Branston Pickle represents a real problem area of food for me. Firstly its a bit like a sauce and I do not eat sauces. Secondly its got bits in and those bits are vegetables which is even worse. Thirdly the smell of it is very strong and it looks.... well.... it looks as though it has already been eaten once!
It is most definitely not a safe food for me. It is also one of the last things I would ever think of trying. However last week I was eating dinner with Dad and we were having cold chicken which I do like as its plain and not threatening. To liven it up for himself, Dad was having some Branston Pickle with his. I was curious as to why he liked this "sweet pickle" and asked him what it tasted like. Unhelpfully he replied "it tastes like Branston Pickle"!! He then suggested I try a bit. Hell no! He then said "don't try the bits just dip your finger in and taste the sauce". Hmmmm....... Could I do that? I was curious. But was I curious enough to do that?
Well in a moment of abnormal bravery I opened the jar and plunged my little finger in. I thought I would do my usual "very tip of my finger to only get as little as possible on my finger to try" style. Instead I stuck my finger in the jar quite a way. Without really thinking I then stuck my finger in my mouth and licked all the brown pickle off! My Dad was shocked I had done it, but not as much as I was!! I then did it twice more (with different fingers obviously!).
Now I have not suddenly converted to eating pickle nor did I try any of the bits which are part of the pickle. However the brown sauce bit was not disgusting. I didn't retch and I didn't feel sick afterwards. It was a strange taste. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't like it either.
Its not really a successful tasting in the sense that I have added a new food to my diet, as I haven't. But it is a success that I managed to try it without triggering a panic attack, I could put it in my mouth, shut my mouth and swallow it and think about the taste! I have no idea why this worked or whether I did anything differently. I can only hope I have other successful tastings which might add to my diet and of course the new treatment might help.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
New Treatment??
I have finally had my appointment with my GP. From the way it started I was convinced it wasn't going to go anywhere, particularly when the first thing he offered me for my weight issues was surgery!!! Er... no! I tried to explain that it wouldn't work as I would still be eating the wrong food. He smiled and said it would work as I physically couldn't eat a lot! Grrrr! New GP! Had to explain that my weight gain was not due to eating large amounts of food and in actual fact would prefer not to eat at all as I do not find food appealing. I have weight issues because the foods I can eat are so unhealthy and after 31 years I have baggage!
I eventually got him to look back through my records where he found the Neo Food Phobia diagnosis and the counselling I was sent for. As far as my records were concerned I had been cured!! That made me wonder exactly what my old GP had been doing for the last 6 years when he told me he was "writing letters" to various specialists!! Clearly lies!!
Anyway once I had managed to get my new GP to listen I then had the task of explaining what Neo Food Phobia is. Its not the most easiest thing to explain as to many people it sounds ludicrous. However as I was trying to explain, he suddenly said, "are you sure its not SED"?!! Hooray! I explained that I did think my condition was more SED as it was not just limited to new food. Anyway, he has agreed to refer me for treatment and believes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy would help. So he is sending me for an assessment to see if our local Cognitive Behaviour Therapists will take me on. If not he has reassured me he will keep pursuing this until he can find something to help me, so I can get fit, lose weight and start living my life more fully without the restrictions of SED!!
By the end of my appointment I felt very positive and hopeful. I have no idea if Cognitive Behaviour Therapy will work for me or not. I know some people who have had it for other things and it helped them, so I am open minded. Judging from other forums and Facebook groups however it seems as though the only affective treatment is a form of hypnotherapy. Again I am open minded but as the sessions are over £200 at the moment that is not something I can pursue. So I will give my GP a chance and see what he comes up with.
I will of course keep you updated on this new treatment, so for now, wish me luck!!
I eventually got him to look back through my records where he found the Neo Food Phobia diagnosis and the counselling I was sent for. As far as my records were concerned I had been cured!! That made me wonder exactly what my old GP had been doing for the last 6 years when he told me he was "writing letters" to various specialists!! Clearly lies!!
Anyway once I had managed to get my new GP to listen I then had the task of explaining what Neo Food Phobia is. Its not the most easiest thing to explain as to many people it sounds ludicrous. However as I was trying to explain, he suddenly said, "are you sure its not SED"?!! Hooray! I explained that I did think my condition was more SED as it was not just limited to new food. Anyway, he has agreed to refer me for treatment and believes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy would help. So he is sending me for an assessment to see if our local Cognitive Behaviour Therapists will take me on. If not he has reassured me he will keep pursuing this until he can find something to help me, so I can get fit, lose weight and start living my life more fully without the restrictions of SED!!
By the end of my appointment I felt very positive and hopeful. I have no idea if Cognitive Behaviour Therapy will work for me or not. I know some people who have had it for other things and it helped them, so I am open minded. Judging from other forums and Facebook groups however it seems as though the only affective treatment is a form of hypnotherapy. Again I am open minded but as the sessions are over £200 at the moment that is not something I can pursue. So I will give my GP a chance and see what he comes up with.
I will of course keep you updated on this new treatment, so for now, wish me luck!!
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Selective Eating Disorder?
After doing a bit of research online I came across pages and forums linked to Neo-Food Phobia concerned with Selective Eating Disorder or SED. The more I read about this condition the more I feel this is a more accurate description of my problem, particularly as some descriptions included sufferers being particular with brands and how food is prepared, as well as texture and smells. This is very me, however unless I get re-diagnosed I cannot go too far down this route, but hopefully my GP will put me on the path where I may get re-categorised as having SED (although it does appear to be the same thing with a new name!).
For now here is a description of SED taken from http://treatmentsforthemind.co.uk/selective-eating-disorder-sed
"SED is sometimes also labelled as neo-phobia (or a fear of the new), although I feel this phrase is misleading as most of the clients seen will only tend to have a phobia with certain new foods and nothing else. SED is a true phobia that just happens to be associated with foods rather than animals, objects or processes. As such, it is not mere ‘fussy eating’ which tends to just be a conservative stage during most children’s development. Fussy eaters are often merely picky or play on the preferential treatment or special attention they get, but they are not phobic! . Fussy eating therefore does not involve a phobia, so SED often gets overlooked and misdiagnosed by doctors and therapists, as they confuse one with the other. In simple terms due to an event or phase in the past, pain has been associated with certain foods and the system refuses to venture past it’s safe foods. The more this situation persists, the greater the belief that one is ‘unable’ to then eat new foods because of the lack of past historical successes. Fortunately speedy help is at hand".
For now here is a description of SED taken from http://treatmentsforthemind.co.uk/selective-eating-disorder-sed
"SED is sometimes also labelled as neo-phobia (or a fear of the new), although I feel this phrase is misleading as most of the clients seen will only tend to have a phobia with certain new foods and nothing else. SED is a true phobia that just happens to be associated with foods rather than animals, objects or processes. As such, it is not mere ‘fussy eating’ which tends to just be a conservative stage during most children’s development. Fussy eaters are often merely picky or play on the preferential treatment or special attention they get, but they are not phobic! . Fussy eating therefore does not involve a phobia, so SED often gets overlooked and misdiagnosed by doctors and therapists, as they confuse one with the other. In simple terms due to an event or phase in the past, pain has been associated with certain foods and the system refuses to venture past it’s safe foods. The more this situation persists, the greater the belief that one is ‘unable’ to then eat new foods because of the lack of past historical successes. Fortunately speedy help is at hand".
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