ARFID

[missrosex]

Hi guys.
So after battling for almost two years with my sons no existence interest for food and weight loss he has been given and emergency appointment with the dietitian in a few days with possible talk of ARFID. I guess I'm trying to educate myself a little, understand the disorder and hear from others with children who struggle with arfid. My first question is how often are arfid children tube fed? Because of the significant amount of weight my sons lost over the past year and how much he is still losing I worry massively about this. Secondly how do you cope day to day trying to get your children to eat and make it more enjoyable for them also.I really don't have much knowledge on arfid and I don't know what is to come so go ahead so all advice is welcome.

Thankyou

Sorry to hear you are going through this. You are not alone! I don't have any answers I'm afraid, but you may want to ask the dietician about a referral to CAMHS or your eating disorders service. There are not many dieticians that specialise in ARFID, but the appointment will be very useful if it gives you the ammunition to push for other referrals. Is the GP involved at all?

Hello yes thankyou! my sons GP referred to the dietician and briefly spoke to me about arfid, I will definitely mention in the appointment about other referrals

My son had / has ARFID.

He would gag on everything, even milk. Didnt mouth toys, never put a single thing in his mouth.

He would eat but purely blended food. No lumps, basically water consistency until he was 5. He was given special milk for calories.

We're close by to harley street so we saw a specialist there, alongside NHS feeding team at Evelina Hospital.

The best advice i took - and now having a 10 year old who eats more variety than me and i just took on an all inclusive holiday with no issues at dinner.. FOOD EXPOSURE.

Constantly.

Have food out next to toys. Put food on his hands. Play with food. Smell the foods. It all goes to waste for a long time but it will come.

ARFID can be wide and all
Will be different. My sons was texture. The proffesionals all said he will go to crunchy food first, he did. After that it just slowly came.

I went from having to go into school every lunch time with my blender, to know he has school dinners like everyone else

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/arfid/

Hi OP, sorry you are going through this. Have you found the above resource yet ^^?

I think winchester uni do a short online course for parents

OP, I have recently joined this thread, it might help you toowww.mumsnet.com/talk/eating_disorders/4641176-teen-eating-disorders-thread-7
X

There are free meetups and remote educational meetings on here you can join.