Re: Refuses to eat

[Guest guest]

Hi, Will he drink? Protein shakes might be a good alternative until he outgrows the fear of choking. Will drinking thru a straw help or have you tried that? Will he use a cup with a spout like the new BPA free contigo cups? Does temperature make a difference, hot vs cold? Does he have any favorite food you can tempt him with? I hope something here helps! J., TACASanta From: Rueter

<susanr7r@...>autism Sent: Sunday, August 9, 2009 10:12:54 AMSubject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including pudding, ice cream, soup broth. He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

I don’t know if I can be of help, but when I worked in a nursing

home we had a lot of people with liquid diets. There is a thickener you can

control the thickness of liquids, increasing as he does well with it. I personally

would make sure the child got a pediasure or one of those supplemental drinks,

and ask pharmacy if you can get a liquid vitamin, maybe hide in a food.

Can you go back to basics with him? Ie: baby food or baby food

style. You could puree some things or make your mac n cheese really squishy. Also

let him help you with preparation of foods. Then as he spreads the variety you

can try adjusting the texture, does he eat fish?

And as the mother of a boy

who was a FREAK as a child with food, he would gorge for a day or two then

refuse to eat for almost a week. As my first child I went nuts and pediatrician

said kids will not allow themselves to starve, they instinctively know to eat

when they need to. ( I am sure with weight loss that is of little or no help)

just know I am thinking of you and hope for the best!

Keep intouch!

Debra

From:

autism

[mailto:autism ] On Behalf Of

Rueter

Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 1:13 PM

autism

Subject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with

my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck

in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that

requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including

pudding, ice cream, soup broth. He's lost 20 pounds and has been

checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical. He was a

bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be

experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his

throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for your ideas. He will eat a little ice cream and pudding, chicken broth and creamy cheddar cheese soup. He does drink, but not near like he should or did before.

He looks at food like he'd really like to eat it. We've tried all of the protein drinks-- he flat out refuses them. We thought maybe Carnation Instant breakfast might work. He hated it.

I may try making a milkshake with it and some ice cream.

I'm afraid of the babyfood taste. He is so picky that he picks parsely flakes out of his soup broth.

This was a kid who used to eat an entire pizza by himself. We tried a liquid vitamin, but he could detect the taste and freaked out..I'm calling his Dr. tomorrow to see what we can do next. Thanks again!

From: Debra Byrne <patrickbyrne2@...>Subject: RE: Refuses to eatautism Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009, 4:37 PM

I don’t know if I can be of help, but when I worked in a nursing home we had a lot of people with liquid diets. There is a thickener you can control the thickness of liquids, increasing as he does well with it. I personally would make sure the child got a pediasure or one of those supplemental drinks, and ask pharmacy if you can get a liquid vitamin, maybe hide in a food.

Can you go back to basics with him? Ie: baby food or baby food style. You could puree some things or make your mac n cheese really squishy. Also let him help you with preparation of foods. Then as he spreads the variety you can try adjusting the texture, does he eat fish?

And as the mother of a boy who was a FREAK as a child with food, he would gorge for a day or two then refuse to eat for almost a week. As my first child I went nuts and pediatrician said kids will not allow themselves to starve, they instinctively know to eat when they need to. ( I am sure with weight loss that is of little or no help) just know I am thinking of you and hope for the best!

Keep intouch!

Debra

From: AutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) com [mailto:AutismBehav iorProblems] On Behalf Of RueterSent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 1:13 PMAutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comSubject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including pudding, ice cream, soup broth. He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Hi, there ...there are lots of mom's on here (well at least two or three) that have had these issues...hopefully you'll get the answers you need.....sorry you are going through this.

e

From: Rueter <susanr7r@...>autism@...Sent: Sunday, August 9, 2009 12:12:54 PMSubject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including pudding, ice cream, soup broth. He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical.. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Maybe he would take a clear liquid nutrition product. Ensure makes a product

called Ensure Enlive that tastes like apple juice or fruit juice but has 230

calories plus vitamins.

You can order from www.cwimedical.com or get his ped to prescribe it.

