Eating Disorder?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
Eating Disorder?
6
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 10:48am

I've been debating if I should post this or not. I'm hoping maybe someone has some insight or suggestions that might help.

My DD (almost 13) is and always has been a very thin girl. She's very athletic (runs track, field hockey plus others) so I know she's burning up calories quickly. She does well in school and has a good group of friends that are often here so we know them well.

Her problem is food. She tends to like "finger foods" best. At meal time, while using a fork, it's not unusual for her to put a piece of meat or ziti into her mouth and chew the one piece for an excessive amount of time. She tells us that she feels like she's going to choke if she doesn't. Btw, she has never choked in her life.

She can eat a bag of chips, candy or any other junk easily enough with no problems. We know she's a junk food eater (still not gaining weight) yet she loves veggies and salad and has no problems with them.

She's always been a picky eater, but ziti up until about a year ago wasn't an issue. Now she's eating one single ziti at a time and it might take her a good hour to finish a small bowl. I only mention the ziti because last weekend, she was running a 10K and I was struggling with her to eat the pasta.

She had her physical in the fall. The doctor (new for her) thinks she's healthy, fine and she's just going to be a thin girl. I as a parent, look at her and see her spine along with other bones.

While in the home, she is not vomiting up her food - I've checked for months. I'm worried and just at a loss to understand whats happening.

Avatar for suzyk2118
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-1997
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 10:56am

Did the doctor look in her throat? My dad has always had swallowing issues; sometimes on, sometimes off. Ends up he finally found out about 10 years ago (he's 83; been an issue since I was born at least) that he had polyps in his throat that constrict it at times; easily removed by outpatient laser surgery. I'm not going to guess that this is your dd's issue, but just letting you know that such a thing exists - maybe worth a trip to an ENT to be sure nothing is going on?

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2005
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 3:46pm

I was also going to ask about swallowing issues. In my work, we sometimes have kids whose swallow reflex and/or throat muscles are not quite on target. A "swallowing expert" would know what to look at. You might try a hospital that has a "feeding disorders" clinic for babies and children. Even though she's a teenager, and not the same thing as a baby who can't swallow, they would know if these kinds of things occur in teens and who to go to for help. Or, as the last poster said, an ENT would also be a good resource.

There certainly could be an "eating disorder" part of this, but it can't hurt to rule out physical things too.

(((HUGS)))

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-15-2003
Tue, 04-11-2006 - 10:58am

Hi there. I have some experience with eating disorders. While I wouldn't rule it out with your dd, I think you'd see the food obsession (or lack thereof) with other foods as well, and certainly with junk food. From what you are describing she has concerns about eating certain foods. Like others have said, it could be a swallowing issue, or she could have developed obsessive-compulsive type thinking about certain foods. I have two kids with OCD and food pickiness or compulsions around food are common. Does she obsess about anything else? Like checking things over and over, frequent hand washing, things have to arranged "just so", phobias, endless or unrealisitic worries, recurrent thoughts, worries about what she looks like or how others perceive her?

Let me know what you think.

cathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
Tue, 04-11-2006 - 1:25pm

Cathy,

While the swallowing issue others had mentioned, I'll admit that I never thought of it, but given her ability to eat junk etc easily enough, I'm keeping that thought in the back of my mind for now.

Your suggestion appears to be more of on the lines with what I'm thinking I guess. Although I mentioned the ziti (just fresh in my mind at the time), the real issue is the use of a fork and anything on it.

She is my worrier. She worries about anything (weather, news etc). She will call me constantly to check in, never makes a move without letting me know and needs to know where I am (or what I'm doing) every second.

There is NO obsessive washing or any of the other issues you've mentioned.

Recently, I've made some meal changes regarding her. There is no junk allowed any longer and she's been made to sit and eat only her 3 meals/day (as long as it takes her). Not sure this is the right thing or not. Since she loves salad (we eat one nightly), I make her now save that for last. The past 4 days, it has taken her 1 1/2 hours to eat whatever meat is in front of her and rice / potatoe (and this amount is about 1/2 of the other kids we have). I glance at her while she chews each piece about 100X it seems.

I can say that although she's always been picky, I can see her obsession with certain foods/chewing/fork and even her fear of choking now.

I've been at such a loss over this. I've been thinking there is a problem with nutrition (and her not getting enough/correct amounts) and today, you've confirmed what my DH has been suggesting as well at times.

So where do I go from here? I have visions of this young girl ending up being fed by tubes in the future because daily it's a battle to see her struggle while eating a meal. Please don't suggest returning to her doctor for help. I'm not interested in dealing with this Dr again over this. Insurance isn't an issue and if by chance I need to, I'm willing to pay out of pocket. I'm just not sure who / where I turn.

This is so upsetting and breaks my heart watching her. She's such a beautiful young lady that is sadly turning bone thin in front of our eyes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-15-2003
Tue, 04-11-2006 - 2:00pm

Hi again Minnie2006. (((((Hugs)))))) to you. From how you're desribing her, she's struggling with anxiety. Calling you frequently to check in or to know where you are can be part of compulsive or obsessive thinking. Try a google search on kids with OCD and their symptoms. Not all symptoms are present in all kids with anxiety issues. It could be only one. She needs to be assessed for anxiety. Psychologists can do this. Also try family counselling centres, children's mental health specialists or agencies or even a school counsellor for now to obtain a referral. Go to a professional you trust and who you think will see the real issues. Keep a log book of what you notice in your dd that is a constant worry or activity or action or thinking pattern. Do some research and become informed.

I have some wonderful websites and info I could send your way, if you'd like.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2006
Tue, 04-11-2006 - 2:59pm
Most of my life I struggled with anxiety alot like your DD. I have always been a chronic worrier, and my anxiety at its worst makes it nearly impossible to eat. I feel like Ive got it under control now, but I still check in with my extended family members 1x a day, and if I can't get ahold of them then I start to worry until I reach them, but I really have alot of control over whether I let myself get upset. The only people who I monitor every move of is DD and DH, as long as I can do that I feel at peace. A few years back (after 9-11) alot of people close to me worried that I had an eating disorder because I had such anxiety I lost about 25 lbs, because the stress and anxiety I was experiencing made it hard to swallow food. One of the things that helped me overcome it was recognizing when I was panicing as a panic attack. An earlier post suggested keeping a journal for her, and I recommend that too. I'm having a hard time explaining, but it was like making it through an anxiety or panic attack gave me the strength I needed to battle the next one. So I could look back on it and say, "wow, nothing bad happened". So when I would experience it again I could tell myself, it was just my nerves or whatever and it wouldnt take over my reality. Now I really don't loose it like I use to.
Please keep us posted.