Today I met with Kristopher's pediatrician. It was an appt to rule out anything physically wrong, causing the food issues. He had a complete physical, and mouth checked out a little closer and nothing was found. We found out that he is a pound less than his 5 year check up. Almost 2 years ago. They still are not concerned because his weight is on the higher part of the chart. He was 54lbs, and almost 51 inches (4 foot 3). They did feel that since kids are apparently suppose to gain 4-6 pounds per year at the post baby stage, that he needs a little extra boost (for real boost essentials for kids) so that the lack of eating doesn't cause more drama. We were given 2 samples and he says it tastes really bad. I'm sure it does. I tried to drink it when I was pregnant since I was so sick, and it made me barf more.
But anyway. The doctor asked him a bunch of questions, and we've determined that he has a lot of worry about his food. He's worried that his teeth come loose, and one falls out while he's eating and he swallows it. He's worried if that happens, it will hurt his stomach and make him really sick. He's worried that his teeth will hurt while he eats something. He says he's scared he will choke, like with the popcorn last weekend. Even though that was not the same as we would call choking, to him, it was a traumatic experience. The doctor said based on what I described the behavior as, it was classified a panic attack.
He's also really worried about tornado's and thunderstorms causing us to be hurt, or our house...or cars. Or being out trapped in one and lightening hurting us. That's something new, because he use to think storms were cool. I'm assuming that has to do with the night we rushed him to the basement during the tornado.
The doctor also believes that there was a lot of anxiety and worry about the change of school ending. He said he thinks the food issues were triggered to the extreme because of that. All 3 big things happening in the same time frame, caused it all to make him not able to move past it.
I asked about the possibility of autism and other things like that because of the extreme emotion and drama he has. He said he does not believe it's that at all. He says at most, this is an anxiety disorder, and because he is so young, therapy should help with that. So that's reassuring that I made the right approach. He reviewed the chart and history and said he has always met milestones on time or early, asked how he is in school and socially, and he said he does not fit near enough criteria for us to even try to label him. That's reassuring.
But anyway. The doctor asked him a bunch of questions, and we've determined that he has a lot of worry about his food. He's worried that his teeth come loose, and one falls out while he's eating and he swallows it. He's worried if that happens, it will hurt his stomach and make him really sick. He's worried that his teeth will hurt while he eats something. He says he's scared he will choke, like with the popcorn last weekend. Even though that was not the same as we would call choking, to him, it was a traumatic experience. The doctor said based on what I described the behavior as, it was classified a panic attack.
He's also really worried about tornado's and thunderstorms causing us to be hurt, or our house...or cars. Or being out trapped in one and lightening hurting us. That's something new, because he use to think storms were cool. I'm assuming that has to do with the night we rushed him to the basement during the tornado.
The doctor also believes that there was a lot of anxiety and worry about the change of school ending. He said he thinks the food issues were triggered to the extreme because of that. All 3 big things happening in the same time frame, caused it all to make him not able to move past it.
I asked about the possibility of autism and other things like that because of the extreme emotion and drama he has. He said he does not believe it's that at all. He says at most, this is an anxiety disorder, and because he is so young, therapy should help with that. So that's reassuring that I made the right approach. He reviewed the chart and history and said he has always met milestones on time or early, asked how he is in school and socially, and he said he does not fit near enough criteria for us to even try to label him. That's reassuring.
He gave me a ton of tips, so that this does not end up as a major food fight for a long time. He explained it in front of Kristopher, so he knows that the "rules" did not come from me being mean. He knows that the doctor said it's important, and how it will keep him healthy. So he has done amazing tonight. The rule is now, no special meals. Before I was giving in just to get him to eat something. His choice was all junk food, and that bothered me. It has been over a week since he's ate a veggie, and almost as long since he's had any type of fruit other than applesauce. So, the rule. We will give him a plate of what we are having. Obviously I'm not going to start making him eat something that I know he clearly does not like. In normal cases, we will give him a plate with what we are having. He has to eat at least 6 bites (1 per year old) before he is done. Of each item on the plate. So, if it's something he says is nasty, he still has to eat 6 bites before he's allowed to move past. Obviously if he likes it, I expect him to eat it without drama. If it's a fight, try the 6 bites. After that, if he does that and is still hungry, then he is allowed a dessert. If he does not do it, we will save it in the fridge. In between meals, if he asks for a snack, we are to reheat what he didn't eat, and he has to try to finish those 6 bites. If he does it, great. He can have something else if he's still hungry. If he still fights it, there's nothing else till the next meal. At the next meal either way, it's a clean slate and we start again. He did great tonight, and he realized ways around the textures he doesn't like. Tonight it was grilled hot dogs, at his request. Then he had started to panic about the "crunchy" and pulled out chewed food in a panic. I told him he can pick off the part he doesn't like, but to remember the rule. He was happy with that, and ate the rest without a problem. Supper was less dramatic, and everyone left the table happy.
He also seem to think the night terrors were part of anxiety. He says that he would have looked into it further and probably recommended therapy back at the 6 yr appt if he'd have seen us. He's shocked that it was just blown off like no big deal back then. It's been months since we've had that happen, but these other issues started coming out more instead.
I feel like we have some progress. He is definitely feeling better, and has been hungrier today. I just hope we can get to a point of not having to count bites. Monday I meet the therapist, and Tuesday is his turn.
It sounds like his dr really helped out there. I'm glad because I kinda thought it sounded like a waste too. I think the rules are really good. I'm going to have to remember those for when we run into food problems with Michael in the future.
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