Home › Forums › Infant Reflux Support › HELP!!! › 2.5 year old refusing to eat
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March 13, 2007 at 12:24 pm #27371
Anonymous
InactiveMy son is 2.5 years old and suffers with atopic eczema and multiple food allergies. In the last 3 weeks he has refused to eat food apart from the odd raisin and I can occasionally get him to eat a couple of spoonfuls of apple or pear puree. When food come out he crys and gets really upset and hides his mouth. He is surviving on a few raisins and about 3/4 pint to a pint of neocate advance a day at the moment. When he had lost a pound in 3 months his consultant seemed quite worried but when I told him that he had gone from 26.46lb to 26.15lb in 2 weeks he said that it was not that much and did not want to do a biopsy unless neccesary. At the previous appt when he had lost the pound in 3 months he had said that if he continues to loose weight then he would need a biopsy to make sure there was no hidden problems.
March 13, 2007 at 8:48 pm #27440InactiveI don’t have any ideas, just sympathy. Kaelyn has gone through stages where she has refused to eat, but none have lasted as long as what you are describing. I would say that if he doesn’t eat soon then maybe try to see another doctor?
March 14, 2007 at 8:14 am #27465hellbennt
KeymasterMarch 14, 2007 at 10:44 pm #27534InactiveCarson has been labeled Failure To Thrive. He also doesn’t eat enough to keep up his weight. When Carson gets *really bad* – I mean vomiting and refuses everything, there is usually something else bothering him like his ears (infection or even fluid will really bother), a virus, thrush, cold, teething…… Although, this sounds like it has been going on for a while with your child. We had Carson skin-prick tested for allergies and found a few we didn’t know about. That helped when we stopped those foods. I wonder if there is some other food that is bothering James – maybe causing his exzema. ? He could also be refluxing due to the allergies. Our specialist said that Carson may refuse to eat because he knows that it bothers his stomach after he does eat. Some children don’t vomit or have signs of reflux, but it is going on. Carson did have a biopsy done. We did several things at the same time (biopsy, scope, PE tubes in the ears). If your little one has to go under – make sure you get everything done that you want to have done all at one shot! Also, I would really trust your intuition. Parents usually know best. Maybe start a log of foods eaten and any adverse reactions. Research this site and see if you can find any similarities between your child and any others. The *search* feature is wonderful when using key words. I don’t mean to tell you at all what to do! These are only suggestions and ideas to you from someone who has a little one who doesn’t eat either. It is so hard when your little one won’t eat enough to keep up their pounds. Don’t blame yourself and be strong! Good luck with your little one!
March 14, 2007 at 11:04 pm #27538InactiveHi there. Sorry to hear that you are going through eating struggles with your son. My daughter has a feeding aversion, and so I know how awful it is to watch them go day after day without eating nearly enough to thrive.
I do have a few questions for you:
Firstly, did your son have signs of acid reflux as an infant? If so, did he receive any treatment for it? How was eating in the past? Up until the recent episodes of food refusal, what has his eating been like? Is this a new problem for him?
I guess I’m trying to figure out if he has a history of eating or feeding problems, or if this is something relatively new.
Since he is 2.5 years old, can you ask him some questions about what’s bothering him and see if that points you in a clearer direction. Of course, given the history of allergies, I immediately wonder about allergic esophagitis/EE, or reflux. I would speak to your allergist and also ask for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist.
If the eating refusal continues, then I would definitely seek help from the latter, and ask for an endoscopy with biopsies to make sure that there’s not something going on.
Another kind of off the wall possibility is that he has a cavity or something else in his mouth that is bothering him. Is there such a thing as 2.5 year molars? (Sorry, can’t remember…. my dd is 3.)
It’s not necessarily the fact that he’s not eating well lately that I find as troubling as the fact that he’s crying and getting obviously upset at the sight of food. That tells me that unless he can articulate something that can give you a clue as to what the problem is, that something related to eating is really bothering him, and investigations would probably be the best way to get answers if it is something physical or of another origin.
We had the endoscopy with biopsies done and it was quite a simple procedure. Not nearly as bad as I had envisioned.
Good luck. I hope that you can get some answers. Please keep us posted.
March 18, 2007 at 3:42 am #27715InactiveFirst of all sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I would like to thank you all for your replies. Now to answer some of the questions.
As far as we know James did not suffer from infant reflux and therefore was not tested for it. He breastfed really well and then we supplemented the breast feeds with formula at 4.5 months as I just could not keep up with the demand, he would practically feed all day and with a little girl to look after it was just not practical. We also started solids at 4 months but it was just a little baby rice for the first few weeks. Once James got to about 6 months feeding became more difficult as his eczema was worse and he really was not interested in food. We would manage to feed him by distracting with other things. James has never been great with solids, the only foods he has ever chosen to eat are raisins and he used to like a special biscuit we used to buy before we found out about his wheat allergy. He has never eaten lumpy foods he would just gag and be sick so has always been on pureed foods. Obviously we kept trying lumpy foods but would always get the same reaction. Obviously we have now gone one step further and now refuses pureed food, and if we do manage to get some into him he gags and nbearly makes himself sick.
We can not really ask James questions as he is speech delayed and only says a few words although he does communicate well in other ways.
We have had James’s teth cjecked and there are no cavaties and no obvious signs of teeth coming through.
James will quite happily feed other people food but does get quite upset if somebody tries to give him food which is why we do not forse him to eat as it would just end up with sick everywhere. We have tried distration which is when we have managed to get him to eat 1 spoonful of apple or pear puree but he then gags and is nearly sick. We were at a toddler group last week and they have a seperate snack area that everybody goes into at the same time which James has always been ok with. I just take him some raisins that he can have whilst the other children are having there snacks. On this occasion he got very stressed and upset about being in there and did not calm down until I took him out.
