Eating - Mansfield,MO

I would suggest going to a dentist, are his teeth loose? I would guess that he doesn't realize what the problem is he just knows something is different when he eats. I wouldn't make too much out of it, you don't want an eating disorder, just find softer food until he finds he can eat again, it will probably be something that isn't too bad like a mouth sore. Kids go through spells with eating anyway.

You might try finding an Occupational Therapist somewhere. They deal with sensory integration, when kids are overly sensitive to different kinds of sensations. I don't know of anyone specific, but that's where I would start.

I'm a little late getting in on this discussion but wanted to back up the advice some of the others here gave about asking for a referral to a GI doctor. One of my sons has an eosinophilic disorder and is extremely picky about what he will and won't eat because of it. He also has been diagnosed with oral texture sensitivity issues.

Personally I would start with the GI just to be sure that there isn't a problem there - acid reflux disease, eosinophilic disorders, ect - then I would ask for a referral to a speech or OT therapist that works with children with oral texture problems. In the meantime, keep trying different foods that are the same textures of the foods that he WILL eat easily for you and try adding in new things again from there.

I definitely agree you should get another opinion. An ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) would be a good place to start. I would also request an evaluation from a Speech Therapist. They are trained to evaluate and treat swallowing problems. A thorough assessment could tell you if there is an actual physical problem your son is having with managing different food textures. I wish you all the best!

We went through where the kids were not eating what I felt was enough, which is not as serious as you have explained due to the weight loss. What we did was implement a age/bite rule at all meals (or at least where we could monitor). So it works, since he is 7 at meal time he is to take seven bites of what is being served, does not matter if it is the veggie, main dish or other side dish. Just has to eat at least seven bites, then they can have whatever afterwards. We have to remember that their tummies are smaller than ours and fill up fast. I would also not let him have the pediasure to close to meal time, so that the appetite would increase, but would still make sure he gets it through the day still.

Good Luck!!

Did your son have reflux as a baby? My daughter had the same problem eating, but she didn't lose weight. We pressured the pediatrician to refer us to a GI specialist, and after running some tests, she determined that her reflux she had as an infant was back. She was prescribed pepcid, and has gotten better. Good luck and don't give up!

Hi T.,
Sounds like your little guy wants to eat, and I too would think it is a physical problem. Perhaps go to a different Dr./Pediatrician, and also a dental check up. Does he complain of pain anywhere throat or chest, stomach, abdomen, any bloating? What is his energy level? Any changes in bowel activity? Cough? Trouble sleeping? Seems there is a red flag here somewhere, and more testing should be done, ie. xray studies, CT scan, swallow test by xray. Does he have any lymph node swelling? Check neck, armpits, groin. Don't put this off, a 10 lb. wt. loss is very significant. Don't want to scare you, and have you thinking the worst, but certainly good to be concerned. Let us know how he does.

T., this might be worth a try. If you are positive there is nothing physically wrong with your child, then try this. Pick up a "placebo" (it could be a Vitamin C tablet or chewable vitamin). Explain that it may take up to 5 days for it to fully work and give your a child the placebo. That's what I would do.

Is it possible that at some point he's had a choking scare? If he is saying he wants to eat those things but that he feels he can't, and nothing seems physically wrong with him, then there must be a reason he doesn't feel he can.

I remember a time when I was young that I just felt I could not swallow certain things. I did grow out of it. Talk with him about taking tiny little bites and chewing slowly and drinking a little sip of water or milk between each bite.

If that doesn't work, maybe you can modify some things. Does he like oatmeal? He can get his grains that way. Will he eat tomato soup? Try adding some sour cream and very small croutons that will soak up the broth. Try some cream brothy soups with those tiny pasta that is like little round balls. If what he really needs and wants right now is soft foods, many, MANY foods are soft and have all the nutrients he needs.

Suzi

Check to see if your son has food allergies or if he is gluten intolerant. My friend's oldest son had similar issues and her youngest showed no signs, but both of them had gluten intolerance and many food allergies. Her style of preparing foods has definitely changed; however, both of her boys are now happy and healthy.
Good luck!

Try an ENT or another doctor. I would definitely be looking for a second opinion. Good luck!

Have you tried taking him to the dentist? Maybe he has something going on in his mouth that is making it difficult to chew. Keep searching for the answer, maybe try another doctor. Best wishes to you in finding the answer.

