Intensive Feeding Therapy

DS2 Had a consult with a GI at a different Children's Hospital than the one he has been seen at for the past 2 years. He is a candidate for the intensive feeding therapy, and I will be receiving a call on Monday for the next set of evals.

After his appt today and my aunt telling him things like, eat more you'll grow up to be big and strong like daddy. And her friend talking him into drinking for pediasure last night so he could grow big and strong like super man... He was tried to eat noodles tonight. So he puts a bite in his mouth and starts gagging. Continuing to chew after I told him to spit it out. And then proceeded to gag and puke it out. He didn't even swallow and of it. He was wretching on the floor until he had nothing left to puke up. And then starts waving his hands up in the air, dada sign eat, hands up in air and dada- he was saying- I want to eat to grow big like dada. It upsets me so much. *Wish I could punch her in the face* I know she is well meaning and trying to be helpful. But he has sensory issues and we are working on eating. And in my house we don't shame or force feed.

Poor baby :-(

  yeah you need to address that issue with her!!! Maybe not punch her in the face like you wish you could, but something does need to be said to her. That is wrong...I'm sorry and I hope he's ok!

thats so sad  
sorry to hear that.
whats intensive feeding therapy if you dont mind my asking.

Breaks my heart. I would just talk to her an explain why saying that to your child is not the best. I mean I tell my kids all the time to eat their veggies so they can be big and strong. Its a fairly common thing to say to get kids to eat. Obviously your son is not the average child and maybe if you just explain the situation and what happened she can be more sensitive in the future.

Quoting ~Raylan's Mama~:"   yeah you need to address that issue with her!!! Maybe not punch her in the face like you wish ... [snip!] ... in the face like you wish you could, but something does need to be said to her. That is wrong...I'm sorry and I hope he's ok!"

I have said so many things to her. I can talk to her until I'm blue in the face. I'm going to have to step up and tell her in a matter of fact way- to leave him alone- for the 100th time or we won't be seeing her again for awhile. Because I seriously can not handle her.

Ive had many people do the same thing to my son. Its heartbreaking and makes you want to break their face. I hope things go well for yall.

Quoting ♥ axel sean n me:" thats so sad   sorry to hear that. whats intensive feeding therapy if you dont mind my asking."

His current feeding therapy is with an OT for 15 minutes once a week, one on one with an occupational therapist. She encourages him to touch food. Put it in his mouth if he is willing. Smell it. Put it on his hand. The thought process is getting him to touch it with his fingers and hands. Because if you can't touch it with your hand without getting grossed out, how are you ever going to be able to put it in your mouth.

So the intensive although we have never been, will be done with both an Occupational Therapist like he is currently seeing and a child hood psychologist- both at the same time, for either 2 hours a day for 2 weeks OR 2 hours, twice a week for 2 months. That is what we have to wait for the next set of evals to set up the appropriate amount of time, etc. This group is usually where kids go to get weaned off a G-tube. Although he has never had one of those placed.

Right now, most of his calories come from pediasure and whole milk. He eats a very small amount of regular food. Not enough to grow or gain weight, so is dependent on nutritional supplements to get his daily needs.

Quoting ♫ boobook ♫:" His current feeding therapy is with an OT for 15 minutes once a week, one on one with an occupational ... [snip!] ... amount of regular food. Not enough to grow or gain weight, so is dependent on nutritional supplements to get his daily needs. "

naww thats so sad! i hope it works for you and him!  
i watched an english programme on a child that had to do something like that because he couldnt eat food and in the end it worked really well for him, they encouraged him to touch the food and play with it and help his mum cook and then eventually started eating it properly it was heartbreaking at the start but after he started eating it was so cute.

Quoting Jennybananna:" Breaks my heart. I would just talk to her an explain why saying that to your child is not the best. I ... [snip!] ... is not the average child and maybe if you just explain the situation and what happened she can be more sensitive in the future."

I have tried to be sensitive to her feelings. Explaining things gently. Provided her with several credible website links to research on her own so she could get a better understanding. I wrote her a letter. I have chatted with her on the phone after the kids are in bed. I try really, really hard to have my child be as normal as possible. Not talk about things in front of him. He gets really embarrassed by it. And he is very smart. I know she has good intentions. Or maybe wants to be the cure all? If you know what I mean. I'm not sure what the next step to take is. I'm thinking I need to be very blunt and direct with no cushioning. Because obviously what I've already done isn't enough.

Quoting Rette Mich:" Ive had many people do the same thing to my son. Its heartbreaking and makes you want to break their face. I hope things go well for yall."

TRUTH 

I'm sorry you've had to deal with this too :-(

Quoting ♫ boobook ♫:" I have tried to be sensitive to her feelings. Explaining things gently. Provided her with several credible ... [snip!] ... is. I'm thinking I need to be very blunt and direct with no cushioning. Because obviously what I've already done isn't enough. "

Yea sounds like blunt is your next option

Quoting ♫ boobook ♫:" TRUTH  I'm sorry you've had to deal with this too :-("

It just comes with the territory. People either fear or criticize things that they dont understand. I got it for year from my in laws and still do. We work with my sons OT 3 times a week for 2 hrs sessions and hes still not doing nearly as well as we'd like. Its a learning process that makes you want to just hide or even beg your poor child to just be normal even though you dont really feel that way. I feel you mama!

Quoting ♥ axel sean n me:" naww thats so sad! i hope it works for you and him!   i watched an english programme on a child that ... [snip!] ... and then eventually started eating it properly it was heartbreaking at the start but after he started eating it was so cute. "

That's what we do. He loves to help cook. And I have him in the kitchen as much as possible. I am REALLY hoping this new team can help. And he can eat better. Eating and food are such a basic life need. It will be less stressful knowing he can meet those needs himself. KWIM?

Quoting Rette Mich:" It just comes with the territory. People either fear or criticize things that they dont understand. ... [snip!] ... you want to just hide or even beg your poor child to just be normal even though you dont really feel that way. I feel you mama!"

I don't want to hide. Or change who he is. I do want him to be healthy. I don't care what other people think. I have no problem ignoring strangers. I have issues with ass hole family members. Honestly, I wish they would (there are a few) disappear into the wood work and not come around. Just forget about our little family if they don't want to get educated or supportive. And not make me shoulder all the blame for things being the way they are. I hope that made sense.