The friend dilema

I have been on the FODMAP diet for over 4 years now and though I am the one who has done the research and live it day in and out, I still have people tell me what I can and cannot have.

They mean well. Its just that they have taken a small amount of knowledge and have defined your whole body by it.

At least they are not as bad as family who aggressively demand knowledge about your body and take the small information you uncomfortably provide and tell you that you have to have and colonoscopy and endoscopy...I have no idea why people in their 50s are so obsessed with these procedures but they do go on about it. I have been pushed to tears by supposedly "well meaning" relatives as they try to bully me into having expensive procedures whilst informing me that my Dr. and Dietician don't know anything and they, generally someone with not a hint of medical training, do.

Its not easy to have your friends argue with you over basic details of the fodmap diet... you say I cant eat wheat, then your gluten intolerant they say, and no matter what you say to the contrary they will aggressively tell you that because you cant eat wheat or rye you are gluten intolerant... over and over and over again.

What's worse is that you tell them you eat spelt bread and they start lecturing their celiac relatives that spelt bread is gluten free (thank goodness they knew their breads and didn't fall for the terrible advice!)

After so many years I sometimes forget that people don't know about my food issues, but most of the time its right there. Its there because of the rudeness and disgusting behaviour some older people have shown towards my health issues. The exasperation and frustration they have shown when I have said I cannot eat what they have made is inexcusable.

You know there is something wrong with someone when there pride is more important then caring for you... cause if they cared about you they wouldn't want you to be in pain... which makes things SO awkward!!!

Friends are great, family can be great, but when it comes to them and your health issues, whatever they may be, don't take anything for granted or you will go hungry or end up in agony.