So what you are saying is that in 2 or alittle months he has lost 11 lbs and your doctor is not concerned? Hmm. thats alot of wt for anyone that size. Does he have mouth sores? Bowel issuses? Does he get short of breath or is the act of eating tiresome on him? You would think depending on how long he has been on the pedisure and gatorade diet than of course his electrolytes and blood work might appear "normal" but may not actually be. have you had a follow up with the doctor to explore other causes? The dentist? just tring to brainstorm with ya. but I think its defenatly worth getting to the bottom of things.
Social or mental side of it, I wouldnt think that in July he would start with school anxiety. What about home life did aything change, having a new baby, new husband, loss of anything/one?
Good Luck

Have you been to the dentist to rule out cavities or other tooth pain? Have you been to an ENT to rule out tonsil or other issues?

Find out if its his throat or stomach.My 13 year old has a tonsil abcess behind the tonsil so possibly he has something similar lets hope not . or ask if things burn his tummy or make him nausiated??

Kids definitely go through eating stages and cut down or eat more at times but to cry because he wants to eat but can't is something I would not let go. I would go to a specialist, ENT, or internist or someone and keep going until you find what is going on. He should not be losing that much weight even if a picky eater. It could be in his thinking but I would start at the medical doctors first. The mind is very tricky too though and like kids with eating disorders who are skinny and see themselves truly as fat you never know, but in my thinking, if he were mine, I'd start with specialists. Even if it is his thinking, since it's a textured type thing with the food, a doctor should check out all physical things too. I hope you get to the bottom of this and maybe the less you talk about it the better it would be around him at least.
Also, why do you give him the pediasures and gatorade? I would not give those to him unless a doctor tells you to do it. He may be able to eat more without them.
I know this must be a terrible concern and let us know what happens.

T., I would definitely look to a second opinion, I can't imagine a good pediatrician is not concerned with that kind of weight loss and a practically liquid diet, even if you started him on protien shakes that is no way to survive. It might be a texture thing, you might try working him back up to textured food yogurt, apple sauce, stewed veggies, oatmeal, rice toast...then tiny bites...but I would make sure everything else was in order, no cavities, no enlarged glands, etc...you didn't say how long this has been going on, so it is hard to say whether this is a phase or something more serious, but I would be concerned if it were my little guy. Could he have eaten something that scratched his throat?
Keep us posted, I hope you resolve this soon, I am sure this is no picnic for either of you.

When my son was little he would not eat solids all he wanted to do was drink milk. Our doctor said he was fine. He ended up having to go to an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist for tubes in his ears and the doctor said his tonsils were so big he could not even swallow a piece of bread. His tonsils were removed and now he eats anything we give him.

T., this sounds like what my kiddo did at 3...I would suggest taking him to an ENT to have his ears checked. Ended up my kiddo had fluid on his ears which caused pressure and hurt when he had to actually chew foods with any substance (thus he only wanted soft or preprocessed foods). Now I should also caviat this and say prior to going to an ENT my son had seen 4 peditricians and 2 regular base Doctors and it wasn't until a Speech Therapist saw my kid for delayed speech through our Infant/Toddler program that we got the suspected diagnosis (and that's only because the ST had it as well as his 3 sons). My son ended up having tubes, a tonsil and adnoidectomy to resolve the issue. He still shuns difficult foods but I guess that's more my fault for not working with him more.

Another possiblity is he may have some tooth problems...perhaps a dental visit as well?

I don't believe the "I don't know why I can't" line. I think he has a pretty good idea and is scared of what the outcome may be...talk to him and get him to be honest with you and tell him you really want to take him out to an all-you-can eat pizza buffet and WILL as soon as you can both work to resolve the problem. Let him know it's as much your problem as his...sometimes the kiddos really get crazy thoughts in their heads like we'll abandon them or be angry for them because of some problem they have...

Frankly, if your bribery didn't work I wouldn't bother paying a psychologist for the same ideas...doesn't sound like the shrink has any better ideas either.

Finally, as a sidenote to this...if you can't get into an ENT in a respectable amount of time you may consider taking him into Children's Mercy urgent care and doing a follow up visit with and ENT from there...the waiting list is usually shorter this way (i.e. follow up in 1-2 weeks as opposed to 3-4 month wait).

My son went through something similar when he was about 18 months old. He could not eat anything solid and would gag and throw up - he dropped from 22 lbs to 16 lbs when he was almost 2 years old. He would suck all of his solid food until he either gagged or we dug it out of the roof of his mouth for him. We took him to his ped. and to Children's Mercy for occupational therapy. After a couple months of therapy, the docs and therapists finally figured out that his tonsils and adenoids were so large that he could not swallow. His peditrician did not catch this and it is something that would not show up in blood work. He never complained of pain, he just would not eat. It might be worth checking out.