-Liz

>

> Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old

(PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a

month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew.

He doesn't eat much else either, including� pudding, ice cream, soup broth.�

He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out

anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried

he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid

to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Our son was 12 when he quit eating - prior to that he had always been an extremely picky eater - 10 foods tops at the peak of his food choices. He got himself down to liquids only (and he also absolutely detests any of the nutritional shakes). We ended up having to admit him into a hospital so they could re-teach him to eat. I can only tell you the protocol of what they did - and where it got us.

They immediately STOPPED all *food* issues - food nor drink was to be discussed, seen or offered unless it was an *eating* time, which included a timer so our son would know that there is a predetermined limit to the offering. In fact, we the parents could not eat or drink anything in front of him for the 1st week - totally breaking the *history* of Nick's eating with us. The mentality behind this is that the children become *frightened* of the foods offered by the parents because it is the scenario into which they had a problem. Therefore, the slate must become clean. Then, food is reintroduced in a safe format (pureed - and I'm not talking baby food - I'm talking real food). The feeding technicians are the ones that re-introduced Nick to the food (in an ABA type format - complete with timers & reinforcers) away from the parents. Once they had him comfortably eating w/them 4 times per day, the parents were re-introduced into the eating times, eventually taking over from the Technicians who then withdrew from being involved. There were also oral exercises the parents were trained to do (Beckman oral exercises) to strengthen his mouth region to help him succeed when time to upgrade textures.

We discharged with our son on a pretty strict schedule - 5 meals per day and 2 additional *drink* times (yes, even liquids have to be structured & controlled to keep the child from regressing by regaining control of decisions as far as food/drink - taking back that much control does make it easier for the child). There were a few extinction bursts of behavior as he realized we had all the control, but after those bursts, he became so much happier & relaxed when he was no longer anxious and worrying about food. It's a lot of work - pureein'g enough food for 15 different foods every day (5 meals - 3 types of food - and it's all *real* food)......but I can't tell you how exciting it is to watch him eat the different things he eats!

I also learned a lot about Nick's picky eating during this time. Simply put - he's not a picky eater. My son went from 10 peak food choices down to none. Once the food/texture became *safe* - my son is up to 45+ foods and gaining 1 every week. I've found 2 foods that he *doesn't like* due to what is obviously now taste. We're holding off texture upgrade until he's back into a *healthy* weight (he was 22 lbs under where he should have been for his height). Then, we'll begin another protocol now that the eating is an established safe routine.

I would research to find if there are any eating programs within your state/region. Or, if there is an ABA therapist that could help you establish the type of program above. Medical insurance will usually cover this, because it isn't a *behavior* issue - it's a medical one, and they realize the costs are substantially higher in the not to distant future when a child develops all the health issues due to an improper diet.

autism From: susanr7r@...Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 19:06:55 -0700Subject: RE: Refuses to eat

Thanks so much for your ideas. He will eat a little ice cream and pudding, chicken broth and creamy cheddar cheese soup. He does drink, but not near like he should or did before.

He looks at food like he'd really like to eat it. We've tried all of the protein drinks-- he flat out refuses them. We thought maybe Carnation Instant breakfast might work. He hated it.

I may try making a milkshake with it and some ice cream.

I'm afraid of the babyfood taste. He is so picky that he picks parsely flakes out of his soup broth.

This was a kid who used to eat an entire pizza by himself. We tried a liquid vitamin, but he could detect the taste and freaked out..I'm calling his Dr. tomorrow to see what we can do next. Thanks again!

From: Debra Byrne <patrickbyrne2comcast (DOT) net>Subject: RE: Refuses to eatautism Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009, 4:37 PM

I don’t know if I can be of help, but when I worked in a nursing home we had a lot of people with liquid diets. There is a thickener you can control the thickness of liquids, increasing as he does well with it. I personally would make sure the child got a pediasure or one of those supplemental drinks, and ask pharmacy if you can get a liquid vitamin, maybe hide in a food.

Can you go back to basics with him? Ie: baby food or baby food style. You could puree some things or make your mac n cheese really squishy. Also let him help you with preparation of foods. Then as he spreads the variety you can try adjusting the texture, does he eat fish?