When James was eating I think he probably was eating foods that were still causing reactions asa his nappies were runny and mucousy quite often. We tried very hard to figure it out but never seemed to really get to the bottom of it. James was only eating 7 different foods in the end anyway.
At the moment we are waiting to speak to his consultant to see if we can get the endoscopy and biopsies done. Unfortunately though I fear that he is not going to make a decision about this until he sees him in May unless he starts to loose a lot of weight. If this is the case then we are going to get a second opinion as I can’t let my little boy carry on like this.
Thank you again for all the replies it has been very helpful.
Kelly
March 18, 2007 at 10:26 am #27732InactiveCarson gags also. It is very scary
to try a new food on him or a new texture. If he gags he will definately vomit – and there goes the calories I have been trying to get him to eat. I wonder if you could call your doc and be put on a *cancellation list* – if someone cancels their appointment the receptionist could call you and you could sneak in early? It really wouldn’t hurt to get a second opinion. Sometimes I think that is God telling us to go to a diff doc by making it so long for the appointment to come.
Good luck Kelly!
March 18, 2007 at 2:49 pm #27754InactiveKelly, if you are not already seeing both an allergist and a pediatric gastroenterologist then I would consider both. As I said before, I would also ask for the endoscopy with biopsies, and possibly other allergy testing. Until that is done, it would be difficult to narrow down the problem as there are so many possibilities.
You mentioned that he is speech delayed. Does he have any other developmental delays, or just speech. Is he seeing a speech therapist? If so, can she assess his oral motor skills? I might also have him assessed by an Occupational Therapist and see if there are sensory issues surrounding the eating problems. We have gone through all these things including many others for my daughter, and we still have eating issues to overcome.
I have learned that testing can be very important in trying to figure out what the problem is, and also that often oral-motor or sensory issues play a role. If these turn out clear, then maybe you can get him seen by a feeding therapist who can give you some pointers.
I was also wondering why he was still eating purees at 2.5 years. Does he have trouble chewing or other difficulties swallowing. Also, how did you find out about his allergies.
March 19, 2007 at 6:15 am #27798InactiveWe are not seeing an allergiest or a pediatric gastroenterologist at the moment. We have been seeing a pediatric consultant who treats people with allergies, eczema and asthma. We found out about his allergies by RAST testing and elimination diets. Once James had got the results of his RAST tests then we were advised to go to a very basic diet so that we could see if he was reacting to foods. We basically weeaned him again very slowly which went really well. The only foods we have not challenged are peanuts, eggs, shellfish and eggs as his scores were very high for these foods and would not like to run the risk at home.
James is speech delayed but does not appear to have any other developmental delays apart from food as we have never been able to get him to eat lumpy foods or finger foods except raisins and a special biscuit he used to have. I have to say he does chew the raisins really well and will happily but a small handful in his mouth and not have a problem. All other foods make him gag and be sick, we have just been told to keep trying and he will eat lumpy foods/finger foods eventually. He is now 2.5 and has started to not want food at all so there is obviously a problem. I think James probably does have sensory issues with food its just knowing how to deal with it as nobody really seems willing to refer us anywhere. James is seeing a speech therapist but he is only really being monitored at the moment through play. Trying to see if we can work on different ways to encourage his speech. If this does not work then he will be refered for direct speech therapy.
To be honest if it all carries on the way it is I think we will be forced to seek private treatment for James, then at least this way we might get to the bottom of things.
Kelly
March 19, 2007 at 8:55 am #27800InactiveKelly,
Sorry to hear that you’re not getting the help that you want for your little one. We’ve gone through a similar problem here with Hailey. Given his history of allergies, I wonder about the possibility of EE (eosinophilic esophagitis, also called allergic esophagitis). I would really try to see a ped GI or a doctor who can do an endoscopy with biopsies.
I would also ask you ST if she can evaluate his feeding, and if not, refer you to someone who can. I would also ask about being referred to an OT for sensory issues.
Good luck.
March 19, 2007 at 9:45 am #27809Keymasterjust a thought: http://www.justtomatoes.com
maybe this would help? these are dried & maybe have a similar texture to the raisins…
(I also recommend getting an endoscopy just so you know what’s ‘going on’ in there)
March 21, 2007 at 9:05 am #28032InactiveI had James weighed today and he has gained 12 oz which is great news. He is still not eating any of his meals though but is drinking plenty of the neocate advance which is obviously why he has gained weight. He is still eating some raisins but he will not have anything else apart from the other day when I managed to get him to have some apple puree. James then suffered with stomach pain, lots of wind and mucous in his nappy so it that turned out to be a negative experience. It is strange really as he never used to have a problem with apple puree and used to be one of his favourite foods.
I am hopefully talking to James’s consultant this afternoon and I am just hoping he will take this seriously. I know that it is a good sign that James has gained weight but the refusal of food and the fact that he gets stressed and upset when it is placed infront of him is worrying. Will update when I know more.
Kelly
March 21, 2007 at 12:06 pm #28062InactiveGood luck. I hope that they can give you some answers.
March 21, 2007 at 12:47 pm #28075InactiveI just wanted to add that the http://www.justtomatoes suggestion by Laura is a good one. I buy their products and they are very tasty, and dried like raisins. They have all kinds of fruits and veggies. Maybe he’d like them.
March 21, 2007 at 3:19 pm #28090InactiveKelly, so very glad that James gained! 12 ounces is a great amount. Our doc says slow and steady is always best.
The Neocate is doing it’s job but I wonder how your consultant will recommend you start to switch him over to more foods and less Neocate if he has such trouble digesting? foods. I really wish you the best and hope they can give you some super-wonderful answers!
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