Food phobia/aversion after choking incident in 5yo - help!

[zam72]

Hi,

Don't know where to post this...but just desperate for a bit of advice...

Over the past week my almost 5yo DS has developed a phobia about swallowing solid food or liquidy stuff with any texture at all. He had a vomity stomach bug at the start of the week which started with him gagging/feeling like his brekky was 'stuck in his throat' and he got really upset/scared. The week before MIL gave him a hard mini choc Easter egg and despite me saying 'crunch it', she said 'suck it' - he sucked it, it went down the back of his throat and he was choking/gagging and terrified. I think the combination of all of those things has led to him having this phobia.

At first he wouldn't even swallow his own saliva, but has progressed to eating yoghurt, smooth tomato soup and custard. Porridge (very thin, but slightly bitty) is a step too far. If he gets as far as putting it in his mouth, he won't swallow at all, just gets upset and spits it out.

Maybe its just early days (only started with this since Monday and only been fully better from bug since Tuesday) - I've asked the Dr and health visitor and they say just relax and slowly reintroduce. I am trying, but I'm soooo stressed and worried about it. I could just give him liquid stuff and back off completely. But he's such a stubborn little thing and once he gets an idea in his head, I'm terrified that that'll be it. It took him 8-9months to even try to poo in a potty ffs! He's also something like 0.4th centile - so its not like he could use to lose any weight.

He's gone back to school today after his illness but I'm so scared what he'll do at lunchtime (given him a packed lunch - with 2 yogs and a smoothie, but a sandwich and some soft fruit too just in case peer pressure will work).

We've also tried cajoling/being a bit stern/playing around (me and DH)....just cos we're trying to get him to eat. Nothing's working. If I just give him yogs,tomato soup and custard I can see him just eating that and only that for weeks/months. Or should I just really back off and really, really gently ask every now and then????

Was just about to log off and this jumped out at me - so I blame you for my messy house

I had similar as a child - saw my Gran choke on a medicine tablet and it terrified me. I became obsessed with people choking. Like your ds I couldnt swallow my own saliva, especially if I wasnt in an upright position, I thought it would go in to my lungs (I was only about 7) Things like carrot terrified me because they were so hard. I remember being taken to the Dr and they told me to eat lolly pops - I remember thinking that was rediculas I could choke on one of them! I think the Dr assumed no child would refuse a lolly!

What I think might have helped me was an understanding of how swallowing/breathing works - in simple terms. Because I couldnt understand how I would stay alive and swallow. It became an obsession. I remember going to parties and hiding party food so I didnt have to eat it - I mean what child hides party food?!

Unfortunetely I grew up to have a lot of issues with food - eating dissorders. Which may or may not have been related to this. I do think my fears werent taken seriously enough, I was labeled as being fussy, when really I had been happy to try anything. I was genuinely terrified of things getting stuck in my throat. Its only in the last few years Ive been able to swallow medicine tablets, and now I can even manage the non-coated ones.

Cant think of anything else to say that will help but will come back if you hve any more questions or anything. All the best

Oh another thing - I have always had (and still do have) huge tonsils, they get enlarged very easily when I am under the weather - I often think this makes it seem more likely I will choke. Did GP have a look?