ARFID - New to me, need some advice..

[BreatheFocusRelax]

Hey..
My daughter was seen by a dietitian who has suggested that she has strong beliefs that she has ARFID.
This is new to me as I've never heard of this before.
I have done some research & everything I am finding sounds like my daughter.
She has been referred to the paediatrician, is this who can give the diagnosis?
What happens after the diagnosis?
Are there any support networks for parents?
I am finding this a little hard to get my head around & just want the best for her!
TIA

Yes, the Paed should diagnose and also help with a dietician if that’s helpful. My DD has ARFID which was initially assumed to be a sensory link to her autism. How old is your daughter?

Okay thank you so much for your reply.
My daughter has not been diagnosed with autism & doesn't display any signs of autism.
My daughter is 7, 8 in May.

Ds has a diagnosis of ARFID ( he is also autistic). He was diagnosed by a psychologist, who was part of the multidisciplinary team, that did the assessment.

Support and treatment can be difficult to access. Ds was treated by a national specialist ARFID team as we could not access any help locally.
But it's useful to be able to see a dietitian, He also saw a sensory OT, who can help with the sensory aspect of eating, if that is an issue.

ARFID can be a long term issue. Ds is now 18 and he's had eating difficulties for years.

Can someone explain what Afrid is please?
I'm so worried about my 12 year old daughter, who is studying her food all the time. Her brother had a sickness bug a few weeks ago and since then when she eats she looks at every piece of food to decide if it looks right in fear of it making her ill. She thinks he got it from eating some mouldy bread. I'm terrified how quickly things have changed.

My DD (now 11) was diagnosed with ARFID by her Dietician I’m 2021. I had been taking her to see a GP who referred us to pretty much every HCP before she finally found her dietician who knew about ARFID. We have seen SALT, OT everyone! She sees a psychologist at CAMHS and has been on the waiting list for CBT for two years! Getting help for ARFID is like swimming against the tide sadly, there is not enough knowledge of it and certainly not enough research and help.

@Choccymumma how is your DD now?

That sounds more like emetophobia.

Not always the case. ARFID can begin from a situation like, part of ARFID and the fear of trying ‘new’ foods can be associated with the worry that that particular isn’t safe and can or may make the person sick. Not just the fear of being sick but the brain telling you that the food isn’t safe and shouldn’t be trusted

Hi,
She is up and down. Fussy about food and making sure its ok but not to an obsession. We had a hello fresh box this week and she tried new things which I was surprised at.
She is really struggling with anxiety generally though. I'm finding it tough at the moment.

@Choccymumma if she has anxiety generally and you think she may have ARFID, do you think that she may have ASD? She sounds so much like my DD at 12

Just wondering how everyone else is getting in with their DC with ARFID?

We when on holiday in July and DD tried a panini with pesto & mozzarella in which she's been replicating at home, so at least there's something I know she'll reliably eat, for now...