will consider going to the first option. But I'm not inclined to think so. It is hard enough out in public or at other people's homes. We feel strongly that home is to be a sanctuary, and filling it with his old faves is bound to be discouraging to him.
So, as we all join together and try new foods (at home, anyway), we are learning some of the ins and outs of gluten-free. What about caramel color? What about modified food starch? How about hot dogs? These questions plague us. The dietician said that food labeling laws now require that any wheat be plainly marked. (Along with the rest of the Top 8 allergens) If an item does use caramel color or modified food starch or fillers made from wheat, rather than corn, it has to state plainly that the item contains wheat. Do we stick to that and trust the labels or do we err on the side of caution?
As someone rather bluntly said, "It isn't like it will kill him. It will just give him a belly ache!" I tend to trust the label. Perhaps I'm wrong in that. If C continues to have stomach issues, perhaps we'll pull out EVERYTHING that says caramel color or modified food starch. So far, though, he's been without his stomach meds for 2 days and has yet to have a stomach ache. That's a record, people.
And as for the remark above, made when the person was trying to convince me that we don't have to be so diligent, that is true. Eating one of these allergens may not kill him. We are blessed in that. However, does any of us really want to cause our children to be ill?? Why would I purposely feed him something that causes him discomfort, just for my own convenience? The selfishness that fills that comment just makes my stomach turn.
After 1 week of wheat/potato/carrot/peanut free living, I can tell you that I have learned a little. Not as much as I'm sure I'll learn in the coming months, but enough to feel comfortable grocery shopping without my "cheat sheets" I'm not concerned that my family will starve to death. (even if certain people who make the above comments disagree) I, for one, am pleased that C is feeling better and we are all pulling together in support of him.
Comments
February 8, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by smmagers
I have been where you are. I have very bad food and chemical allergies, so bad I go into anaphylaxis shock. It is hard to find food I can eat. What a lot of people do not know is that some times a tummy ache is a allergic reaction, not just a tummy ache. I use to cook 2 meals a normal on and one for me. But now my family eats the flour I can eat. But then again we still cook 2 meals with some things. I have had this for 17+ years. I get allergy shots and I love my acupuncture it helps so much. The best advice I can give is you learn as you go along. Some meals can be made for everyone, some for just him. One things labels do not tell you is that the food may be wheat free but the line it was on is not, like oatmeal. Keep a journal of his daily foods with notes if it upsets him or works great. It will help you to be able to remember better. God Bless, mj
February 8, 2009 - Rice flour?
Posted by Mel
Would rice flour be of any assistance? I found three bags of it at the commissary the other day and it seems like it will be fun to experiment with. It's from Bob's Red Mill, they also do gluten-free stuff and lots of other grains, etc. I think you're already familiar with them from our old TOS days?
anywho, don't know if that would be of any assistance but maybe?
And how are YOU feeling? Is the change in diet/allergens making any difference for your health also? Is there any possibility of anything being inter-related there since they have narrowed down that it isn't lupus but is auto-immune? Could it be an allergen reaction also?
February 9, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Becky
My son has been on a GF diet for the past 4 years - not because it causes him stomach pain but because has autism (if he eats something with wheat in it, it really affects his behaviour).
Not sure if you know this or not, but, tapioca starch and potato starch can be interchanged quite successfully - I learned this from a cookbook my cousin gave me "Gluten Free Anytime"
Some restaurants have websites that list whether or not their items are GF - might be worth checking out, so when you do go out you can suggest "safe" restaurants to go to.
February 9, 2009 - It is hard, but so worth it
Posted by Anonymous
We also have food allergies in our house (gluten,corn, and dairy), and while it was, and continues to be difficult, it is so worth it. One resource that I just found that has be *so* wonderful is a magazine called "Living Without", for families with food allergies. You might want to check it out.
Best wishes,
Carrie
February 9, 2009 - Good job!
Posted by Nancy - Lessons Learned on the Farm
I think you chose a great option with how you all are handling the food option. I can't imagine having to give up my favorite food, but watch (and smell) my own family eating it. I don't know if I would be able to have THAT kind of discipline.
Sounds like you've gotten some other great suggestions here. Isn't the WWW awesome?!