And as the mother of a boy who was a FREAK as a child with food, he would gorge for a day or two then refuse to eat for almost a week. As my first child I went nuts and pediatrician said kids will not allow themselves to starve, they instinctively know to eat when they need to. ( I am sure with weight loss that is of little or no help) just know I am thinking of you and hope for the best! Keep intouch! Debra

From: AutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) com [mailto:AutismBehav iorProblems] On Behalf Of RueterSent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 1:13 PMAutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comSubject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including pudding, ice cream, soup broth. He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

Get your vacation photos on your phone! Click here.

[Guest guest]

Rhonda I so love your knowledge on this...I'm grateful that you on on this group ---- you are a true inspiration...what you did for your child....is amazing.

e

From: Rhonda on <trkn4@...> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:33:49 AMSubject: RE: Refuses to eat

Our son was 12 when he quit eating - prior to that he had always been an extremely picky eater - 10 foods tops at the peak of his food choices. He got himself down to liquids only (and he also absolutely detests any of the nutritional shakes). We ended up having to admit him into a hospital so they could re-teach him to eat. I can only tell you the protocol of what they did - and where it got us. They immediately STOPPED all *food* issues - food nor drink was to be discussed, seen or offered unless it was an *eating* time, which included a timer so our son would know that there is a predetermined limit to the offering.. In fact, we the parents could not eat or drink anything in front of him for the 1st week - totally breaking the *history* of Nick's eating with us. The mentality behind this is that the children become *frightened* of the foods offered

by the parents because it is the scenario into which they had a problem. Therefore, the slate must become clean. Then, food is reintroduced in a safe format (pureed - and I'm not talking baby food - I'm talking real food). The feeding technicians are the ones that re-introduced Nick to the food (in an ABA type format - complete with timers & reinforcers) away from the parents. Once they had him comfortably eating w/them 4 times per day, the parents were re-introduced into the eating times, eventually taking over from the Technicians who then withdrew from being involved. There were also oral exercises the parents were trained to do (Beckman oral exercises) to strengthen his mouth region to help him succeed when time to upgrade textures. We discharged with our son on a pretty strict schedule - 5 meals per day and 2 additional *drink* times (yes, even liquids have to be

structured & controlled to keep the child from regressing by regaining control of decisions as far as food/drink - taking back that much control does make it easier for the child). There were a few extinction bursts of behavior as he realized we had all the control, but after those bursts, he became so much happier & relaxed when he was no longer anxious and worrying about food. It's a lot of work - pureein'g enough food for 15 different foods every day (5 meals - 3 types of food - and it's all *real* food)......but I can't tell you how exciting it is to watch him eat the different things he eats! I also learned a lot about Nick's picky eating during this time. Simply put - he's not a picky eater. My son went from 10 peak food choices down to none. Once the food/texture became *safe* - my son is up to 45+ foods and gaining 1 every week. I've found 2 foods

that he *doesn't like* due to what is obviously now taste. We're holding off texture upgrade until he's back into a *healthy* weight (he was 22 lbs under where he should have been for his height). Then, we'll begin another protocol now that the eating is an established safe routine. I would research to find if there are any eating programs within your state/region. Or, if there is an ABA therapist that could help you establish the type of program above. Medical insurance will usually cover this, because it isn't a *behavior* issue - it's a medical one, and they realize the costs are substantially higher in the not to distant future when a child develops all the health issues due to an improper diet.

AutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comFrom: susanr7r (DOT) comDate: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 19:06:55 -0700Subject: RE: Refuses to eat

Thanks so much for your ideas. He will eat a little ice cream and pudding, chicken broth and creamy cheddar cheese soup. He does drink, but not near like he should or did before.

He looks at food like he'd really like to eat it. We've tried all of the protein drinks-- he flat out refuses them. We thought maybe Carnation Instant breakfast might work. He hated it.

I may try making a milkshake with it and some ice cream.

I'm afraid of the babyfood taste. He is so picky that he picks parsely flakes out of his soup broth.

