<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Dear List Mates: Thanks to so many of you, I received over 30 responses to my question about whether there could be a risk to me by my roommate heating her regular (wheat flour) bread, uncovered / unwrapped in the microwave oven. I will summarize the responses and offer a note as to why asking my question about this situation was important to me. Since several people who responded indicated that they would be interested in a summary, I've decided to include texts of most of the messages people sent in a separate post. I've left out a few that I found were more judgemental and slightly belittling of my question than helpful. There was quite a wide range in the responses. Most people responded that they did not think I was at any risk, so long as I put my food on/in a clean plate/dish and covered or wrapped what I was heating. Many suggested that I ask my roommate to be sure to wrap or cover what she heats in the microwave and make sure not to leave crumbs. Some also suggested that I ask her to be sure to clean the microwave after she uses it. (Since she isn't very vigilant about any type of housecleaning, I am the one who who would end up doing that and, in fact, who already does it.) Others who replied, however, said that they believed I could well be at risk and that I would be well advised to ask her not to use the microwave to heat bread and other similar products. Finally, thanks to the collective wisdom of those of you who sent helpful and supportive responses, yesterday I explained to my roommate that while I was not going to ask her not to use the microwave to heat her bread, it did make me uncomfortable and nervous that she was doing so, and I asked her to please wrap her bread or bagels in a paper towel when she heated them in the microwave oven. She said she would. Then, this morning, while I was eating breakfast, I realized that my roommate has once again begun to use her toaster for her bread. So I am most appreciative of all who responded with positive suggestions. Note of explanation: One reason that this situation caused me to be concerned is that, as so many people diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it took many years, much difficulty, and my increasingly ill health before I was finally diagnosed shortly after my 48th birthday. I had experienced strange, seemingly unconnected symptoms for over 20 years -- throughout much of my adult life -- most of which were non-gastrointestinal. Several doctors in non-GI specialties continued to scratch their heads, unable to figure out why I was losing weight, anemic, osteoporotic, extremely fatigued, complaining of chronic lower back pain, etc. And these doctors even talked with one another! I had become extremely ill prior to my diagnosis; my weight had dropped to 93 pounds, I was physically and mentally exhausted, becoming depressed, and I had begun to have GI bleeding, lack of appetite, and bloating. Finally!! Symptoms that sent me to a gastroenterologist! Within about 7 minutes, the gastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston suggested a diagnosis of Celiac Disease. That was in the spring of 1998, less than two years ago. I went on a gluten-free diet and began to feel better almost immediately. Last week, my gastroenterologist officially "discharged" me from her care, after we had a good laugh about the fact that in late November of this year, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid and am now taking Synthroid. So, after spending the better part of my adulthood becoming increasingly ill, and now feeling and being healthy for the first time in decades, I am extremely careful, unwilling to take risks that are not necessary. I know that it may well be virtually impossible to eliminate every bit of gluten from my diet; I am also unwilling to expose myself to gluten unnecessarily, especially from someone else's ways of preparing and/or cooking her meals. I know that this is a choice I choose to make, and that others may choose to make other choices. It seems to me most important that we respect one another in the choices each of us makes, offering information, suggestions and advice when asked, and, as much as possible, keeping judgements about and negative characterizations of those choices to a minimum and "out of print." Again, many thanks, and a happy holiday season to all, full of much health, joy, and peace, Pat (Patricia) Shechter Boston, MA Email: [log in to unmask]