<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

On June 7, I went to the hospital for pre testing for up coming surgery.
Each person that made up my hospital chart was told by me that I must have a
gluten free diet (no wheat, rye barley or oats).  It was clearly marked on my
chart.  I was in the hospital June 12th, 13th and 14th due to surgery.  My
doctors and nurses were also told by me about my gluten free diet.  My last
day in the hospital I was finally taken off a liquid diet.  So, early in the
morning of June 14, I talked with the dietitian about my need for gluten free
meals, and she gave me a hospital print out guide about gluten free foods,
and what foods and ingredients to avoid.  I thought I would be taken care of
properly.  Here's what happened.  For breakfast I was served scrambled eggs,
fruit and Quaker Puffed Rice Cereal.  Upon reading the box of Quaker Puffed
Rice Cereal, I saw malt listed as an ingredient and refused to eat it.  I
told the nurse and the dietitian about the "mistake." The dietitian actually
argued with the nurse that I could eat the cereal until I pointed out the
malt ingredient that she overlooked.  I then proceeded to talk to the
dietitian about lunch and dinner.  Lunch is served and I am given a vegetable
salad with chicken salad on top, which was fine except they also put in 2
bread sticks with ingredients clearly labeled "made from wheat flour and
barley flour."  Told the nurse and dietitian about mistake #2.  Talked with
the dietitian about dinner.  I was supposed to get a plain broiled fish with
plain rice.  Much to my disbelief, dinner was mistake #3.  The dinner I was
actually served contained a chicken pot pie (shell and crust made from
wheat), a dinner roll (made from wheat) and chocolate chip cookies made from
wheat.  At that point I was being discharged from the hospital and was so
happy to be going home.  My advice to anyone entering the hospital is to
continually check what they are giving you!

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