Page 1 of 1 [ 9 posts ] 

Xinae
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 28 Dec 2008
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 98

03 Jun 2009, 5:13 pm

This is killing me but or the last 2 days my son hasn't been eating again. Dinner is a no go, he won't eat anything, not even if I offer him something different. He did eat a bowl of cereal today and some grahm crackers, which is all he's been eating, but a few here and there, it's not like he's eating a box a day, kwim.

He's also sleeping during the day, naps. Naps are not good for him, as then he's up til 10, then gets up at 6.

We solved this issue when he started taking Omega 3-6-9, he went from eating fruits, veggies and pasta to adding meat to his diet. Now it's like we are back to square one.

Is this a cycle thing, maybe it will pass but will be something he will always do?



Tracker
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 933
Location: Behind your mineral line

03 Jun 2009, 6:13 pm

Ive gone a few days without eating before. I dont know why, I just dont feel hungry some times. When I get like this I find that forcing myself to eat usually doesnt work well. My stomach wont handle food well and I get indigestion. I'm not sure if it is the indigestion causing the lack of appetite, or the other way around, but I dont think it really matters. I usually though can always go for a tasty liquid like a shake or juice. That doesn't cause my stomach near as many problems as solid food, and it also tastes good.

Have you tried giving him a milk shake? Those have more them enough calories to sustain his functioning, and also many of the proteins that he needs. Combined with a multi-vitamin like a Flintstones' pill once per day and he should be fine physically for a few weeks or so. Of course having some variety with meats and veggies is good eventually, but you need not worry if he just has milk shakes for a few days.

If you want you can get the pediatrician approved Milk shakes like http://pediasure.com/
Or you could just get some vanilla ice cream, some whole milk, and a blender. It may not be pediatrician approved, but it is dang tasty and good enough for a few days.

Quick warning though. Don't try to put the multivitamin in blender with the milkshake, it just makes everything taste horrible. Instead quickly eat the multivitamin, then was it down with the shake to get the bad taste out of your mouth.



Xinae
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 28 Dec 2008
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 98

03 Jun 2009, 6:32 pm

Duh right! great idea Tracker. I can get him to drink chocolate milk on occassion. But he likes shakes, I could prolly get him to drink one of those healthy type drinks made like a shake.............

Tonight I'm playing dirty and making some of his favorite foods....see if I can tempt him.



jdcaldwell
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

User avatar

Joined: 28 May 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 36

04 Jun 2009, 10:37 am

My son will go days at a time without eating, and that was what they told me to do. I was told the whole "They won't let themselves starve" thing doesn't work for people with AS, but giving him a protein shake to hold him over until he wants to eat is good.



Xinae
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 28 Dec 2008
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 98

04 Jun 2009, 11:11 am

I tried to tempt him last night with his favorite foods, no go, but he did eat a hotdog and some jello. This morning he ate a bowl of cereal first thing, so maybe he's coming back out of it. I'm definately keeping the protein shakes in mind, they are a reallyl good idea that we just never thought about nor did the Dr's say anything about.



DW_a_mom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 13,689
Location: Northern California

04 Jun 2009, 11:44 am

My son's eating is erratic but not as bad as your's. Still, we're pretty sure its related to a combination of things, not the least of which are digestion issues, which are quite common in AS. There are many times my son really can't eat, it just doesn't feel good to his stomach, and we do have constipation medicine we can give him (when he hits periods like that he usually agrees that it's time to go back to having his "drink of the day" which is the medicine). Remember that it is the long term patterns that count, not the short term, and avoid establishing bad food habits just to get him to eat. I do like the shakes, idea, however. There are lots of way to make really healthy and great tasting variations of a shake or smoothie.

Also, keep a diary noting foods eaten recently, other things going on with him, etc. This will help your doctor figure out if there is something that can be done medically to help.


_________________
Mom to an amazing young adult AS son, plus an also amazing non-AS daughter. Most likely part of the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (some traits).


TheKingsRaven
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 306
Location: UK

04 Jun 2009, 11:54 am

Are there doctor approved shakes for adults? I never go off food but sometimes I don't feel like cooking. A meal in a bottle sounds quick and convinent.



Xinae
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 28 Dec 2008
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 98

04 Jun 2009, 12:17 pm

There is Ensure, it's not a shake but they are protien drinks. My dad had to have them around alot after his heartattack because he had habits of forgetting to eat lunch during the day, which is bad.



Marcia
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,148

04 Jun 2009, 8:33 pm

TheKingsRaven wrote:
Are there doctor approved shakes for adults? I never go off food but sometimes I don't feel like cooking. A meal in a bottle sounds quick and convinent.


There's quite a range of them. You can get them in supermarkets and larger chemists. Boots stocks them.
They are usually referred to as meal replacement drinks or diet drinks. Some of the ready made ones in bottles seem to be designed for body builders and they contain artificial sweeteners - which I hate the taste of.


My son has Complan for his breakfast and sometimes also in the evening. He is also a very picky eater and will go through phases of eating very little, eating normally (normal for him that is) and eating quite a lot (again, for him). It does seem to be cyclical, and I've noticed that he does tend to eat more than usual just before a growth spurt.