This was a kid who used to eat an entire pizza by himself. We tried a liquid vitamin, but he could detect the taste and freaked out..I'm calling his Dr. tomorrow to see what we can do next. Thanks again!

From: Debra Byrne <patrickbyrne2@ comcast.net>Subject: RE: Refuses to eatAutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comDate: Sunday, August 9, 2009, 4:37 PM

I don’t know if I can be of help, but when I worked in a nursing home we had a lot of people with liquid diets. There is a thickener you can control the thickness of liquids, increasing as he does well with it. I personally would make sure the child got a pediasure or one of those supplemental drinks, and ask pharmacy if you can get a liquid vitamin, maybe hide in a food.

Can you go back to basics with him? Ie: baby food or baby food style. You could puree some things or make your mac n cheese really squishy. Also let him help you with preparation of foods. Then as he spreads the variety you can try adjusting the texture, does he eat fish?

And as the mother of a boy who was a FREAK as a child with food, he would gorge for a day or two then refuse to eat for almost a week. As my first child I went nuts and pediatrician said kids will not allow themselves to starve, they instinctively know to eat when they need to. ( I am sure with weight loss that is of little or no help) just know I am thinking of you and hope for the best! Keep intouch! Debra

From: AutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) com [mailto:AutismBehav iorProblems] On Behalf Of RueterSent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 1:13 PMAutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comSubject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including pudding, ice cream, soup broth.. He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems.. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

Get your vacation photos on your phone! Click here.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Liz. I'm going to look into it.

From: mrs_lizrussell <mrs_lizrussell@...>Subject: Re: Refuses to eatautism Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 9:57 AM

Maybe he would take a clear liquid nutrition product. Ensure makes a product called Ensure Enlive that tastes like apple juice or fruit juice but has 230 calories plus vitamins.You can order from www.cwimedical. com or get his ped to prescribe it.-Liz>> Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including� pudding, ice cream, soup broth.� He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule

out anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...> Any help would be appreciated.> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you. We are going to an "eating" therapist next week--that's as soon as we can get in. HIs GI doctor wants to do a feeding tube, but I know he would try to pull it out and I'm afraid of more trauma. I'm going to share your experience with them.

This is really the first time I've had to rely on this group for help. I'm grateful for the support.

From: Debra Byrne <patrickbyrne2@ comcast.net>Subject: RE: Refuses to eatAutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comDate: Sunday, August 9, 2009, 4:37 PM

I don’t know if I can be of help, but when I worked in a nursing home we had a lot of people with liquid diets. There is a thickener you can control the thickness of liquids, increasing as he does well with it. I personally would make sure the child got a pediasure or one of those supplemental drinks, and ask pharmacy if you can get a liquid vitamin, maybe hide in a food.

Can you go back to basics with him? Ie: baby food or baby food style. You could puree some things or make your mac n cheese really squishy. Also let him help you with preparation of foods. Then as he spreads the variety you can try adjusting the texture, does he eat fish?

And as the mother of a boy who was a FREAK as a child with food, he would gorge for a day or two then refuse to eat for almost a week. As my first child I went nuts and pediatrician said kids will not allow themselves to starve, they instinctively know to eat when they need to. ( I am sure with weight loss that is of little or no help) just know I am thinking of you and hope for the best! Keep intouch! Debra

From: AutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) com [mailto:AutismBehav iorProblems] On Behalf Of RueterSent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 1:13 PMAutismBehaviorProbl emsgroups (DOT) comSubject: Refuses to eat

Is there anyone who can give me advice on what to do with my 8 year old (PDD-NOS) who refuses to eat? He apparently got some food stuck in his throat a month ago and ever since has refused to eat anything that requires him to chew. He doesn't eat much else either, including pudding, ice cream, soup broth. He's lost 20 pounds and has been checked out by an ENT and Upper GI to rule out anything medical. He was a bigger kid, but he's shrinking fast and I'm worried he's going to be experiencing some serious health problems. He says he's afraid to eat, his throat hurts, etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

Get your vacation photos on your phone! Click here.