OMG! There's hope!!

NickisDragon · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 331 Location: S.E. Michigan

I just got released from the hospital and I was SOOO impressed! They sent a nutritionist to my room almost immediately and she gave me a GF food listing--not particularly accurate but--HEY at lease they've heard of it. (They had buckwheat, quinoa and millet listed as no-no's--so at least they're erring on the side of caution.) Meals consisted of fresh fruits and veggies and naked meats.

When my mom was in, (another hospital) we had to bring in food she could eat--they kept sending up sandwiches and milk for a GF/DF diet and this was AFTER several interviews with the dietician and food services--some of which I'm sure, sent fireworks as far away as Ohio!! Laughing

Things are looking up!
_________________
The Love we withhold is the pain that we carry.
Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005

cultureslayer · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 757 Location: NC

I have come to the point of expecting to be glutened with anything other than a salad (as long as the croutons come in a seperate baggie, so I know they were never near it) or baked potato.

A hospital is different. I'd have had the dietician come down ASAP and have them explain WTF they are doing and how this is dairy and gluten free. I become tired and confused when glutened, and that's not good when I'm supposed to be giving the doctors hell Wink

Okay, maybe I'm a difficult patient sometimes, but I am there to get better and if I think any healthcare professional is in my way they will know Smile

.
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Lauren
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8501 Location: WI, USA

Hi Nicki,

Glad to hear they were able to accomodate you! I think I PO'ed the dietician (she came to visit me after one of my "inquisitions") during my last stay in the hospital a couple of years ago. I kept questioning what they were giving me. I had no clue, they didn't tell me when they brought it in. It was cream of something - but I couldn't tell what. It turned out to be cream of rice, but how to heck was I supposed to know?!?! I did tell them on intake I was maintaining a GF diet, but you never know if that info gets to the kitchen.

I hope you are well now and your stay was not for a serious ailment.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

sarahjo · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 119

My daughter just had surgery on friday and the hospitol was so wonderful. my doctor wrote a script for a gf diet, he stopped up there right away in am. he found me and made sure i was ok with everything. as soon as we took her back to pre-op they asked what medicine she could have if they needed to use it. after surgery the dietition came up and talked with me for about 1.5 hour. then they brought the food up, ok so the people down under don't get the diet. they brought rice with gluten up, rice krispies, a brownie, and so on..the nurse told them that i would inform them of what i wanted her to have..it is funny that people just think that gluten is in bread. they sent us home before she started eating so we wouldn't contamintate her and make problems worse. but for the medical field, they are trying. you just unfortunly have to find the right doctor.

NickisDragon · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 331 Location: S.E. Michigan

Thanks, Al. It was a heart catheter--nothing major. (Having to lay flat on my back and not move for 9 1/2 hrs--THAT was major Laughing

. After the experience with my mom's hospital--I was scared to death--and CD was what put her IN the hospital. Oy!
_________________
The Love we withhold is the pain that we carry.
Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005

Fidissimus · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 1518 Location: Portland, OR.

I think they try, but they sure could do a whole lot better... I spent two weeks at two different hospitals in the past 7 months. The first hospital did pretty well, they actually had a GF menu to chose off of. So while they weren't the best meals ever at least I had a choice. The second hospital just brought whatever they thought was GF... the only eatable meal in five days was the lemon grass chicken dish. I had a friend [who's a very knowledgeable celiac] bring me food. It was much better than anything the hospital could provide!

What have you done or heard being done in your community to help improve the quality of food served to those with CD in your local hospitals? If it's something that's worked for you, I'd love to hear about it.

I hope to establish a link with our local hospitals to get better meals for Celiac patients.
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Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

NickisDragon · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 331 Location: S.E. Michigan

Hi Jenn, I haven't heard of anything being done community-wise in our area. I know the Mi health food stores are good about stocking GF items but everyone else is pretty oblivious. This particular hospital, (St. Joseph's West) has been doing a LOT of expanding, renovating, "improving" for the last couple of years and expanded training for nutritionists is obviously a part of their "improvement". Their food service does not just send up trays. Patients need to call "room service" and order from the menu and the orders are checked against the computer's menu ordered by the physician. Anyway, you get to speak to a real person whenever you want food. That's a big help, I think. Good luck with your awareness project..
_________________
The Love we withhold is the pain that we carry.
Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005

sari · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 107

They were pretty bad here for a while.

My MIL has had biopsys taken to see how her villi are going because she has Coeliacs disease.. when she comes out and they give her food, they have always given her a sandwhich......... When they know she is a Coeliac!! Laughing

They always say "oops" and get her something else, but sheesh! in the place where they should know all about it for goodness sakes! lol

My husband just got out of the same hospital though. He was in there for 4 days and miraculously they gave him GF food. He had a special orange wrist tag they put on him to specify there was to be no gluten.

They brought him in gluten free cereals, cookies, and main meals during his stay.

I was very impressed!
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~*~Sari~*~