4 Things I Always Keep in My Purse

One of the biggest things I mourned after my diagnosis of Celiac was a spontaneous life. From the beginning, my husband and I have enjoyed the adventure of just going and finding something fun to do, without limiting a time or place. For example, when we vacation, we pick one or two things we want to do at that location and leave the time frames open. We thrive on spontaneity and don’t like to be tied to a tight schedule.

Life with Celiac can make this difficult. If we are gone for an unexpected period of time, I can’t just stop for fast food, and finding safe snacks can be difficult and/or expensive. There are decent odds that I will have some sort of belly malady and will be uncomfortable. I have four things I always keep in my purse to help with these common issues.

1. Protein Packed Snack

The hanger is real, my friend. I definitely can go from mellow to feisty quickly when I am hungry. Even if I am not hungry in the moment, I can get anxious from the anticipation of unresolved hunger.

I always keep an emergency snack in my purse. Right now, it is a very protein dense snack like beef jerky. Unfortunately, gluten free beef jerky can be difficult to find, especially in a rural area like where I live. Usually, my protein snack is a variety of mixed nuts, which can arguable be more of a source of fat than protein.

2. Medications

I have a few medications that I always keep in my purse. Ultra strength Tums is a given, and the tropical flavor is my favorite. Heartburn was an issue for me pre bariatric surgery, and still lingers today. Because of this, Gaviscon also has a spot in my purse, and to be honest, I have many stashes of this ‘life-saving’ med. I have a bad habit of ignoring mild-to-moderate heartburn until I feel like I could possibly die and then Gaviscon comes on the scene to save the day.

One of my most intense belly symptoms is stabbing pain that will literally stop me in my tracks. Recently, my doctor wrote me a prescription for hyoscyamine sulfate, which really helps me feel like the knife is no longer in my abdomen. Just last weekend, I struggled to drive to my daughter’s volleyball tournament because it felt like a hot poker was repeatedly driving into my gut. After a dose of this prescription and rolling my window down in the crisp, March Michigan air, I was much more capable of human interaction.

I also keep a fast-acting lactase enzyme chewable on hand for those times when my son wants to enjoy a treat. When he was first diagnosed with lactase deficiency (lactose intolerance,) we steered completely clear of dairy and any possible cross contamination. I think a big part of this was our transition to gluten-free living needing to be so strict. Now, we incorporate lactose-free and low-lactose dairy into our diets regularly and allow supplements when he has a full dairy craving.

3. Fragrance Spray

When you gotta go, you gotta go. I think anyone with a dietary restriction can relate to this adage. It is perfectly natural for the body to want to dispel unwanted items as quickly as possible. Because of this tendency, I have an intense love/hate relationship with public restrooms.

I always keep some form of fragrance spray in my purse for my particularly intense restroom experiences. At my daughter’s last volleyball tournament, my purse had none of these emergency supplies, and I was in a terrible bind while she was on the court. Fortunately, there were two different restroom options, so I was hopeful for some privacy. Unfortunately, young girls are also eager for privacy and flocked to this out-of-the-way restroom. No amount of courtesy flushes could cover my struggles. After several girls turned and fled after barely entering the restroom, I vowed to never be caught without my essentials again.

4. Sugar Snack

Most of my friends and family have a bit of a sweet tooth. While my main stumbling block is not sweets, I do enjoy candy here and there. However, this is not an important enough reason for me to keep sweets close by at all times. Unfortunately, while I am very much investing in prioritizing my health, I have a bit of a mystery symptom right now.

Every few weeks I am struggling with episodes of weakness, numbness, sweating, difficulty speaking, and more. My first instinct has been that it is due to a drop in blood sugar or blood pressure, but I have not been able to measure this mid-episode. My doctor is working with me to get to the root of the problem and in the meantime, I am self-treating with concentrated simple sugar and rest. I always keep Albanese gummies, skittles, or a pouch of applesauce in my purse in case I am caught in an episode away from home.

A life with dietary restrictions requires a degree of preparation and makes spontaneity difficult. I make a habit of keeping a few basic supplies in my purse, so I am not tethered to home all the time. Check back for my next post about what I keep in my mom-mobile at all times as a companion to help me feel free to leave home.