My dd has an eating disorder and we are going away

[F1234567]

How can I make this all less stressful? We are going next week and she is so stressed. Only found out and taken to gp very recently and they've made a referral to CAMHS. She is 15. Keeps shouting at me and crying

She restricts food and eats only certain food

Also exercising

What kind of place are you staying at? Can you do any self catering?

When DDs anxiety (not ED) were at their worst she and I had to not go away one year and DH went on his own.

We can self cater. I'm imagining that we will probably have to do that rather than eating out. I'm prepared for it to fall apart and her decide not to go. But she wanted to go and it was her choice of destination

Do you mean the uk or abroad? If it’s abroad are you going to be able to get the food your dd eats?

My dd has just turned 16. Her eating is slowly improving. I wouldn’t have taken her abroad when her restricting was at its worse. She ate about 1200 calories total in 13 days then she settled to 400-500 calories. She’s now in private therapy and eating a fair amount more.

If your dd will only eat certain ‘safe’ foods atm, it’s really important she has access to these. I wouldn’t have taken dd abroad when she was eating so little. Have you counted how many calories your dd is eating? She needs to be safe and well enough to fly if abroad. Is she drinking?

A holiday is only a holiday, your dd’s health is much more important and if she’s exercising (which my dd was in the beginning as well), she will be shredding calories. My dd lost about 4.5kg in 2 weeks then 7kg in the following 8 weeks. As soon as she finished her GCSEs, I went much more hardline and she is now on bed rest unless she eats at least twice and 1000 calories, which she is more than achieving on the calories front.

@F1234567 did you all go on Holiday and how are you and your DD now?

Is it a hot country?

Hot counties can make most of us lose our appetite at times. So making sure she has everything she needs to keep cool. Water sprays, fans etc

Keep an eye on her water intake, she may be drinking more to keep cool but may also use it as an excuse to fill herself up.

Exercising in the heat, with an ED could land her in hospital, so plan excursions etc so her days can’t be filled with exercise

Let her take her food in the suitcase and let her take food along to any restaurants you are visiting.