Support thread 11 for parents of young people with an eating disorder

[GrannyRoberts]

Hi all, here is our new thread. I will attempt to post a link on thread 10.

Thanks granny, just checking in...

Thanks granny, I've arrived!

Thank you, found it.

Thank you x

I haven't checked in on these threads before but I saw it trending in the active posts, so I'm dropping in as a professional working with children and young people who have an eating disorder (or disordered eating).

Solidarity to you all ❤️

Thanks, @GrannyRoberts !

Signing in ✔️

Summer** you can either take your dd to a&e and explain your concerns or ring the ED service directly and ask for advice.

How much food are you getting into your dd now? What does a typical day look like?

Hey, after some quick advice my step daughter is 16 and diagnosed anorexic. Weighs 5 stone 10 at 5,5. Recent attendance at A and E due to feeling faint, but obs, ecg and bloods come back normal so discharged. Tonight her psychiatrist has arranged a direct admission to hospital as she hasn’t eaten at all today and continues to lose weight- she isn’t engaging with food well at all in the community. However, the hospital is full so apparently might discharge her home- she actually can’t eat. Her blood pressure has been less than 90 and her pulse is 40 when resting. Any advice of what can be done tonight? Thank you

Sorry you find yourself here @Babyshadows - I'd be asking the hospital for their MEED results - its the checklist for young people - you can find it in this document... Hopefully, it will trigger a more complete assessment..https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/college-reports/college-report-cr233---annexe-1.pdf?sfvrsn=1ba7e785_18

Thank you so much! It’s really difficult as the person she lives is (grandparent) is convinced she is better at home due to autism so seems to be actively encouraging against admission! I’ll have a look at the link you sent 😊

@Babyshadows my DD has attempted to discharge herself this week. She has been told that if she refuses treatment a section will be arranged, this takes a while because of her age. It’s ridiculous that at 16 they can decide if they will accept treatment or not. Who has parental responsibility for her?

Also checking in. Still in crisis here 🤯

@Girliefriendlikespuppies

I'm so worried...z
Advice pls, re my last post should I be taking her to a&e and asking for an ecg at least ?
She has been saying her heart has felt fluttery and sometimes sits and breaths in and out as we are watching TV and I ask her are you ok? But that's only coz I'm sitting here ( freaking out) and going over everything in my head
When she did this the other night I checked her pulse and it was 80 then thought nothing of it

When I room to the walk in Thursday because she felt faint at school she said she felt 'panicky' so again now I'm thinking it's her heart

summertimesadness24

I agree your dd needs to go A&E asap.
A lot of us end up there under our own steam as a lot of GP's don't take ED seriously enough. It's likely she'll be admitted so pack some things for her. Let us know how you get on. Sending love xx

@summertimesadness24 Just take her to a&s. I don't think you can walk in there to ask for certain tests but they should conduct the full MEEDS tests. They will know what to do. What did the doctor say who gave you the blood results. Did they not come with advice?

No advice at all other than a text saying we've been booked in to discuss the tests on 15th feb?!

@summertimesadness24 the team you were dealing with are clearly not very knowledgeable about EDs.

A few of us here went to a&s instead of waiting for a month for a follow up and got admitted.

How much is she eating?

Dd's blood were not ok and she needed refeeding in hospital (daily bloods and building it up slowly) to avoid the refeeding syndrome. It's dangerous and if she hasn't been eating well and the bloods aren't ok, changes are it needs to be done under medical supervision..

summertimesadness24
Neutrophils are kind of white blood cells. They form the biggest part of it in terms of numbers.
Results are fine. Many ED with low weight will have low results.

I've been on here before with different name.
I agree that it becomes very difficult if DC are 16 . My DC refused to have me in with appointments. She lied/got misinterpreted during appointments and got discharged. So when I realised I had to contact camhs again. Lost nearly 2 months with this. FBT was out of the question. However after a further 3 months (7 months after having contacted GP and camhs, after losing over 10kg, after attending A&E several times), she started with CBT-E).

I know Eva Musby isn't keen on cbt-E but has really worked well for DD.
From the start she has steadily put on weight. Much happier.

Also to mention, everyone is different. My DC continued school throughout. Even at WFH below 80%, resting BP below 100, Heart rate low 40s. She really likes going to school and "needed" the routine.

She's asleep but when she wakes shall I just take her regardless ? Even if she hasn't got the heart palps ? Just take her and say ok concerned from the bloods ?
Obviously I took her Thursday as she had symptoms so if she doesn't when she wakes
Still take her? Because my worry is when she wakes she doesn't have the symptoms and what do I say to triage ?
I'll definitely take her but I just feel if she doesn't say she has those symptoms - they won't take me seriously ?

These were her obs at the walk in on Thursday which doctor said was normal ?

Heart rate was just over 100 when standing as you can see in pic

1st pic standing and 2nd sitting

I put this on last thread but just for info

She didn't feel dizzy at that particular point but she didn't have any other tests other than those bloods z

Thank you, it's just the others then that are abnormal - folate in particular

Although blood pressure, and bloods are ok A&E can do an ECG .
Just because she might be ok when she wakes up doesn't mean you can't take her. Flutter doesn't sound good. An appointment in Feb is ridiculous

Also as many here will tell you, things can change so quickly. And problem is that they "look fine" but aren't.