A reminder to be understanding and patient with ignorant people
I've seen a troubling number of posts on this subreddit of people sharing how they told someone off very aggressively for not taking their celiac seriously. But if your goal is to be heard and accommodated, this is a terrible way to achieve that goal.
Whenever someone says gluten allergy and you want to go on a diatribe about how it's an autoimmune condition, remember that for most situations, the accommodation is the exact same and the details don't matter.
Whenever someone raises their eyebrow and says, "fad diet, huh?" Explain to them calmly that you wish it was only a diet, and eating even a little bit could seriously hurt you, unfortunately.
When a food service worker or family member doesn't know what celiac or gluten is, accept with grace that it's not safe to eat in that situation and only explain if they seem interested in learning. Learn to bring your own food when necessary.
I don't know about you guys, but before my diagnosis, I thought all the gluten stuff was complete nonsense and celiac was a made up disease. I certainly know better now, but that doesn't mean everyone has gone through the same journey. A little patience goes a long way to people trusting you and treating you the way you want to be treated. I am thankful that my friends and family all accept my limitations now, and I have learned how to navigate restaurants and potlucks.
Any positive experiences to share?