Reading about all this lovely food makes my mouth water. Almost two years ago, following a very heavy cold and ear infection, I woke up one morning to discover that my sense of taste had completely altered. Nothing I tried tasted as it should and most things tasted disgusting. After 18 months of scans, x-rays, blood tests, visits to a stroke specialist, neurologist and nutritionist, with no answers, it has been decided I must have a damaged nerve in my face. Nothing to be done about it.
I lost two stone initially because I just didn't know what to eat. I've since realised that anything containing salt or sugar seems to be the problem. And the majority of foods contain one or the other - or both! So my diet consists of a breakfast smoothie containing soya milk, oats, whey protein, chia seeds, flaxseed and a banana. Looks pretty disgusting but tastes of nothing. Lunch is a bread roll from Waitrose - the only one I can find that isn't salty - topped with a drizzle of olive oil and black pepper. Dinner, home made soup with lots of chilli flakes to disguise the taste, fish and chips (no salt and vinegar) or pasta with olive oil and black pepper. The only sweet I can tolerate is low fat vanilla icecream topped with soya cream. The only flavour I really enjoy is coffee, so I buy dark chocolate coffee creams, coffee Bailey's and of course I drink coffee.
I've learned to cope with it and it's second nature now, but it's no pleasure eating out. Especially at this time of year when the various clubs I belong to have their Christmas dinners. Trying to explain to people why you are sitting with a bowl of chips whilst they are enjoying a three course dinner is a nightmare. The doctors don't know what it is, but everyone else is an expert! I've been told I need hypnotherapy, it's all in my mind etc. etc. The worst of it is food smells exactly as it should and my mouth waters when I catch a whiff of my old favourites - Mac and cheese, veggie lasagne etc. So there will be no satsumas, Christmas pudding, mince pies or chocolates for me this year. But at least I've dropped two dress sizes and had to get a whole new wardrobe, so it's not all bad! Enjoy your food ladies!