My son doesn't eat!!

[lilmama87]

I have a five year old son who goes through extreme phases where he literally just doesn't eat. He complains of stomach pain, nausea, and occasionally has diarrhoea. At some stages he eats as little as a few bites of a sandwhich a day. He is six this year and weighs a tiny 16 kgs.

I've tried the Doctor who has screened for Coleacs (not sure of spelling) and other obvious illnesses. Nothing. At first I thought it wad an attention thing but it's severe sometimes. He will sit staring at his plate of food, even his favourites for an hour or longer and gag if I make him take a bite.

It's frustrating! I feel like yelling! I feel like crying! It's like watching your child have anorexia or something but I can't see why he won't eat. Out of ideas. Help!!

[fullofbeans]

:hugs: i know how frustrating this is. I have a 15month old who is exactly the same even symptoms. We have been back at the doctors every two weeks for the past 4 months getting his weight monitored and had blood test but show nothing. Did you know that you can get false positive and false negative results for ciliacs and the only real way to be sure is for a biopsy? I know its not what you want to put them through but if it give you an answer.
We are now waiting to get a pediatric specialist appointment at the Austin to help shed some light.
I know what you mean when you want to yell and scream for them to eat. Im worried that they will just think i don't feed him and wait for docs to come knocking on my door!
What do your doctors say, maybe try get them to refer you to a pediatric specialist.

[Happy2be3]

Sounds like severe food aversion.. Ask for a Speech therapist referal. At his age, i would definitely take it further.

[lilmama87]

So I've spent 5 hours in emergency today. My sons been up all night with diarrhoea and stomach cramps and has so far eaten half a lamington today. I left emergency after watching five consecutive people head straight into emergency including some (excuse my language) but 'bogan' who got into a punch up at thur night karoake and wanted to see a doctor in order to press charges. She had not one mark on her and was prancing around like a fairy in emergency. How can she have priority over a five year old writhing in pain on a chair for five hours?? I'm disgusted, angry, and tired. He's withering away before our very eyes and not one person is giving him the time of day.

[Nowhere]

HUGs, sounds like you need to get your DS into a feeding team speech therapist, adn a gastro Dr to get to the bottom of why he wont eat.

Does he drink fairly well?? if he will drink I would also be talking to a dietician about suplementry milk shakes that he can drink to help maintain his growth.

[lilmama87]

I don't understand what a speech therapist can do?

[OurLittleBlessing]

Hi Lilmama,

what a heartbreaking situation. I feel frustrated FOR you. I really hope that you find a doctor who will listen and get to the bottom of things for you.

It is my understanding that a speech therapist can be helpful as they can work on oral aversion issues.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

[ComeBackKid]

(hugs)

[the girls mum]

Xxxx

[amy pond]

my son didnt eat for 3 years from the age of 2 too 5 and still has a very limited diet now at 11, for my son it was because he is autistic and its a sensory thing for him, doesnt like the texture, colour, smell of food.

it was so bad that that just before he turned 5 he was admited too hospital too have a drip feed, that was a truely horrible time but he suddenly started eating dry bread and that was a massive achivement i was soo happy too see him start eating.

[anewme]

I don't understand what a speech therapist can do?

They do a lot more than speech.

They can help you. Please ask for a referral that what they specialise in.

[Little_P]

Sorry for the novel but just wanted to expalin my situation and what I am doing.... My DS has never been a big eater and gradually has been limiting his diet and refusing more and more foods. At the start of the year, we started at a new daycare and thought it may help him to eat with the change of scenery and eating with others etc but no. He will some days 'taste' but never finishes a meal. Some days he comes home and has only eaten a bowl of custard. (which is weird as he won't eat it when I make it...)

Anyway, when I met with daycare at the start they talked to me about it and how it can be normal blah blah. But, they mentioned that the local hospital has a feeding 'course' that can help fussy/poor eaters. One of the educators had taken her son there, I think he has a disability.

So, six months on and he is getting worse. He even refuses things I would give him as a last resort like scrambled egg and cheese melted on toast. I went to the GP to have him weighed and he is still on the 25 percentile at nearly 3 as he was when he was 18 months. GP said that rules out a physical issue that could cause the feeding woes. He recommended a dietition.

I rang the dietition who we are booked to see in a month. She gave me lots of ideas over the phone, supplements and things to try to increase the input of vitamins and minerals - he likes milk and milkshakes so I can mix them in. However, she too mentioned the 'course' at the hospital.

I also then rang the hospital and asked about this feeding course for children who don't eat well. She had no idea and eventually I was put through to the speech pathologist. So I also have an appointment with her, the day after the dietition coincidentally. She is sending me a pack with a food diary and some information. The first appointment I need to bring my son and some food. Something he will eat and likes, something he doesn't like so much but may eat and something he probably won't eat. She said she would observe him and his reactions to the foods to try and ascertain what could be going on. She also said that she works closely with an occupational therapist if needed to try and tackle the behavioural issues. There is a feeding course but it's only run a few times a year so we may do it in October. She said to me that if my son needded speech therapy, I would be waiting months and months but because it's a feeding issue, it's considered rather serious. (After finding out what he eats and what we have done to try and fix things).

Is he following his percentile line? Could you maybe see another GP who may deal with children. Ring around until you get some help hun. I got the dietition off the australian dietition website and you can search by suburb. You may need to ring a couple before you find one that you like or specialises in children. She didn't need a referral but is $80 first visit and $40 subsequent. Private health may give back a small amount. The hospital speech therapist is free as it's at the public hospital.

Good luck. It is very worrying and I understand how you feel. even my husband was saying, he'll be right, he'll eat one day... not good enough for me. The GP said it's good to work with him now to try and embed healthy eating habits before it's too late.

[Happy2be3]

Speech therapists are who you go to for feeding problems..speech therapists deal with anything that affects the mouth etc.. if she cant help then she would probably refer you on to the occupational therapist. Either way, you need to go seek referals for specialist to help/