DC 4 days without eating properly.

[LunchMunch]

In 4 days, my DC(6) has half eaten 2 small strawberries and a few bites of an ice lolly. We've tried tempting with everything over the last 24 hours but DC will not eat anything anymore.

How long can they go like this while ill? DC keeps saying they feel like they're dizzy and can't walk, feel sick and have a headache. DC is sleeping or zoned out the majority of the time. I now can't tell how much is illness and how much is the lack of food.

Are they drinking?

My DC is like this at the moment (he's 9) but I know what illness he has. The Dr is mainly concerned about dehydration and needing salt and sugar to boost him.

How much weight has he lost? Multiple Drs have told me that 10% weight loss is a sign they need admitting for IV fluids.

My DS is currently at -7% and the Dr says if he doesn't start eating then he needs admitting.

Her suggestions include juice and coke (for the sugar and salt). Unfortunately DS only ever likes drinking water. I am however offering him anything and everything he fancies to eat (unfortunately not a lot right now).

DC is only drinking water or a splash of squash in it. I've tried hot chocolate, orange juice. I'm offering absolutely everything. DC requested chips and nuggets on Saturday but then refused to eat it. DC refused the hot chocolate based on tasting a hint of salt and it being too sweet. Needing to get some sugar and salt in is my main thing focus at the moment but the food is becoming a little concerning now too.

I'll weigh DC tomorrow to make sure there's not been too significant of a weight loss.

When I say DC requested chips and nuggets, I went through a list of absolutely everything and that was what was agreed to. No enthusiasm about it or anything.

Yeah I feel for you. Ds is the same. No enthusiasm for anything. Even chocolate! Says everything tastes weird. Also he was sick for 2 days so is afraid of that now.

Only slight success has ben plain pasta which he dips in ketchup. He ate it once. Refused the 2nd time. Ate it the 3rd time.

Chips - ate the 1st time (very small portion). Refused the 2nd time.

Breaded chicken - so far has eaten twice (we re on day 6 of barely eating).

@TadpolesInPool how long has your DS been like it? It sounds so similar, is it a bacterial infection by any chance?

He first had a temperature last Wednesday. It won't be the same as your DC : he has dengue which is a tropical disease (we don't live in the UK).

His current main complaints are headache and stomach ache which Dr says are due to lack of food and water (his extreme fatigue is cos of the disease).

Have you weighed your DC? The "threat" of going to hospital has made DS eat and drink a tiny bit more. He drank some apple juice and pulled a face and said no. But I said just pretend its badly tasting medicine and put up with it...

It's not enough yet so I will be spending all day trying to get him to have more.

You put extra sugar (and salt?!) in the hot chocolate? So rather than them drinking it and at least getting some calories, they didn't drink it at all?

Can you get some of those bottles of kids drinks with spout lids (ingredients aren’t great, but better than nothing). Mine will drink a bit from those when ill.
Try making a frozen slush from apple juice.

I put extra sugar in because at 10pm all I had was options light which has naff all calories in. No extra salt.

However, DC has used the excuses that things are too salty, too sweet, too dry, too wet, too sour or just too much for the mouth (not sure what the last one meant). Essentially, will agree to something then when the time comes will not want it at all. That's fair enough but it's nothing to do with it actually being that way or it being my fault they won't eat or drink something.

I'll try one of those drinks.

Slush from juice and an actual slush was refused.

Im having slight success with my DS since the threat of hospital from the Dr.

He is eating a bit of chocolate. And has set a timer to sip water and sometimes juice every 10 minutes.

It's been working for 2 hours so far but he is complaining more and more about feeling ill. Unfortunately he has a nasty disease and it's inevitable.

He has been told to consider apple juice as medicine. Might not taste nice but will make him better.

He refused all dinner last night though.

Yogurt, tablespoon of Peanut butter, banana, chocolate milk full fat if you can. Whizz in the blender. It's not the most healthy thing in world but has some protein, minerals and sugar.

Or a fruit smoothie which they can make with you.

I find it helps when dc can get tactile with the food when ill. Otherwise, dc refuses food as well. He seems to suffer with sore throat whenever he's ill.

Other things we do are banana, choc chips and Peanut butter or blueberry Pancakes, alphaghetti and dipping bread soldiers, homemade frozen yogurt (blitz Greek yogurt with some soft fruit and freeze), scrabbled eggs, fruit bread and butter, chicken noodle soup, hell I've even given him a happy meal in desperation when he had scarlet fever and loads of ice cream.

It worked well to get a range of these horrible drinks, then DC can choose.

I would also resort to bribery, if it is getting to the point of being admitted for an IV - wrap up some small toys and they can open one if they drink a cup of diluted apple and eat a cracker. Technically a bad lesson, but I did this when young DC was in hospital with a bad stomach bug (presented with a collapse, before the GI issues showed up) and given a few hours to rehydrate or be put on an IV.

Small, small sips to avoid it being brought back up.